《傲慢与偏见》是简· 奥斯丁的代表作，是一部经典的小说。这部作品以日常生活为素材，一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说的内容和矫揉造作的写作方法，生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和世态人情。这部社会风情画式的小说不仅在当时吸引着广大的读者，时至今日，仍给读者以独特的艺术享受。 《傲慢与偏见》以婚姻嫁娶和家庭风波为题材，描写自己熟稔的乡间所谓体面人家的生活与交往，像在“二寸象牙”上“细细地描画”，看似平凡而琐碎，小天地却可映出大世界，因此始终能引起长盛不衰、雅俗共赏的兴趣，英国诗人和历史小说家司各特曾说，“在描写人们日常生活中各种错综复杂的琐事，内心情感和人物性格方面，这位姑娘很有才能。这种才能是我所遇到的最令人赏心悦目的。”正是简.奥斯丁炉火纯青的语言描写功力，使笔下的人物栩栩如生，耐人寻味。
　　傲慢与偏见[小说]-作者简介
　　
　　简·奥斯汀简· 奥斯汀
　　
　　简· 奥斯汀出生于1775年12月16日，是乔治·奥斯汀家的第七个孩子。简·奥斯汀一直过着安静平和的隐居生活，她一生未婚。英国文学史上出现过几次趣味革命，文学口味的翻新几乎影响了所有作家的声誉，唯独莎士比亚和奥斯汀经久不衰。而这位伟大的女性一生只走过了42个春夏秋冬。1817年7月8日，她死于温彻斯特，葬于当地大教堂。
　　
　　她的父亲是斯蒂文顿的教区长，也是一位藏书颇丰的博学之土。她的母亲名叫卡桑德拉·李·奥斯汀，出身于贵族家庭。简只有一个姐姐，叫卡桑德拉，并一生都与她保持着密切的联系。简的同胞兄弟从事着不同的职业：有几个担任圣职，一个是银行家，其他的则在军队服役。尽管她的家庭不是名门望族，也没有富甲一方，但乔治·奥斯汀很重视教育，甚至对女儿也不例外。简和卡桑德拉上了几年学，之后就在家里学习，主要是广泛阅读各种书籍和资料，并从父兄们与辅导的学生之间有趣的讨论中获益。通过自己的努力，简熟知18世纪的英国文学。
　　
　　简· 奥斯汀生前匿名出版了四部小说：《理智与情感》(1811)、《傲慢与偏见}》(1813)、《曼斯菲尔德庄园》(1814) 和《艾玛》(1815)。另外两部，《诺桑格修道院》和《劝导》是她去世后于 1817年出版的。她的这些小说以其对英国社会和风俗的讽刺性描述而闻名于世。
　　
　　奥斯汀所处的英国社会是一个阶级等级分明的社会。而阶级的区分主要源于家族与财富。奥斯汀在她的作品中经常批评英国上层阶级的自负和偏见。简注意区分人的内在价值 (个人品德)和外在价值(地位和财产)。简虽然经常讽刺势利小人，但也嘲笑出身低微的人缺乏教养和举止不当。总的来说，奥斯汀是一个现实主义作家，她所描绘的英国是一个缺少变化但阶级意识强烈的社会。
　　
　　从18世纪末到19世纪初，“感伤小说”和“哥特小说”充斥英国文坛，而奥斯汀的小说破旧立新，一反常规地展现了当时尚未受到资本主义工业革命冲击的英国乡村中产阶级的日常生活和田园风光。她的作品往往通过喜剧性的场面嘲讽人们的愚蠢、自私、势利和盲目自信等可鄙可笑的弱点。奥斯丁的小说出现在19世纪初叶，一扫风行一时的假浪漫主义潮流，继承和发展了英国18世纪优秀的现实主义传统，为19世纪现实主义小说的高潮做了准备。虽然其作品反映的广度和深度有限，但她的作品如“两寸牙雕”，从一个小窗口中窥视到整个社会形态和人情世故，对改变当时小说创作中的风气起了好的作用，在英国小说的发展史上有承上启下的意义，被誉为地位“可与莎士比亚平起平坐”的作家。 她最喜爱的作家是18世纪古典主义和理智的典范塞缪尔·约翰逊。奥斯汀的小说表现出一种情感上的模棱两可，以及对聪明才智与自然美的赞赏，这些特点使其作品和浪漫主义走到一起。遗憾的是，简·奥斯汀的小说在她生前并未受到好评。但是后来，尤其是在20世纪，她的小说越来越受欢迎。如今，简·奥斯汀已经跻身于英国真正伟大的作家之列。简·奥斯汀是世界上为数极少的著名女性作家之一，介于新古典主义和浪漫运动的抒情主义之间的“小幅画家”和“家庭小说”家，文学评论家眼里堪与莎士比亚在不朽性方面相提并论的英国作家。
　　傲慢与偏见[小说]-创作背景
　　
　　《傲慢与偏见》是简·奥斯汀最早完成的作品，她在1796年开始动笔，取名为《最初的印象》，1797年8月完成。她父亲看后很感动，特意拿给汤玛·卡士德尔，请他出版，但对方一口回绝，使得他们十分失望。后来，她重写了《最初的印象》，并改名为“傲慢与偏见”于1813年1月出版。
　　傲慢与偏见[小说]-内容简介
　　
　　女主角：：伊丽莎白
　　男主角：达西
　　重要配角：简（伊丽莎白的姐姐）、宾利（达西的好朋友）
　　内容提要
　　《傲慢与偏见》是描写伊丽莎白•贝内特和威廉•达西这对青年男女之间的爱情故事，起初他们俩人总是话不投机。故事发生在18世纪后期，距离英国伦敦，效外约50英里的赫特福德郡（位于英国英格兰东南部），书中生动地描绘了当时妇女生活的艰难，她们几乎都不能把握自己的命运。由于18世纪的英国社会十分看重社会地位和个人举止风度与才艺，女人们都竭尽所能去寻觅富有的丈夫。
　　详细内容
　　小乡绅班纳特有五个待字闺中的千金，班纳特太太整天操心着为女儿物色称心如意的丈夫。 新来的邻居彬格莱(Charles)是个有钱的单身汉，他立即成了班纳特太太追猎的目标。在一次舞会上，彬格莱对班纳特家的大女儿简(Jane)一见钟情，班纳特太太为此欣喜若狂。参加舞会的还有彬格莱的好友达西(Darcy)。他仪表堂堂，非常富有，许多姑娘纷纷向他投去羡慕的目光；但他非常骄傲，认为她们都不配做他的舞伴，其中包括简的妹妹伊丽莎白(Elizabeth)。伊丽莎白自尊心很强，决定不去理睬这个傲慢的家伙。可是不久，达西对她活泼可爱的举止产生了好感，在另一次舞会上主动请她同舞，却遭到伊丽莎白的拒绝，达西狼狈不堪。
　　
　　彬格莱的妹妹卡罗琳(Caroline)一心追求达西，她发现达西有意于伊丽莎白，妒火中烧，决意从中阻挠。而遭到伊丽莎白冷遇的达西也鄙视班纳特太太及其小女儿丽迪亚(Lydia)的粗俗。在妹妹和好友达西的劝说下，彬格莱不辞而别，去了伦敦，但简对他还是一片深情。
　　
　　班纳特没有儿子，他的家产将由远亲柯林斯(Collins)继承。柯林斯粗鄙无知，却善于趋炎附势，居然当上牧师。他向伊丽莎白求婚，遭拒绝后，马上与她的女友夏洛特(Charlotte)结婚。
　　
　　附近小镇的民团联队里有个英俊潇洒的青年军官威肯(Wickham)，人人都夸他，伊丽莎白也对他产生了好感。一天，他对伊丽莎白说，他父亲是达西家的总管，达西的父亲曾给他一大笔遗赠，却被达西吞没了。伊丽莎白听后，对达西更加反感。
　　柯林斯夫妇请伊丽莎白去他们家作客，伊丽莎白在那里遇到达西的姨妈凯瑟琳(Catherine)，不久，又见到了达西。同时也认识了威廉少校，从他口中得知达西藏起她姐姐的信，使伊丽莎白对达西的讨厌达到顶峰。所以在达西无法抑制自己对伊丽莎白的爱慕之情，向她求婚的时候，但态度还是那么傲慢。伊丽莎白坚决地谢绝了。这一打击使达西第一次认识到骄傲自负所带来的恶果，他痛苦地离开了她，临走前留下一封长信作了几点解释：他承认彬格莱不辞而别是他促使的，原因是他不满班纳特太太的轻浮和鄙俗，并且认为简并没有钟情于彬格莱；威肯说的却全是谎言，事实是威肯自己把那笔遗产挥霍殆尽，还企图勾引达西的妹妹私奔。伊丽莎白读信后十分后悔，既对错怪达西感到内疚，又为母亲的行为羞愧，还对自己的偏见深深懊悔。她逐渐改变了对达西的看法。
　　
　　第二年夏天，伊丽莎白随舅父母来到达西的庄园，与他再次相遇。她发现达西变了，不仅对人彬彬有礼，在当地很受人们尊敬，而且对他妹妹非常爱护。她对他的偏见消除了。正当其时，伊丽莎白接到家信，说小妹丽迪亚随身负累累赌债的威肯私奔了。这种家丑使伊丽莎白非常难堪，以为达西会更瞧不起自己。但事实出乎她的意料，达西得知上述消息以后，在舅父母的帮主下，不仅替威肯还清赌债，还给了他一笔巨款，让他与丽迪亚完婚。自此以后，伊丽莎白往日对达西的种种偏见统统化为真诚之爱。
　　
　　彬格莱和简经过一番周折，言归于好，一对情人沉浸在欢乐之中。而一心想让自己的女儿安妮(Anne)嫁给达西的凯瑟琳夫人匆匆赶来，蛮横地要伊丽莎白保证不与达西结婚。伊丽莎白对这一无理要求断然拒绝。此事传到达西耳中。他知道伊丽莎白已经改变了对自己的看法，诚恳地再次向她求婚。到此，一对曾因傲慢和偏见而延搁婚事的有情人终成眷属。
　　傲慢与偏见[小说]-语言特色
　　
　　《傲慢与偏见》是简·奥斯丁(Jane Austen)的代表作品，写于十八世纪九十年代，其影响经历两世纪而不衰，并对后代作家产生影响，其重要的原因之一就是小说的语言魅力。在语言中对话是文学作品塑造人物形象最基本的手段之一，简.奥斯丁笔下的人物对话鲜明生动，颇具个性，含义丰富，耐人寻味。本文用会话合作原则分析《傲慢与偏见》书中的人物对话风格，解开简·奥斯丁作品中人物对话语言风格机智幽默妙趣横生之谜。奥斯丁的语言是经过锤炼的，她在对话艺术上讲究幽默、诙谐风趣、讽刺，这种艺术创新使她的作品具有自己的特色，而这种富有特色的语言在《傲慢与偏见》中发挥得尤为淋漓尽致。
　　
　　比如在写班纳特太太时，作者就这样写到：“只要碰到不称心的事，她就自以为神经衰弱。”又在班纳特太太与其丈夫的对话中写到：“我的好老爷，你怎么舍得这样糟蹋自己的亲生女儿？你是在故意叫我气恼，好让你自己得意吧。你半点也不体谅我的神经衰弱。”“你真错怪了我，我的好太太。我非常尊重你的神经。它们是我的老朋友。至少在最近二十年以来，我一直听到你郑重其事地提到它们。”活灵活现的语言，绝妙的嘲讽与诙谐，立刻使两个不同的人物形象在读者脑海中变得立体而清晰。
　　
　　再如另一个片段的描写：咖苔琳夫人的马车路过门口，柯林斯牧师全家手忙脚乱出去迎接，伊丽莎白却说：“就是这么回事吗？我还以为是猪猡闯进了花园呢。”直率的挖苦，戳穿了咖苔琳夫人自己吹起来的唬人架势，也使伊丽莎白这个蔑视权贵的形象在人们脑海中留下了更深的印象，越发觉得她的可爱。奥斯汀还善于通过最普通的语言让人物自己暴露自己。例如小说开头时，班纳特太太曾说郎格太太“是个自私自利、假仁假义的女人，我瞧不起她。”而到故事的结尾，当其大女儿与彬格莱的婚事已成定局时，她又说“我觉得郎格太太这个人真是太好了。” 这两段截然相反的话，让读者不禁哑然失笑的同时，又多么生动地表现出班纳特太太的反复无常、自我中心。这样的例子在书中还有很多。一个曾充满偏见的伊丽莎白、一个曾浑身傲慢的达西、一对有趣的班纳特夫妇、一个可笑的柯林斯、众多出场人物、再加上喜剧效果和特殊写作技巧，这就是《傲慢与偏见》，却不是它的全部。奥斯汀的幽默是需要反复咀嚼的。
　　傲慢与偏见[小说]-评价
　　
　　
　　1、奥斯丁在这部小说中通过班纳特五个女儿对待终身大事的不同处理，表现出乡镇中产阶级家庭出身的少女对婚姻爱情问题的不同态度，从而反映了作者本人的婚姻观：为了财产、金钱和地位而结婚是错误的；而结婚不考虑上述因素也是愚蠢的。因此，她既反对为金钱而结婚，也反对把婚姻当儿戏。她强调理想婚姻的重要性，并把男女双方感情作为缔结理想婚姻的基石。书中的女主人公伊丽莎白出身于小地主家庭，为富豪子弟达西所热爱。达西不顾门第和财富的差距，向她求婚，却遭到拒绝。伊丽莎白对他的误会和偏见是一个原因，但主要的是她讨厌他的傲慢。因为达西的这种傲慢实际上是地位差异的反映，只要存在这种傲慢，他与伊丽莎白之间就不可能有共同的思想感情，也不可能有理想的婚姻。以后伊丽莎白亲眼观察了达西的为人处世和一系列所作所为，特别是看到他改变了过去那种骄傲自负的神态，消除了对他的误会和偏见，从而与他缔结了美满姻缘。伊丽莎白对达西先后几次求婚的不同态度，实际上反映了女性对人格独立和平等权利的追求。这是伊丽莎白这一人物形象的进步意义。在《傲慢与偏见》中，奥斯丁还写了伊丽莎白的几个姐妹和女友的婚事，这些都是陪衬，用来与女主人公理想的婚姻相对照。如夏洛特和柯林斯尽管婚后过着舒适的物质生活，但他们之间没有爱情，这种婚姻实际上是掩盖在华丽外衣下的社会悲剧。还有她的姐姐也是完美结局的。不过他们所经历的远远没有伊丽莎白和达西这样从讨厌误会到相爱的，一开始就相爱，有点像一见钟情的味道。从而看出，经历波折的爱情才是完美深刻的。
　　奥斯丁的小说尽管题材比较狭窄，故事相当平淡，但是她善于在日常平凡事物中塑造鲜明的人物形象，不论是伊丽莎白、达西那种作者认为值得肯定的人物，还是威肯、柯林斯这类遭到讽刺挖苦的对象，都写得真实动人。同时，奥斯丁的语言是经过锤炼的，她在对话艺术上讲究幽默、讽刺，常以风趣诙谐的语言来烘托人物的性格特征。这种艺术创新使她的作品具有自己的特色。
　　
　　2、爱情是小说永恒的主题，《傲慢与偏见》以爱情和婚姻为主要内容，自然是吸引读者的。但描写爱情的小说不计其数（言情小说似乎就很多产），要像《傲慢与偏见》这样在世界文学中占有一席之地，也并不是一件容易的事。《傲慢与偏见》之所以称得上世界文学名著而不流俗于一般爱情小说，自有它的魅力所在。那么到底是什么使它脱颖而出呢？一部好的小说，内容、情节是非常重要的。《傲慢与偏见》的内容并不复杂，情节却引人入胜。读过本书的读者应该对小说开篇的一句话记忆犹新：“凡是有财产的单身汉，必定需要娶位太太，这已经成了一条举世公认的真理。(It is a true universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.) ” 在英文中in want of 是指客观需要，而不是主观想要；这简简单单的一句话却深深反映出资产阶级婚姻的实质无非是金钱交易与利益的结合，可见作者的目光之透彻犀利，也正应证了前面所说的细微之处却能反映大问题。小说开篇就这样牢牢抓住了读者，接着通过班纳特夫妇风趣的对话，把读者带进一个女儿多得发愁的中产阶级家庭中。这个家庭家道已经中落，却还有5个待嫁的女儿，而且不幸班纳特先生又没有儿子，其财产将由表亲柯林斯继承。在资产阶级社会，如果女孩没有丰厚的嫁妆，就是再有才貌，也难找到体面的丈夫，就像书中达西所说：“她们倘使想嫁给有地位的男人，机会可就大大减少了。”所以处在婚姻要权衡双方阶级地位和金钱利害的情况下，这五位姑娘的出嫁前景确实不太美妙。小说采用古典的现实主义笔法，描写了四对青年男女的结合，通过班纳特五个女儿对待终身大事的不同处理，表现出乡镇中产阶级家庭出身的少女对婚姻爱情问题的不同态度，也借此表达了作者本人的婚姻观，即为财产打算的婚姻是没有幸福的，结婚不考虑财产是愚蠢的，讲究门第的包办婚姻不堪忍受，把婚姻当儿戏毫不足取，理想的婚姻要以感情为基础。书中的女主人公伊丽莎白与达西不顾门第和财富的差距，真心相爱，美满结合，是作者所颂扬的幸福婚姻。从伊丽莎白的身上，我们可以看到女性对人格独立和平等权利的追求；作者虽然没有反映出她那个时代的阶级矛盾和阶级斗争，然而她的强烈的阶级意识却表现了出来，对经济、财产决定婚姻关系乃至生活命运的揭露也可谓入木三分。西方有位马克思主义批评家大卫•戴克斯曾半开玩笑的说，在“揭露人类行为的经济原因”方面，奥斯汀“从某种意义上可以说在马克思以前就是马克思主义者了。”

　　Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen. First published in 1813, as her second novel, she started it in 1796 as her first persevering effort for publication. She finished the original manuscript by 1797 in Steventon, Hampshire, where she lived with her parents and siblings in the town rectory. Austen originally called the story First Impressions, but it was never published under that title; instead, she made extensive revisions to the manuscript, then retitled and eventually published it as Pride and Prejudice. In renaming the novel, Austen may have had in mind the final chapter of Fanny Burney's Cecilia, itself called "Pride and Prejudice" and where the phrase appears three times in block capitals. (She may also have been concerned that the original title might be confused with other works.)
　　
　　The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, moral rightness, education and marriage in her aristocratic society of early 19th century England. Elizabeth is the second eldest of five daughters of a country gentleman landed in the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, not far from London.
　　
　　Though the story's setting is uniquely turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of 'most loved books' such as the Big Read. It still receives considerable attention from literary critics. This modern interest has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen's memorable characters or themes.
　　
　　To date, the book has sold some 20 million copies worldwide.
　　
　　Plot summary
　　
　　The novel revolves around the Bennet family. The five marriageable daughters and mother will be without a home and income once Mr. Bennet dies: The terms on which Mr. Bennet inherited Longbourn ("fee tail male," now abolished by statute in England) prohibit women from inheriting it, with the effect that instead one of Mr. Bennet's collateral relatives will inherit the estate. The mother worries about this predicament, and wishes to find husbands for them quickly. The father doesn't seem to be worried at all, and Elizabeth, the heroine, has decided to only marry for love, even though she has no real ideas about how she will survive financially. She is of the opinion that her sister Jane, being kind and beautiful, will find a wealthy husband, and that she can then live with her. As the novel opens, Mr Bingley, a wealthy young gentleman, rents a country estate near the Bennets called Netherfield. He arrives in town accompanied by his fashionable sisters and his good friend, Mr Darcy. While Bingley is well-received in the community, Darcy begins his acquaintance with smug condescension and proud distaste for all the 'country' people. Bingley and Elizabeth Bennet's older sister Jane begin to grow close. Elizabeth's best friend Charlotte advises that Jane should be more affectionate to Bingley, as they are both shy, and he may not know that she is indeed interested in him. Elizabeth disregards her friend's opinion, saying that Jane is shy and modest, and that if Bingley can't see how she feels, he is a fool. With that, she never even tells Jane what Charlotte advised. Elizabeth is stung by Darcy's haughty rejection of her at a local dance and decides to match his coldness with her own wit.
　　
　　At the same time Elizabeth begins a friendship with Mr Wickham, a militia officer who relates a prior acquaintance with Darcy. Wickham tells her that he has been seriously mistreated by Darcy. Elizabeth immediately seizes upon this information as another reason to hate Darcy. Ironically, but unbeknownst to her, Darcy finds himself gradually drawn to Elizabeth.
　　
　　Just as Bingley appears to be on the point of proposing marriage to Jane Bennet, he quits Netherfield, leaving Jane confused and upset. Elizabeth is convinced that Bingley's sister has conspired with Darcy to separate Jane and Bingley.
　　
　　Before Bingley leaves, Mr Collins, the male relative who is to inherit Longbourn, makes a sudden appearance and stays with the Bennets. He is a recently ordained clergyman employed by the wealthy and patronizing Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Though he was partially entreated to visit by his patroness, Collins has another reason for visiting: he wishes to find a wife from among the Bennet sisters. Mr Bennet and Elizabeth are amused by his self-important and pedantic behaviour. He immediately enters pursuit of Jane; however, when Mrs Bennet mentions her preoccupation with Mr Bingley, he turns to Elizabeth. He soon proposes marriage to Elizabeth, who refuses him, much to her mother's distress. Collins quickly recovers and proposes to Elizabeth's close friend, Charlotte Lucas, who immediately accepts him. Once the marriage is arranged, Charlotte asks Elizabeth to come for an extended visit.
　　
　　In the spring, Elizabeth joins Charlotte and her cousin at his parish in Kent. The parish is adjacent to Rosings Park, the grand manor of Mr Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, where Elizabeth is frequently invited. While calling on Lady Catherine, Mr Darcy encounters Elizabeth. She discovers from a cousin of Darcy that it was he who separated Bingley and Jane. Soon after, Darcy admits his love of Elizabeth and proposes to her. Insulted by his high-handed and insulting manner of proposing, Elizabeth refuses him. When he asks why she should refuse him, she confronts him with his sabotage of Bingley's relationship with Jane and Wickham's account of their dealings.
　　
　　Deeply shaken by Elizabeth's vehemence and accusations, Darcy writes her a letter justifying his actions. The letter reveals that Wickham soon dissipated his legacy-settlement (from Darcy's father's estate), then came back to Darcy requesting permanent patronage; and that he became angry when rejected, accusing Darcy of cheating him. To exact revenge and to make off with part of the Darcy family fortune, he attempted to seduce Darcy's young sister Georgiana—to gain her hand and fortune, almost persuading her to elope with him—before he was found out and stopped. Towards Bingley and Jane, Darcy justifies his actions from having observed that Jane did not show any reciprocal interest in his friend; thus his aim in separating them was mainly to protect Bingley from heartache.
　　
　　Darcy admits he was concerned about the disadvantageous connection with Elizabeth's family, especially her embarrassing mother and wild younger sisters. After reading the letter, Elizabeth begins to question both her family's behaviour and Wickham's credibility. She concludes that Wickham is not as trustworthy as his easy manners would indicate, that he had lied to her previously, and that her early impressions of Darcy might have been inaccurate. Soon after receiving the letter, Elizabeth returns home.
　　Elizabeth tells her father that Darcy was responsible for uniting Lydia and Wickham. This is one of the two earliest illustrations of Pride and Prejudice. The clothing styles reflect the time the illustration was engraved (the 1830s), not the time the novel was written or set.
　　
　　Some months later, during a tour of Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth visits Pemberley, Darcy's estate. Darcy's housekeeper, an older woman who has known Darcy since childhood, presents Elizabeth and her relatives with a flattering and benevolent impression of his character. Unexpectedly, Darcy arrives at Pemberley as they tour its grounds. He makes an effort to be gracious and welcoming to them, thus strengthening Elizabeth's newly favourable impression of him. Darcy then introduces Elizabeth to his sister Georgiana. He treats her uncle and aunt very well, and finds them of a more sound character than her other relatives, whom he previously dismissed as socially inferior.
　　
　　Elizabeth and Darcy's renewed acquaintance is cut short when news arrives that Elizabeth's younger sister Lydia has run away with Wickham. Initially, the Bennets believe that Wickham and Lydia have eloped, but soon it is surmised that Wickham has no plans to marry Lydia. Lydia's antics threaten the family's reputation and the Bennet sisters with social ruin. Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle hurriedly leave Derbyshire, and Elizabeth is convinced that Darcy will avoid her from now on.
　　
　　Soon, thanks to the intervention of Elizabeth's uncle, Lydia and Wickham are found and married. After the marriage, Wickham and Lydia make a visit to Longbourn. While bragging to Elizabeth, Lydia comments that Darcy was present at the wedding. Surprised, Elizabeth sends an inquiry to her aunt, from whom she discovers that Darcy was responsible for both finding the couple and arranging their marriage at great expense to himself.
　　
　　Soon after, Bingley and Darcy return to the area. Bingley proposes marriage to Jane, and this news starts rumors that Darcy will propose to Elizabeth. Lady Catherine travels to Longbourn with the sole aim of confronting Elizabeth and demanding that she never accept such a proposal. Elizabeth refuses to bow to Lady Catherine's demands. When news of this obstinance reaches Darcy, it convinces him that her opinion of him has changed. When he visits, he once again proposes marriage. Elizabeth accepts, and the two become engaged.
　　
　　The final chapters of the book establish the future of the characters. Elizabeth and Darcy settle at Pemberley where Mr Bennet visits often. Mrs Bennet remains frivolous and silly; she often visits the new Mrs Bingley and talks of the new Mrs Darcy. Later, Jane and Bingley move from Netherfield to avoid Jane's mother and Meryton relations and to locate near the Darcys in Derbyshire. Elizabeth and Jane manage to teach Kitty greater social grace, and Mary learns to accept the difference between herself and her sisters' beauty and mixes more with the outside world. Lydia and Wickham continue to move often, leaving their debts for Jane and Elizabeth to pay off. At Pemberley, Elizabeth and Georgiana grow close, though Georgiana is surprised by Elizabeth's playful treatment of Darcy. Lady Catherine stays very angry with her nephew's marriage but over time the relationship between the two is repaired and she eventually decides to visit them. Elizabeth and Darcy also remain close with her uncle and aunt.
　　Main characters
　　[show]Character genealogy
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr Hurst
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mrs Hurst
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr Philips
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Caroline Bingley
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mrs Philips
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr Charles Bingley
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mrs Gardiner
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Jane Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr Gardiner
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Elizabeth Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mrs Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mary Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Catherine "Kitty" Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr William Collins
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Lydia Bennet
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Charlotte Lucas
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr George Wickham
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 (Old) Mr Darcy
　　
　　
　　
　　 Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Lady Anne Darcy
　　
　　
　　
　　 Georgiana Darcy
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Lady Catherine De Bourgh
　　
　　 Anne De Bourgh
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 Lord ——
　　
　　 Colonel Fitzwilliam
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　 * Elizabeth Bennet is the main character and protagonist. The reader sees the unfolding plot and the other characters mostly from her viewpoint. The second of the Bennet daughters at twenty years old, she is intelligent, lively, attractive, and witty, but with a tendency to judge on first impressions and perhaps to be a little selective of the evidence upon which she bases her judgments. As the plot begins, her closest relationships are with her father, her sister Jane, her aunt Mrs Gardiner, and her best friend Charlotte Lucas.
　　
　　 * Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is the main male character. Twenty-eight years old and unmarried, Darcy is the wealthy owner of the famous family estate of Pemberley in Derbyshire. Handsome, tall, and intelligent, but not convivial, his aloof decorum and moral rectitude are seen by many as an excessive pride and concern for social status. He makes a poor impression on strangers, such as the gentry of Meryton, but is valued by those who know him well.
　　
　　 * Mr Bennet has a wife and five daughters, and seems to have inurred himself to his fate. A bookish and intelligent gentleman somewhat withdrawn from society, he dislikes the indecorous behaviours of his wife and three younger daughters; but he offers little beyond mockery by way of correcting them. Rather than guiding these daughters to more sensible understanding, he is instead content to laugh at them. He relates very well with his two elder daughters, Jane and Elizabeth, showing them much more love and respect than his wife and younger daughters.
　　
　　 * Mrs Bennet is the wife of her social superior Mr Bennet, and mother of Elizabeth and her sisters. She is frivolous, excitable, and narrow-minded. She is susceptible to attacks of tremors and palpitations; her public manners and social climbing are embarrassing to Jane and Elizabeth. Her favourite daughter is the youngest, Lydia.
　　
　　Lady Catherine confronts Elizabeth about Darcy, on the title page of the first illustrated edition. This is the other of the first two illustrations of the novel.
　　
　　 * Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet sister. Twenty-two years old when the novel begins, she is considered the most beautiful young lady in the neighbourhood. Her character is contrasted with Elizabeth's as sweeter, shyer, and equally sensible, but not as clever; her most notable trait is a desire to see only the good in others. Jane is closest to Elizabeth, and her character is often contrasted with that of Elizabeth.
　　
　　 * Mary Bennet is the only plain Bennet sister, and rather than join in some of the family activities, she reads, although is often impatient for display. She works hard for knowledge and accomplishment, but has neither genius nor taste. At the ball at Netherfield, she embarrasses her family by singing badly.
　　
　　 * Catherine "Kitty" Bennet is the fourth Bennet sister, aged seventeen. She is portrayed as a less headstrong but equally silly shadow of Lydia.
　　
　　 * Lydia Bennet is the youngest Bennet sister, aged fifteen. She is repeatedly described as frivolous and headstrong. Her main activity in life is socialising, especially flirting with the military officers stationed in the nearby town of Meryton. She dominates her older sister Kitty and is supported in the family by her mother. After she elopes with Wickham and he is paid to marry her, she shows no remorse for the embarrassment that her actions caused for her family, but acts as if she has made a wonderful match of which her sisters should be jealous.
　　
　　 * Charles Bingley is a young gentleman without an estate. His wealth was recent, and he is seeking a permanent home. He rents the Netherfield estate near Longbourn when the novel opens. Twenty-two years old at the start of the novel, handsome, good-natured, and wealthy, he is contrasted with his friend Darcy as being less intelligent but kinder and more charming, and hence more popular in Meryton. He lacks resolve and is easily influenced by others.
　　
　　 * Caroline Bingley is the snobbish sister of Charles Bingley. Clearly harbouring romantic intentions on Darcy herself, she views his growing attachment to Elizabeth Bennet with some jealousy, resulting in disdain and frequent verbal attempts to undermine Elizabeth and her society.
　　
　　 * George Wickham is an old acquaintance of Darcy from childhood, and an officer in the militia unit stationed near Meryton. Superficially charming, he rapidly forms a friendship with Elizabeth Bennet, prompting remarks upon his suitability as a potential husband. He spreads numerous tales about the wrongs Darcy has done to him, colouring the popular perception of the other man in local society. It is eventually revealed that these tales are distortions, and that Darcy was the wronged man in their acquaintance.
　　
　　 * William Collins, aged twenty-five, is Mr Bennet's clergyman cousin and, as Mr Bennet has no son, heir to his estate. Austen described him as "not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society." Collins boasts of his acquaintance with — and advantageous patronage from — Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr Bennet, Jane, and Elizabeth consider him pompous and lacking in common sense. Elizabeth's rejection of Collins' marriage proposal is welcomed by her father, regardless of the financial benefit to the family of such a match. Elizabeth is later somewhat distressed — although understanding — when her closest friend, Charlotte Lucas, consents to marry Collins out of her need for a settled position and to avoid the low status and lack of autonomy of an old maid.
　　
　　 * Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who has wealth and social standing, is haughty, domineering and condescending. Mr Collins, among others, enables these characteristics by deferring to her opinions and desires. Elizabeth, however, is duly respectful but not intimidated. Darcy, whilst respectful of their shared family connection, is offended by her lack of manners, especially towards Elizabeth, and later — when pressed by her demand that he not marry Elizabeth — is quick to assert his intentions to marry whom he wishes.
　　
　　 * Mr Gardiner is Mrs Bennet's brother, and a businessman. He is quite sensible and gentleman-like. He tries to help Lydia when she elopes with Wickham. His wife has close relationships with Elizabeth and Jane. Jane stays with the Gardiners in London for a while, and Elizabeth travels with them to Derbyshire, where she again meets Darcy.
　　
　　 * Georgiana Darcy is Mr Darcy's quiet and amiable younger sister, aged sixteen when the story begins. In a letter from Mr Darcy to Elizabeth, he describes that Wickham tried to persuade her to elope with him and inherit her 30,000 pounds. Later on, Elizabeth meets her at their home at Pemberly, where she is amiable and sweet. She is very happy with her brother's choosing of Elizabeth and maintains an extremely close relationship to both of them.
　　
　　Interrelationships
　　A comprehensive web showing the relationships between the main characters in Pride and Prejudice
　　
　　
　　Major themes
　　
　　Many critics take the novel's title as a starting point when analysing the major themes of Pride and Prejudice; however, Robert Fox cautions against reading too much into the title since commercial factors may have played a role in its selection. "After the success of Sense and Sensibility, nothing would have seemed more natural than to bring out another novel of the same author using again the formula of antithesis and alliteration for the title. It should be pointed out that the qualities of the title are not exclusively assigned to one or the other of the protagonists; both Elizabeth and Darcy display pride and prejudice."
　　
　　A major theme in much of Austen's work is the importance of environment and upbringing on the development of young people's character and morality. Social standing and wealth are not necessarily advantages in her world, and a further theme common to Jane Austen's work is ineffectual parents. In Pride and Prejudice, the failure of Mr and Mrs Bennet (particularly the latter) as parents is blamed for Lydia's lack of moral judgment; Darcy, on the other hand, has been taught to be principled and scrupulously honourable, but is also proud and overbearing. Kitty, rescued from Lydia's bad influence and spending more time with her older sisters after they marry, is said to improve greatly in their superior society.
　　Style
　　
　　Pride and Prejudice, like most of Jane Austen's works, employs the narrative technique of free indirect speech. This has been defined as "the free representation of a character's speech, by which one means, not words actually spoken by a character, but the words that typify the character's thoughts, or the way the character would think or speak, if she thought or spoke". By using narrative which adopts the tone and vocabulary of a particular character (in this case, that of Elizabeth), Austen invites the reader to follow events from Elizabeth's viewpoint, sharing her prejudices and misapprehensions. "The learning curve, while undergone by both protagonists, is disclosed to us solely through Elizabeth's point of view and her free indirect speech is essential ... for it is through it that we remain caught, if not stuck, within Elizabeth's misprisions."
　　Publication history
　　Modern paperback editions of Pride and Prejudice
　　
　　The novel was originally titled First Impressions by Jane Austen, and was written between October 1796 and August 1797. On 1 November 1797 Austen's father gave the draft to London bookseller Thomas Cadell in hopes of it being published, but it was rejected. The unpublished manuscript was returned to Austen and it stayed with her.
　　
　　Austen made significant revisions to the manuscript for First Impressions between 1811 and 1812. She later renamed the story Pride and Prejudice. In renaming the novel, Austen probably had in mind the "sufferings and oppositions" summarized in the final chapter of Fanny Burney's Cecilia, called "Pride and Prejudice", where the phrase appears three times in block capitals. It is possible that the novel's original title was altered to avoid confusion with other works. In the years between the completion of First Impressions and its revision into Pride and Prejudice, two other works had been published under that name: a novel by Margaret Holford and a comedy by Horace Smith.
　　
　　Austen sold the copyright for the novel to Thomas Egerton of Whitehall in exchange for £110 (Austen had asked for £150). This proved a costly decision. Austen had published Sense and Sensibility on a commission basis, whereby she indemnified the publisher against any losses and received any profits, less costs and the publisher's commission. Unaware that Sense and Sensibility would sell out its edition, making her £140, she passed the copyright to Egerton for a one-off payment, meaning that all the risk (and all the profits) would be his. Jan Fergus has calculated that Egerton subsequently made around £450 from just the first two editions of the book.
　　
　　Egerton published the first edition of Pride and Prejudice in three hardcover volumes in January 1813, priced at 18s. Favourable reviews saw this edition sold out, with a second edition published in November that year. A third edition was published in 1817.
　　
　　Foreign language translations first appeared in 1813 in French; subsequent translations were published in German, Danish and Swedish. Pride and Prejudice was first published in the United States in August 1832 as Elizabeth Bennet or, Pride and Prejudice. The novel was also included in Richard Bentley's Standard Novel series in 1833. R. W. Chapman's scholarly edition of Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1923, has become the standard edition from which many modern publications of the novel are based.
　　Reception
　　
　　The novel was well received, with three favourable reviews in the first months following publication. Jan Fergus calls it "her most popular novel, both with the public and with her family and friends", and quotes David Gilson's A Bibliography of Jane Austen (Clarendon, 1982), where it is stated that Pride and Prejudice was referred to as "the fashionable novel" by Anne Isabella Milbanke, later to be the wife of Lord Byron. However, others did not agree. Charlotte Brontë wrote to noted critic and reviewer George Henry Lewes after reading a review of his published in Fraser's Magazine in 1847. He had praised Jane Austen's work and declared that he, "... would rather have written Pride and Prejudice, or Tom Jones, than any of the Waverley Novels". Miss Brontë, though, found Pride and Prejudice a disappointment, "... a carefully fenced, highly cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; but ... no open country, no fresh air, no blue hill, no bonny beck."
　　Modern popularity
　　
　　 * In 2003 the BBC conducted the largest ever poll for the "UK's Best-Loved Book" in which Pride and Prejudice came second, behind The Lord of the Rings.
　　 * In a 2008 survey of more than 15,000 Australian readers, Pride and Prejudice came first in a list of the 101 best books ever written.
　　
　　Adaptations
　　Film, television, and theatre
　　
　　Pride and Prejudice has engendered numerous adaptations. Some of the notable film versions include that of 1940 starring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, that of 2003 starring Kam Heskin and Orlando Seale (which placed the characters of Pride and Prejudice in a Mormon university, and was directed by Andrew Black and that of 2005 starring Keira Knightley (in an Oscar-nominated performance) and Matthew Macfadyen. Notable television versions include two by the BBC: the 1995 version starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and a 1980 version starring Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul. A 1936 stage version was created by Helen Jerome played at the St. James's Theatre in London, starring Celia Johnson and Hugh Williams. First Impressions was a 1959 Broadway musical version starring Polly Bergen, Farley Granger, and Hermione Gingold. In 1995, a musical concept album was written by Bernard J. Taylor, with Peter Karrie in the role of Mr Darcy and Claire Moore in the role of Elizabeth Bennet. A new stage production, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, The New Musical, was presented in concert on 21 October 2008 in Rochester, New York with Colin Donnell as Darcy. The popular film Bridget Jones's Diary is a contemporary retelling, starring Renee Zellweger as a modern day Elizabeth, and Colin Firth, once again, as Mr Darcy.
　　
　　Bride and Prejudice, starring Aishwarya Rai, is a Bollywood adaptation of the novel, while Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy (2003) places the novel in contemporary times. The off-Broadway musical I Love You Because reverses the gender of the main roles, set in modern day New York City. The Japanese comic Hana Yori Dango by Yoko Kamio, in which the wealthy, arrogant and proud protagonist, Doumyouji Tsukasa, falls in love with a poor, lower-class girl named Makino Tsukushi, is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice. A 2008 Israeli television six-part miniseries set the story in the Galilee with Mr Darcy a well-paid worker in the high-tech industry.
　　
　　Pride and Prejudice has also crossed into the science fiction and horror genres. In the 1997 episode of science fiction comedy Red Dwarf entitled "Beyond a Joke", the crew of the space ship relax in a virtual reality rendition of "Pride and Prejudice Land" in "Jane Austen World". The central premise of the television miniseries Lost in Austen is a modern woman suddenly swapping lives with that of Elizabeth Bennet. In February 2009, it was announced that Elton John's Rocket Pictures production company was making a film, Pride and Predator, based on the story, but with the added twist of an alien landing in Longbourne.
　　Literature
　　
　　The novel has inspired a number of other works that are not direct adaptations. Books inspired by Pride and Prejudice include: Mr. Darcy's Daughters and The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy by Elizabeth Aston; Pemberley: Or Pride and Prejudice Continued and An Unequal Marriage: Or Pride and Prejudice Twenty Years Later by Emma Tennant; The Book of Ruth (ASIN B00262ZRBM) by Helen Baker; Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo; Precipitation - A Continuation of Miss Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Helen Baker; Searching for Pemberley by Mary Simonsen and Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and its sequel Darcy & Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberly by Linda Berdoll. In Gwyn Cready's comedic romance novel, Seducing Mr. Darcy, the heroine lands in Pride and Prejudice by way of magic massage, has a fling with Darcy and unknowingly changes the rest of the story. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding, which started as a newspaper column before becoming a novel and a film, was inspired by the then-current BBC adaptation; both works share a Mr. Darcy of serious disposition (both played by Colin Firth), a foolish match-making mother, and a detached affectionate father, as well as the protagonist overhearing Mr. Darcy speaking about her disparagingly, followed by the caddish character gaining the protagonist's affections by telling lies about Mr. Darcy. The self-referential in-jokes continue with the sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
　　
　　In March 2009, Quirk Books released Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which takes Austen's actual, original work, and laces it with zombie hordes, cannibalism, ninjas, and ultra-violent mayhem. Scheduled for publication in March 2010, Quirk Books has announced that it will produce a prequel which deals with Elizabeth Bennett's early days as a zombie hunter, entitled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls.
　　
　　Yet another angle was introduced by Monica Fairview, who wrote about Miss Caroline Bingley in The Other Mr Darcy, published in October 2009. Pride and Prejudice has also inspired many scholarly articles and books including: So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autism Spectrum in 'Pride and Prejudice' by Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer, Forewords by Eileen Sutherland and Tony Attwood.
　　
　　Marvel has also published their take on this classic, releasing a short comic series of five issues that stays true to the original storyline. The first issue was published on 1 April 2009 and was written by Nancy Hajeski.
　　
　　Author Amanda Grange wrote Mr. Darcy's Diary in 2007 that tells the original story of Pride and Prejudice from the view of Mr Darcy. In 2009, she wrote Mr. Darcy, Vampyre which reimagines Darcy as a vampire after he has married Elizabeth. Following the same premise is Regina Jeffers' "Vampire Darcy's Desire", which retells Pride and Prejudice on the basis that Darcy is a dhampir (part-human, part-vampire) joined by his lover Elizabeth to fight the evil vampire George Wickham.