Pride and Prejudice Bedside English Learning Reader I

Author: Mao Ronggui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Plot Summary: Pride and Prejudice is the masterpiece of the renowned British female writer Jane Austen (1775–1817), a novel depicting love and marriage. The novel follows the romantic entanglement between the male and female protagonists, Darcy and Elizabeth, caused by pride and prejudice, and tells four tales of marriage: Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, Lydia and Wickham, and Charlotte and Collins. Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia are three sisters among the five daughters of the Bennet family, while Charlotte is their neighbor and Elizabeth's friend. The male protagonist, Darcy, is a close friend of Bingley and grew up with Wickham, while Collins is a distant relative of the Bennet family. The Bennet couple has five daughters who are (unmarried and ready for marriage) and no male heir. According to the laws of the time, their estate would be inherited by their distant cousin Collins after their death. Therefore, marrying their daughters into wealthy families became Mrs. Bennet's greatest wish. Bingley, an unmarried wealthy young man, rents the nearby Netherfield estate from the Bennet family, becoming the focus of attention and the subject of much discussion. Soon after, Bingley falls in love with the beautiful and virtuous eldest daughter, Jane. Darcy, a friend of Bingley, develops a fondness for the intelligent and straightforward second daughter, Elizabeth, but he offends her during a ball by his arrogant remarks, leading Elizabeth to hold prejudice against him. Wickham, a man of questionable character, tells Elizabeth that he is the son of the deceased steward of Darcy's estate and grew up with Darcy, but Darcy unjustly deprived him of the position his father had promised him. Darcy, meanwhile, persuades Bingley to break off his relationship with Jane due to his mother and younger sisters, causing a rift between the four. Wickham's slander against Darcy, along with Darcy's interference, further deepens Elizabeth's prejudice against him. Collins, seeking to inherit the estate with peace of mind, decides to choose one of the five beautiful daughters of the Bennet family as his "wife" and proposes to Elizabeth. After being rejected, he immediately turns to Charlotte, a single woman eager to find a "home," and surprisingly receives her acceptance. Elizabeth is invited to the home of the newly married Collins and Charlotte, where she unexpectedly encounters Darcy, who has come to visit Catherine. Darcy is instantly captivated by Elizabeth and proposes, but his arrogant words lead to her furious rejection. Elizabeth also accuses Darcy of being cruel to Wickham and of ruining Bingley's relationship with Jane. Darcy later writes a letter to defend himself, gradually erasing Elizabeth's prejudice. While traveling with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth passes by Darcy's estate and enters it, thinking he is not there, only to find him returning unexpectedly. Elizabeth feels extremely embarrassed. However, Darcy shows no trace of his usual arrogance and warmly welcomes them. At this moment, Elizabeth receives a letter, learning that Wickham has run away with her sister Lydia! Rushing home, the family is at a loss, but Darcy secretly tracks down their whereabouts, funds their marriage, and arranges their lives, saving the Bennet family's dignity. This incident resolves the conflict between Elizabeth and Darcy, and Bingley also rekindles his romance with Jane. In the end, all lovers find happiness.