傲慢与偏见舞会分析·英国文学史论文

An Analysis of the Design of the First Assembly

in Pride and Prejudice

[Abstract] In Pride and Prejudice, the first assembly is the stage of the debut of hero, Darcy and the heroine, Elizabeth. Therefore, the design of this assembly, including which part of the assembly should be narrated directly in the description of the assembly, how to do with other things happened during the party, how to shape the characteristics and personality of the two main characters as well as other important role on the assembly, is essentially significant to the character portrait for the whole novel. Mainly employing description of language and technique of comparative description, the plot about this assembly is well-designed as three parts, before, during and after the assembly, which is efficient to the character figuring of the novel. [Keywords] character figuring, design, description of language, comparative description

The novel introduces the first assembly in Chapter 3, using only half of a chapter to directly describe things happened on the party while two other whole chapter to show people’s discussion on it. By the delicate design, vivid language description and useful comparative description, the description of this party is highly efficient to the chapter portrait of this novel.

Before the party, Mrs. Bennet’s worry about Mr. Bingley’s going into the town is showed, which totally reveals the purpose of Mrs. Bennet’s participating in the dinner, again echoing the description of Mrs. Bennet’s saying "If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for." (Austen, 2001: 2) at former plot. In the case, the assembly is platform to looking for sweetheart, love and even possible marriage (Yang, 91). At the end of this paragraph, Mr. Bingley’s invitating his sisters and Darcy leads to the appearance of these important characters.

For the description of things happened during the party, instead of using scene description to the setting of the ball or psychological description to the participators, language description organized by comparative technique is mainly employed to mould different personality of different participant. First of all, It can be directly seen that the description of Mr. Hurst’s and Mr. Darcy’s first appearance is put in the same paragraph and connected by the conjunction “but”, saying “Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the

room.”(Austen, 2001: 2). Then,people’s evaluations to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are also presented in comparison made by ladies and gentlemen, and more powerfully demonstrated in the discussion by ladies who “declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley.” (Austen, 2001: 2). Even in introducing Mr. Bingley’s and Mr. Darcy’s primary impression to the guests, comparison is never be forgotten in saying “not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.” (Austen, 2001: 3). In this debut of the two main male characters, comparative description from different layers is applied, which enriches their personality, polishes the description and help to model the character in a vivid and objective way with less words (Ai, 1981: 58).

Another wonderful utilization of comparative description in the design and narration during the party is the description to the dialogue between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. The Author uses no any word to describe the setting of the party or even to show other characters on the ball, but apply a large space for the conversation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. "Come, Darcy. I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance." This is Mr. Bingley’s first sentence in the whole novel and Mr. Darcy answered by saying "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with" (Austen, 2001: 3). Analyzing this sentence, It is not difficult to find the intimate friendship between these two gentlemen by observing the diction of Mr. Bingley. He used an imperative sentence at the very beginning, which according to John Searle is a directives showing his attempt to incite Mr. Darcy to a dance with Elizabeth. More importantly, by analyzing the different choice of modals verbs in the conversation, the personality of these two gentlemen can be dissected more clearly. Mr. Bingley, when inciting his friend, used a word “must”, while Mr. Darcy was designed to use words that is more euphemistic, conservative and indirect like “shall”, “would” (Zhang, 2009 ). This may display that Mr. Bingley is more frank and direct while Mr. Darcy still highly mind his words since that it is necessary for him to set a space between him and the people he talked to even faced to his best friend. Further more, Although Mr. Darcy pays particular care to his choice of word, his pride still can not be hided because of his unkind, harsh and even acerb word in saying "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am