2. The Characters and their Marriage

2.1 Elizabeth and Darcy

Elizabeth was a bright lady. No one could doubt her grit. What’s more, she had a strong self-respect and was quite thoughtful, which could be regarded as a precious quality for an unmarried young lady. And it was this equality that contributed to her independent opinions in love, which finally led to her happy combination with Darcy. Elizabeth did have the aspect of sensibility in her characters, but what made her so fascinating was her rational thinking. “She rejected Collins in spite of his property because he was personally unsuitable. She would accept Wickham in spite of his poverty for his physical and social attractiveness, if he was able to afford to marry her”(郅丽霞, 2016: 250). She had been within an inch of Wickham’s trap before she knew the true nature of him. But when her aunt told her that Wickham was not worth her love because he neither had a stable income nor possessed wealth, which would not bring her happiness. And when she found that he was a rogue, she rejected him, because character was more important to her than physical attraction. Elizabeth accepted it and restrained her emotion to Wickham by reason. And she once held prejudice to Darcy at first, but after series of events, she began to observe and think with intellect and gradually changed her mind toward Darcy, and made up a happy family in the end. Elizabeth's emotional turmoil with Darcy was largely due to the protagonist's deviation from her self-cognition. Such an injustice led to her prejudice to Darcy. But a fair understanding helped Elizabeth to get real happiness at last. “Their marriage was the combination of rational choice and deep emotional foundation” (周阿芹, 2013: 215). Elizabeth herself embodied the true value of marriage and the pursuit of that time. In fact, Elizabeth's different attitudes towards Darcy's marriage proposals actually reflected woman's pursuit for the right of personality independence and equality. Elizabeth was intelligent, courageous and had a strong sense of self-respect. These qualities gave her an opinion on the subject of love and made her happy in marriage. In the face of emotion, she was not like her sister, Lydia, determined by the impulsive action of the moment, but maintaining the dignity of human being, which reflected the power of thought and reason. In the face of reality, she did not give up her emotional pursuit as Charlotte did. She dared to stand up in front of all the forces that hindered her and bravely defended her noble and pure love. It was particularly admirable that she insisted that “the genuine affection of both men and women be the cornerstone of an ideal marriage and opposed marriage for property, money and status” (Chang, 2014: 78). It was very progressive in the society where women were in no position and had to regard marriage as their only outlet.

Darcy, as the most suitable mate for Elizabeth, was a wise and forthright gentleman, but he tended to judge others hastily and sharply. His birth and wealth gave him too much pride and too much respect for his social status. Indeed, his haughtiness made a bad impression on Elizabeth at the beginning. For example, when he proposed to Elizabeth, he said that her charm, beauty, and everything else were completely out of line with Elizabeth. His words and tone were so self-centered that he was turned down without any mercy. The moment when he found himself so into Elizabeth, the iceberg in his heart began to melt. The shock of recognition between pride and prejudice made him rethink his attitude. Although Elizabeth was indifferent to him, Darcy expressed his admiration for Elizabeth unremittingly, which could be seen from his sparing no effort to help Lydia and pursuing Elizabeth under the pressure of his aunt. Darcy proved his love for Elizabeth, and Elizabeth also confessed her prejudice against him, bringing them a happy ending.