Humor and Satire in Pride and Prejudice
Abstract: Jane Austen is one of the most famous novelists of the 19th century. She played an important role in the development of English fiction. She is noted for her intense concentration on the thoughts and feelings of a limited number of characters coping with ordinary life and social pressures. Her works of social comedy have a singular combination of rare gifts of humor and satire of wonderful delicacy. During her short life, Jane Austen wrote altogether 6 complete novels, among which Pride and Prejudice is the most popular one. The novel has been enjoying worldwide critical audience throughout the almost two centuries since it was published in 1813.There are also many critics’ researches on satire and humor in Pride and Prejudice, but mostly separately. This thesis focuses on the analysis of humor and satire in Pride and Prejudice. Humor and satire can be found everywhere in the book. It is Austen’s perfect mix use of humor and satire that makes it an outstanding comic masterpiece.
Key Words: Pride and Prejudice; humor; satire; comedy
《傲慢与偏见》的幽默与讽刺
摘 要：简·奥斯汀是十九世纪最著名的小说家之一，在英国小说发展史中占有一席之地。她的文笔细腻简练，幽默风趣。她敏锐深刻的观察力与才华横溢的嘲讽使她的作品成为一部部闪耀着喜剧光彩的现实主义杰作。奥斯丁在其短暂的一生中共创作了六部力作，其中《傲慢与偏见》是最受读者欢迎的一部作品。这部小说自1813年问世的近两百多年来，诸多评论家从不同角度、不同层面对该作品的艺术魅力进行了剖析。也有很多评论研究《傲慢与偏见》的幽默与讽刺。但大多数都将幽默与讽刺分开来研究。本论文旨在分析这部作品中的幽默与讽刺。在这部作品中幽默和讽刺随处可见。正是奥斯汀对幽默与讽刺的完美运用才使这部作品成为举世的喜剧名著。
关键词：《傲慢与偏见》；幽默；讽刺；喜剧
CONTENTS
Introduction………………………………………….…..………………1
1. Jane Austen, the Writer and Pride and Prejudice, the Novel……….1
1.1 A Brief Introduction to Jane Austen...……………………………………………1
1.1.1 Jane Austen's Life……………….…………………………………………..1
1.1.2 Jane Austen's Writing Characteristics……………………………………….2
1.2 A Brief Introduction to Pride and Prejudice……………………………………..3
1.2.1 The Story of Pride and Prejudice……………….…………………………..3
1.2.2 An Overall Critic of Pride and Prejudice…………………………………...3
2. Analyze the Comic Tone of Pride and Prejudice…..…………………4
2.1 The Definition of Humor...………………………………………………………4
2.2 The Analysis of Pride and Prejudice as a Comedy……………………………...4
2.3 Humor in Pride and Prejudice…………………………………………………...5
3. Analyze the Satiric Art in Pride and Prejudice………………………5
3.1 The Definition of Satire………………………………………………………….5
3.2 Austen’s Satiric Art in Pride and Prejudice……………………………………...6
3.3 Satire in Pride and Prejudice………………………………………………….....6
4. Analyze Humor and Satire in the Whole Story…………………….. 6
4.1 Humorous and Satiric Scenes……………………………………………………6
4.1.1 Mr. Collins Proposal to Elizabeth…………………………………………...7
41.1.1 Summary of This Scene………………………………………………....7
4.1.1.2 Humor and Satire in This Scene………………………………………..7
4.1.2 Lady Catherine's Visit to Elizabeth at Longbourn.........8
4.1.2.1 Summary of This Scene………………………………………………...8
4.1.2.2 Humor and Satire in This Scene………………………………………..8
4.2 Humorous and Satiric Dialogue in this novel………………………………........9
4.2.1 The Dialogue between Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet……………………......9
4.2.2 The Dialogue between Mr. Bennet and Mr. Collins……………………….11
4.3 Humor and Satire Used in Portraying the Comic Characters…………………..11
5. Humor and Satire Used to Present Her View on Marriage……….12
6. Conclusion…………………………………………………………….13
Bibliography…………………………………………………………….16
