3.2 Jane and Bingley 9

3.3 Lydia and Wickham 10

3.4 Charlotte and Collins 11

3.5 Mr. and Mrs. Bennet 12

4 Economic Ethics in Pride and Prejudice 13

4.1 Economy and Morality in Marriage 13

4.2 Justice and Benefit in Marriage 14

4.3 Exchange Ethics in Marriage 15

5 Conclusion 17

Bibliography...18

1 Introduction

In this opening chapter, Jane Austen and her work Pride and Prejudice and the importance of this work will be introduced so that readers can get better background information, and it also lay a basic and essential foundation to unfold the following chapters.

1.1 Jane Austen

Jane Austen, a well-known British female novelist, whose works primarily center on the marriage and life of the British landed gentry. She uses her unique nuanced observation power and lively and humorous words to truly portray the world around her. Austen did not go to formal school but attained knowledge from family education. His father's literature collection became the reading materials as textbooks. The Austen family is fond of reading prevailing novels which are mainly involved by vulgar recreational items. Her teenage work was a parody of such popular novels, which formed the tone of taunting in her works.

At the turn of the century of 18th and 19th, the world of British literature was occupied by the vulgar and tedious “Sentimental novels” and “Gothic novels”. Austen’s novels eradicated the old and foster the new, unconventionally demonstrating the daily and idyllic life of country’s rural areas which was not under the impact of the capitalist industrial revolution during that time. Her works, using comedy techniques, often ridicule the weaknesses of people by their stupid, selfish, blind confident behaviors. With appearances of Austen’s novels in the early 19th century, the popular pseudo-romantic trend was swept away, the British 18th-century outstanding realist tradition was inherited and developed, and the climax of 19th century realistic novels was promising. In spite of the limited breadth and depth gradually reflected, her works, such as the “two-inch tooth carving”, Look at the whole social form and secular feelings from the small window, played important part in switching the vulgar atmosphere in the creation of novels during that time. 

Due to the small life circle, lack of money and also long time living in powerful feudal village, Austen’s works are easy and humorous, which are also full of comedic conflicts. This is also the reason why her works often confined to the story of the common nostalgic daughter's love marriage. To some extent, her works also reflect the viewpoint of feudal power. Through the social interaction between ladies and gentlemen, the works satirize vanity and vanity in humorous language, reflecting the moral standards of family and society. This has made Austen’s works a popular for a long time. This has made Austen's works a popular for a long time.

1.2 Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is an outstanding work of Jane Austen, a classic novel that describes love and marriage. The works are based on the clues of protagonists Darcy and Elizabeth’s love due to pride and prejudice. It portrays five marriages: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, Lydia and Wickham, Charlotte and Collins. Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia are daughters of Mr. Bennet, and Charlotte is the intimate friend of Elizabeth. The protagonist Darcy grew up with Wickham but was a best friend of Bingley, and Collins was a disgusted relative of the Elizabeth.