Virginia Woolf once said that “of all great writers”, she found Jane Austen “the most difficult to catch in the act of greatness” (Zhu Hong, 1 985：5), a judgment that many critics would echo。 Jane Austen published only six full-length novels in her lifetime, but she is acclaimed for the unmatched wit, realism, irony, and social commentary that they contain。 Few other authors have mastered this art of recreating a society with words on paper。 Literary critic and Stanford English professor Ian Watt writes, “Austen is first and foremost a critical observer of humanity who uses irony as a means of moral and social judgment, who enlarges the reader’s understanding of experience through making him realize how limited is that of her fictional characters”。 With Austen’s critical eye and realistic writing, each of her novels becomes a microcosm of society as a whole。 文献综述

Pride and Prejudice is one of the most consummate novels by the extensive use of Austen’s ironic craft。 Readers are usually overwhelmed with admiration for its wit, artistic economy, polished style, good humor and unique features of the language。 While in a word, it is the delicate craft of irony that makes it so wonderful a masterpiece。 In Pride and Prejudice, the author gives us a charming and vivid female character – Elizabeth。 It not only shows the appreciate points of Elizabeth, but also her weak points。 It constructs an image accords with human nature and development。 Most previous researches concentrate on Elizabeth, on her dialogue styles and psychology analysis。 They all stood on the state of Elizabeth。 They seemed to ignore the importance of other supporting roles。 Jane had arranged various supporting roles to appear at different time, stage or even frequency。 It must have more implications than we can imagine。 Therefore, I want to change the angel to analyze Elizabeth’s character。 I want to dig out Elizabeth’s character at the view of various supporting roles。 I mainly describe the language, movements, expression and psychology of these supporting roles。 Meanwhile, detailed description, contrast, comparison and various writing techniques, including irony, humor, and exaggeration will be included。 Only in this way can we understand the author’s intention by arranging different characters in different stages。 Besides, only in this way can we appreciate author’s excellent gift in describing characters。 What’s more, Elizabeth’s character will be more objective and stereoscopic。 

2。 Varieties of supporting roles indicate the stereoscopic character of Elizabeth。

2。 1 the Original Image of Elizabeth

Elizabeth is born to distinctive。 Her high intelligence and keen observation make her different from her family members and other so-called "noble ladies"。 She can impartially observe and analyze other’s behaviors ignoring secular habits and stereotypes。 Besides, she can make her own decision based on her objective observation。 The novel firstly presents the image of Elizabeth as intelligence, kindness and loveliness。 Moreover, she is also independent, rebellious and unconventional。 These characteristics are reflected mainly by her family including Mr。 and Ms。 Bennet, her sisters, and her close friend Charlotte and Collins。

 2。1。1 The Descriptions of the Bennets and the Bingleys

At the very beginning, Mr。 Bennet and Ms。 Bennet are arguing with each other about Elizabeth。 Mr。 Bennet says that he must praise Elizabeth for she is more clever and quick-witted than any of her sisters。 When he calls Elizabeth “my little Lizzy” from which we can see that he loves her very much。 While Ms。 Bennet on the contrary says Elizabeth is so common that she cannot compare with others。 She says Elizabeth is neither so handsome as Jane nor humorous as Lydia。 She also feels puzzled why her husband gives more preference to Elizabeth。 Here, the detailed language descriptions and the contrast between Mr。 bennet and Ms。 Bennet gave readers the first impression of Elizabeth。 We can roughly saw that she was a unique, clever, good-looking but not so charming girl。来*自~优|尔^论:文+网www.youerw.com +QQ752018766*