Foreign Classic Literature: Reflections in English Version
Article One: A Reflection on "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen is a timeless masterpiece that explores the themes of love, marriage, and societal expectations. As I delved into the pages of this novel, I was captivated by Austen's exquisite storytelling and her ability to create complex and realistic characters.
One of the aspects that struck me the most about "Pride and Prejudice" was Austen's portrayal of the social hierarchy and its influence on relationships. The novel takes place in a society where a person's social status and wealth determine their worth. This is evident through the character of Mr. Darcy, who initially comes across as arrogant and proud due to his high social standing. However, as the story progresses, we witness his transformation and realize that there is more to him than meets the eye.
The central love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is a beautiful depiction of how pride and prejudice can hinder true understanding and love. Elizabeth's initial prejudice against Mr. Darcy blinds her to his true character, while Mr. Darcy's pride prevents him from expressing his true feelings. It is through their journey of self-discovery and personal growth that they are able to overcome these barriers and find happiness together.
Austen's wit and social commentary are also evident throughout the novel. She skillfully satirizes the societal norms and expectations of the time, particularly through the character of Mrs. Bennet and her obsession with marrying off her daughters. This adds a layer of humor to the story while also shedding light on the limited opportunities available to women in that era.
Overall, "Pride and Prejudice" left a profound impact on me. It reminded me of the importance of looking beyond initial judgments and societal expectations in order to find true happiness. Austen's ability to create relatable characters and her insightful exploration of human nature make this novel a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
Article Two: A Reflection on "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that tackles themes of racial injustice, innocence, and the loss of childhood innocence. Set in the 1930s in a small Southern town, the story is narrated through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the ugliness of prejudice and discrimination.
One of the most striking aspects of the novel is Lee's portrayal of racism and its devastating effects on society. Through the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, Lee exposes the deep-rooted racism and prejudice that exists in the town. Despite overwhelming evidence of Tom's innocence, the jury's decision is influenced by their racial biases, resulting in an unjust outcome. This serves as a powerful reminder of the inherent flaws in the justice system and the need for societal change.
Lee also explores the loss of innocence through the character of Scout. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is portrayed as a naive and innocent child who sees the world through a lens of fairness and equality. However, as she grows older and witnesses the injustices around her, her innocence is shattered. This loss of innocence is symbolized through the metaphor of the mockingbird, a creature that represents innocence and purity. The title itself suggests that it is a sin to destroy innocence, just as it is to kill a mockingbird.
Furthermore, "To Kill a Mockingbird" highlights the importance of empathy and understanding. Through the character of Atticus Finch, Scout's father, Lee presents a moral compass who fights for justice and teaches his children to see beyond the surface and treat others with compassion. Atticus' unwavering belief in doing what is right, even in the face of adversity, is a powerful lesson that resonates with readers.
In conclusion, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an impactful novel that tackles important social issues and raises questions about morality and humanity. Harper Lee's ability to address such complex themes through the eyes of a young protagonist is commendable. This novel serves as a poignant reminder of the need for compassion, justice, and the fight against prejudice in our society.
外国名著读后感英文版 篇三
Sense and Sensibility was the first Jane Austen published. Though she initially called it Elinor and Marianne, Austen jettisoned both the title and the epistolary mode in which it was originally written, but kept the essential theme: the necessity of finding a workable middle ground between passion and reason. The story revolves around the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Whereas the former is a sensible, rational creature, her younger sister is wildly romantic——a characteristic that offers Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. Commenting on Edward Ferrars, a potential suitor for Elinor's hand, Marianne admits that while she "loves him tenderly," she finds him disappointing as a possible lover for her sister.
Soon however, Marianne meets a man who measures up to her ideal: Mr. Willoughby, a new neighbor. So swept away by passion is Marianne that her behavior begins to border on the scandalous. Then Willoughby abandons her; meanwhile, Elinor's growing affection for Edward suffers a check when he admits he is secretly engaged
to a childhood sweetheart. How each of the sisters reacts to their romantic misfortunes, and the lessons they draw before coming finally to the requisite happy ending forms the heart of the novel. Though Marianne's disregard for social conventions and willingneto consider the world well-lost for love may appeal to modern readers, it is Elinor whom Austen herself most evidently admired; a truly happy marriage, she shows us, exists only where sense and sensibility meet and mix in proper measure.MOVIE: Mission Impossible III While Summer isn't officially here, it is here in terms of movies. Mission Impossible 3 kicks off the summer movie season with a bang with an interesting and entertaining installment in the money-ma-ki-ng franchise. Tom Cruise reprises his Ethan Hunt role and J.J. Abrams takes the director's chair. What makes the Mission Impossible franchise so interesting is the constant change of directors. If you look at other franchises like Lethal Weapon, Pink Panther, Indiana Jones, etc, the directors usually stay on board for the sequels. Even with the James Bond franchise you have directors usually doing several Bond films in a row. Mission Impossible was helmed by Brian De Palma and was all espionage with light action. Action maestro John Woo took the second one and made an explosive and entertaining action sequel even if it was a little over cooked. J.J. Abrams makes his feature film directorial debut with Mission Impossible 3, which is a little bit of espionage and a little bit of action. For those who don't know Abrams, he started out writing films like Armageddon and Regarding Henry. He then broke into the television scene with Alias, a pretty popular show. He became very well known recently for his latest show. Abrams is the creator of LOST, one of my favorite shows. So, I was excited to see his first movie. M:I-3 has Ethan Hunt trying to settle down and start a normal life, but he is thrown back into his old job when an arms dealer played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman wants him to track down the Rabbit's Foot. The Rabbit's Foot is some kind of weapon of madestruction, and if Hunt doesn't retrieve it in 48 hours his fiance will be killed. What follows are explosive action sequences that sing the right tune to satisfy all of our action appetites. The movie is good, but I couldn't help feeling like something was lacking. I tried to pinpoint it, and the only thing that I could come up with was that it lacked style. Sure it had LOST written all over it. The tight close ups, starting the film by showing the ending and then rewinding back to the beginning, getting Michael Giacchino to compose an almost identical score to LOST, even re-creating a scene from LOST at the end, but still the movie didn't feel like it had an overall style. The reason why I liked M:I-2 was that it had John Woo style. The slow motion build up, the doves, and of course Hans Zimmer's amazing music. I'm just saying that Mission Impossible 3 is good, but it's not a definative action movie that stands out from the rest, let's see how Abrams develops his techniques with future projects now that he's broken into the movie scene.
[外国名著读后感英文版]