Author: Qing Huan
Recently, according to the British "Guardian" news, the Jane Austen Museum, which has been closed for four months due to the epidemic, will be forced to close permanently due to economic pressure. As the only Austen House open to the public, "the only place with such deep ties to Austin is now the only place", the Jane Austen Museum is a valuable place to learn more about this beloved writer. Jane Austen is one of the most important writers in the history of English literature and one of the most widely read women writers in the world, and has been called "the most perfect artist among women" by Woolf. Since its inception, her novels have been favored by readers, and their influence is far-reaching and enduring. Created in 1811, Sense and Sensibility was Austin's first published work, adapted and starred by British actress Emma Thompson in 1995, directed by Chinese director Ang Lee, the film continued the theme of the novel, its commercial and artistic success can be called a classic in adaptation, becoming "the yardstick for the future production of Jane's novels".
Poster for the movie Sense and Sensibility
Like the novel, the film "Sense and Sensibility" is also based on the theme of love. The film revolves around the tortuous love story of two "misses" who have not obtained the right to inherit and are shabby, the sister Eleanor is more rational about feelings, and the younger sister Marianne is willful and unrestrained, through the powerful contrast between "reason" and "emotion", revealing how to correctly deal with the problem of love and marriage, but also reflects feminist ideas. In the film, director Ang Lee restores the true face of the middle-class family in the 19th century with his delicate and warm techniques, and the beautiful rural beauty, simple folk customs, people's family life, social activities, love and marriage are really placed in front of the audience.
Sense and Sensibility is set in the countryside of 19th-century Britain, where the feudal ruling class has fallen and a new bourgeoisie is on the rise. However, society is still a male-centered patriarchal society, and women's dependence as men is not only materially dependent on men, but also spiritually dependent on men. In "Sense and Sensibility", two female figures full of personality and charm are created, changing the inherent impression of society and re-examining women's problems. The representative of "sanity" in the film is Eleanor. As the eldest sister to the Dashwood family, she took on responsibility for family life after her father's death. Faced with harsh English law, she does not envy the arrogant and selfish brother and sister-in-law who kicked their mother and daughter out of the house after obtaining the inheritance rights; when she learned that her lover Edward had a marriage contract with Lucy, Eleanor still tolerated and restrained her emotions, and acted calm and calm. Eleanor is a strong, mature, rational female representative, reflecting the awakening of female consciousness. The representative of "emotion" is Marianne. In contrast to her sister, Marianne is passionate and joyful, with romantic imaginations of love. She initially rejects brandon because she is too old, but falls in love with the young, cheerful, handsome Willoughby at first sight and makes no secret of her admiration. After seeing the true face of Willoughby's hypocrisy and selfishness, Marianne fell into despair, and finally with the help of her sister, she slowly accepted Colonel Brandon, who had been silently accompanying her. Marianne's sensuality, enthusiasm and romantic imagination of love have made her experience great setbacks, but she shines with a vivid, independent and free feminine light.
Reason and emotion show the complexity of human nature, which is related to both personality and choice. In the face of marriage, Eleanor said clearly: "I hate the chase between money, and marrying for money is, in my opinion, the most immoral thing in life." Eleanor believes that the ideal marriage should be based on love, focusing on the character of the other party, so as to achieve a happy and long-term marriage. Marianne pursues romantic, unrestrained feelings, hoping that the two sides have a lot in common, can exchange music and poetry together, and have spiritual communication. Whether it is a choice led by reason or emotion, it actually points to the inner essence of women's pursuit of ideological independence and marital freedom.
At the end of the film, after going through a tortuous emotional journey, eleanor and Marianne both have a happy ending. Through the shaping of the two female figures of Eleanor and Marianne, "Reason and Emotion" explains the conflict between women's forbearance and assertion, rationality and sensibility in the face of emotions, and also shows women's independent thoughts that pay attention to themselves in the process of emotional pursuit, as well as the persistence, sincerity and dignity they show in the face of feelings. Although the era in which the story is located is far from today, the attitude and choice of emotion interpreted by the characters in the film still brings thoughts to people in the current society. (Qinghuan)
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