Abstract：In the 19th century，the industrialization developed fast and the commercialization improved unprecedentedly in Britain. The variety of products had been enriched and the fashion of the consumption of luxurious things for pleasure had become popular in Britain, which led Britain to stepping into an era of the consumer society. The consumption culture, which is different from other consumption cultures popular in other times, was limited to the aristocrat and the middle class only, while the working class is still in the spectator’s state. It was very common that the aristocracy and the middle class consumed just for comfort and luxury, and people were gradually influenced by the concept of consumerism in the period of the capitalist sprout, which, in verse, imposed some effect on the people in that time. This concept of consumerism is: profit, money worship, and the money controlling all. Besides, laziness、ignorance、hypocrisy, and absurdness could be found everywhere in daily life. "Pride and Prejudice "is a novel which reflects the British upper class. The novel vividly shows the British social appearance as well as the expense culture at that time through different love stories. Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice, lived in rural areas all her life and the people she met and kept in contact with are mainly the landlords and the priests. The environment she observed was featured in the quietness and comfortable life, and most of the story in the novel is about these people there. The author, Jane Austin ,through the vivid narration of the plots as well as the dialogues of the characters, reflected the consumption concepts that the people in that time held, and the author’s attitude toward this consumption , more specific , critique and the satire, could be found.

Keywords: consumer society; consumerism; symbolic value; moderate consumption

Contents

摘要

Abstract

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

1.1 The writing style of the author-1

1.2 The society of Victorian era-1

1.3 The production and consumerism-1

Chapter 2 Pride and Prejudice and consumerism-3

2.1 MRS. BENNET AND CONSUMERISM-3

2.2 THE FIRST BALL-3

2.3 LYDIA AND CONSUMERISM-3

2.4 WILLIAM AND COMSUMERISM-4

Chapter 3 jane austin and consumerism-5

3.1ABOUT THE MARK VALUE-5

3.2 JANE AUSTIN’S OPINION TO LOCAL SOCIETY-6

Chapter 4 Conclusion-6

References-8

Acknowledgements-9