An Analysis of the Design of the First Assemblyin Pride and Prejudice[Abstract] In Pride and Prejudice, the first assembly is the stage of the debut of hero, Darcy and the heroine, Elizabeth. Therefore, the design of this assembly, including which part of the assembly should be narrated directly in the description of the assembly, how to do with other things happened during the party, how to shape the characteristics and personality of the two main characters as well as other important role on the assembly, is essentially significant to the character portrait for the whole novel. Mainly employing description of language and technique of comparative description, the plot about this assembly is well-designed as three parts, before, during and after the assembly, which is efficient to the character figuring of the novel. [Keywords] character figuring, design, description of language, comparative descriptionThe novel introduces the first assembly in Chapter 3, using only half of a chapter to directly describe things happened on the party while two other whole chapter to show people’s discussion on it. By the delicate design, vivid language description and useful comparative description, the description of this party is highly efficient to the chapter portrait of this novel.Before the party, Mrs. Bennet’s worry about Mr. Bingley’s going into the town is showed, which totally reveals the purpose of Mrs. Bennet’s participating in the dinner, again echoing the description of Mrs. Bennet’s saying "If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for." (Austen, 2001: 2) at former plot. In the case, the assembly is platform to looking for sweetheart, love and even possible marriage (Yang, 91). At the end of this paragraph, Mr. Bingley’s invitating his sisters and Darcy leads to the appearance of these important characters.For the description of things happened during the party, instead of using scene description to the setting of the ball or psychological description to the participators, language description organized by comparative technique is mainly employed to mould different personality of different participant. First of all, It can be directly seen that the description of Mr. Hurst’s and Mr. Darcy’s first appearance is put in the same paragraph and connected by the conjunction “but”,saying “Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room.” (Austen, 2001: 2). Then,people’s evaluations to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are also presented in comparison made by ladies and gentlemen, and more powerfully demonstrated in the discussion by ladies who “declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley.” (Austen, 2001: 2). Even in introducing Mr. Bingley’s and Mr. Darcy’s primary impression to the guests, comparison is never be forgotten in saying “not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.” (Austen, 2001: 3). In this debut of the two main male characters, comparative description from different layers is applied, which enriches their personality, polishes the description and help to model the character in a vivid and objective way with less words (Ai, 1981: 58).Another wonderful utilization of comparative description in the design and narration during the party is the description to the dialogue between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. The Author uses no any word to describe the setting of the party or even to show other characters on the ball, but apply a large space for the conversation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. "Come, Darcy. I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance." This is Mr. Bingley’s first sentence in the whole novel and Mr. Darcy answered by saying "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with" (Austen, 2001: 3). Analyzing this sentence, It is not difficult to find the intimate friendship between these two gentlemen by observing the diction of Mr. Bingley. He used an imperative sentence at the very beginning, which according to John Searle is a directives showing his attempt to incite Mr. Darcy to a dance with Elizabeth. More importantly, by analyzing the different choice of modals verbs in the conversation, the personality of these two gentlemen can be dissected more clearly. Mr. Bingley, when inciting his friend, used a word “must”, while Mr. Darcy was designed to use words that is more euphemistic, conservative and indirect like “shall”, “would” (Zhang, 2009: 438 ). This may display that Mr. Bingley is more frank and direct while Mr. Darcy still highly mind his words since that it is necessary for him to set a space between him and the people he talked to even faced to his best friend. Further more, Although Mr. Darcy pays particular care to his choice of word, his pride still can not be hided because of hisunkind, harsh and even acerb word in saying "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me." when discussing about Elizabeth. Putting their words together in a conversation, the personality of these two men is comprehensively presented.Although the half-chapter direct description to the assembly is quite short, some other needful details of the party are introduced through the conversation in the following two chapters. Designed in this way, the direct description of the ball will become more outstanding and the personality of those main characters, like Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth, will be more impressive because of the only presentation, especially the deep display of the conflict between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, of them, thus resulting in a proactive effect. In Chapter Four and Chapter Five, conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth with Jane and Miss. Lucases with Mrs. Bennet are arranged and there is still a skillful use of comparative description and successful presentation of characters’ language. These three parts employ almost no more other techniques but language description. In the talk between two Bennets, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are again compared in Mrs. Bnnet’s words to emphasize Mr. Bingley’s good manner and the annoying pride of Mr. Darcy. The talk between Elizabeth and Jane may be mainly used to deepen the characteristic of Elizabeth. In the dialogue, Jane’s words like "I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment."(Austen, 2001: 5) reveals her naivete and simplicity of mind while Elizabeth’s words like "Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other women in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person."accounts for her splendid quickness. In the dialogue between Miss. Lucases and Mrs. Bennet, the comparison between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy emerges again. Moreover, by saying "That is very true,and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had notmortified mine." answering the words "His pride does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to beproud." uttered by Miss. Lucases, Elizabeth’s characteristics is showed strongly and also reveal one of the key concept that leads to the conflict between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, pride. All of these, without other complex techniques, are presented by conversations and comparative descriptions.The design of the first assembly in Pride and Prejudice is special for the different arrange of the length of the description of things happened in the party and after the party and further more, to model the characters in this significant process, accurate words are utilized in the dialogues among different roles, mainly designed in a comparative way. These elements makes the narration of the first assembly brilliant and efficient to the whole fiction.Work CitedAusten, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. [M]. 上海：上海世界图书出版社，2001.艾斐. 山西大学学报. (1981). [J]. /Article/CJFDTotal-SXDD 198101009.htm杨青青. 外国文学. (2007).[J]. /link?url=KP8lV3uUErz qoxkVSuv0McPCNgFAcLrXv203E5SltA_s0rHAm1dVivKdkmDJ2Y58-lBBidT0J0RWNB7 yAA-Om0ePr9etTRax0fi782VdZya章振邦. 新编英语语法教程[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,2009：438.。