珍奧斯汀雖然只出版過六本小說，影響卻無遠弗屆，每本著作不僅被大量改編為影集和電影，也啟發了當今許多作者以她的作品為發想延伸創作。本期《漂亮美語》要讓大家一書雙吃，淺嘗古典文學之餘，也一探今人混搭的創意！
感情世界就像一個天秤，理性與感性各占一邊。太多的理性缺少浪漫與激情；太多的感性讓人迷失。理性的姊姊愛蓮娜和感性的妹妹瑪莉安，她們如何在過與不及之間取得情感的平衡呢？
1.人物性格：理性愛蓮娜 VS. 感性瑪莉安
《理性與感性》描述的正是以理性和感性處理情感的矛盾與掙扎。主角愛蓮娜與瑪莉安姊妹情深，但兩人的個性卻大相逕庭：
Elinor possessed a strength of understanding and coolness of judgment... She had an excellent heart; her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them... Marianne was sensible and clever, but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.
愛蓮娜聰慧且有冷靜的判斷力……她心地善良、性格溫柔、情感強烈，不過她知道該如何克制自己的情感……瑪莉安多愁善感又聰明，但對任何事情都很熱切。她悲傷也好，高興也罷，都沒有節制。
【搶看！海怪混搭版】
角色特質：理性水生物學家姊姊，感性游泳高手妹妹
《理性與感性與海怪》描述的正是以理性和感性處理情感的矛盾與掙扎，不過追求感情的同時，大夥兒還得各顯神通擊退突變的海洋生物。主角愛蓮娜與瑪莉安姊妹情深，但兩人的性情卻大相逕庭，而且各有各的拿手項目：
She [Elinor] had an excellent heart, a broad back, and sturdy calf muscles, and she was admired by her sisters and all who knew her as a masterful driftwood whittler. Elinor was studious, having early on intuited that survival depended on understanding; she sat up nights poring over vast tomes, memorizing the species and genus of every _sh and marine mammal...
She [Marianne] was as nearly powerful a swimmer, with a remarkable lung capacity; she was sensible and clever, but eager in everything. Her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation... She spoke sighingly of the cruel creatures of the water...lending them such flowery appellations as "Our Begilled Tormentors" or "the Unfathomable Ones," and pondering over their terrible and impenetrable secrets.
她〔愛蓮娜〕心地善良、背部寬闊、小腿肌肉結實，備受妹妹們及所有知道她是漂流木雕刻高手的人的崇拜。愛蓮娜勤奮好學，年紀輕輕就已自覺，理解力乃是生存之道；她挑燈夜戰博覽群書，熟記每一種魚類與海洋生物的種名和屬名……
瑪莉安是個實力超強的游泳健將，擁有驚人的肺活量；她多愁善感又聰慧，但對任何事都很熱切。她悲傷也好，高興也罷，都沒有節制……她情緒激動地談論著殘酷的水中生物……還給牠們取了花俏華麗的稱號：「我們那些有腮的折磨者」或是「深不可測之物」，一邊思索著牠們可怕又難解的祕密。
2.芳心暗許
戴須伍先生過世後，戴須伍太太被迫得帶女兒投靠遠親。愛蓮娜相當不捨，因為她認識了靦腆聰明的艾德華，而戴須伍太太也樂見其成：
It was enough for her [Mrs. Dashwood] that he [Edward] appeared to be amiable, that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality. It was contrary to every doctrine of hers that difference of fortune should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of disposition.
對戴須伍太太而言，只要艾德華為人和善，和愛蓮娜又兩情相悅，那就夠了。她無法接受因為貧富差距而拆散一對志趣相投的戀人。
【搶看！海怪混搭版】
情真意切：愛蓮娜心有所屬
戴須伍先生慘遭鯊魚殺害後，戴須伍太太被迫帶女兒投靠遠親。愛蓮娜相當不捨，因為她認識了靦腆聰明的艾德華，而戴須伍太太也樂觀其成，畢竟這世界太險惡，愛情顯得多麼珍貴而美好：
It was enough for her [Mrs. Dashwood] that he [Edward] appeared to be amiable, that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality. It was contrary to every doctrine of hers that di_erence of fortune should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of disposition; life was too short, and too many dangers lurked under every sea-slimed rock, to act otherwise.
對戴須伍太太來說，只要艾德華為人和善，和愛蓮娜又兩情相悅，那就夠了。她無法接受因為貧富差距而拆散一對志趣相投的戀人。畢竟人生苦短，而每塊滑膩的海岩之下都藏有太多的危險，大可不必拆散一段好姻緣。
性格迥異的兩姊妹在情路上經歷重重阻礙，在理性和感性的交戰中，究竟哪一方才能找到幸福的真愛？如果，場景換到危機四伏的突變世界，理性姊姊和感性妹妹的尋愛之路又會有何不同？
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本期英語教學內容
◎黃金投資術 Investing in Gold
◎春節快樂 Chinese New Year
◎上班女郎時間管理 Time Management
◎歐洲假期 European Vacation
【完整內容請見《漂亮美語》2010 NO.28 二月號】
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