[Original blurb, preserved in a Weibo screenshot dated October 1, 2022]
[World One] Pride and Prejudice
He was calm and self-assured, with a heart of stone and a condescending manner.
He said, "Many women are called 'accomplished' simply because they can knit purses or hang screens. Your opinion of ladies is truly shallow. I would not dare claim that there are more than half a dozen ladies who can genuinely be called accomplished."
Dolly smiled faintly. "Do you know the circumstances in which they learned to knit purses and hang screens? They never leave the house and have no rooms of their own. Once they reach adulthood, they lose all their time for further study, and finding a husband becomes their top priority.
"They wash clothes, clean, labor, and chop food in the kitchen. They cannot go out or take a walk. To them, reading is a waste of time, and an excuse not to darn socks... Under such circumstances, never mind the ladies. Tell me, can you read widely and become well-informed?"
She paused, then said scornfully, "Your opinion of ladies is the truly shallow one."
[World Two] Wuthering Heights
Dolly woke up to find herself as Catherine in the book.
As the only girl in her family, she had to secure herself a bright and prosperous future.
She turned her attention to Heathcliff, who was being cruelly abused.
In this unpredictable world, there were only two wealthy households: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. If she wanted a good life, she had to marry Edgar Linton of Thrushcross Grange.
But she also didn't want to give up the wealth Heathcliff would amass after making his fortune.
So she contrived to make Heathcliff fall in love with her, then married Edgar as Heathcliff watched in furious disbelief.
The Catherine in the book married Edgar because she wanted to use his influence to help Heathcliff escape the shadow of his brother.
But all she wanted was the wealth he accumulated after being driven to despair.
[World Three] Gone with the Wind
At a barbecue, Rhett Butler took one look at Scarlett and was smitten.
He didn't notice that when he met Scarlett's green eyes, another pair of eyes had also set their sights on him... and his wealth.
This man was far-sighted, bold, and immoral.
He was destined to make his fortune.
Dolly had planned to marry him and settle her future once and for all. Who knew he wouldn't give her the time of day?
"I'm sorry," he said with a cold, mocking smile, looking her up and down. "I have no plans to keep a mistress right now. Otherwise, I might have considered you."
She wasn't angry when she heard that.
Marriage was only a shortcut to wealth. She had other ways.
For instance, she could become his rival and seize his fortune.
[Content Warnings]
1. I try to faithfully portray every classic character and don't villainize any of them. That wouldn't be any fun. I'm just putting them through the wringer.
2. Some classics won't have their couples broken up, but the heroine will torment the characters from an even more superior position. For example, in Gone with the Wind, she will simply steal Scarlett away.
Theme: Promoting gentlemanly virtue
