这部小说以家庭生活为描写对象，以家庭成员的感情纠葛为线索，描写了马奇一家的天伦之爱。马奇家的四姐妹中，无论是为了爱情甘于贫困的海格，还是通过自己奋斗成为作家的乔，以及坦然面对死亡的贝思和以扶弱为己任的艾米，虽然她们的理想和命运都不尽相同，但是她们都具有自强自立的共同特点。描写了她们对家庭的眷恋；对爱的忠诚以及对亲情的渴望。

名著阅读

Act fourth displayed the despairing Roderigo on the point of stabbing himself because he has been told that Zara has deserted him. Just as the dagger is at his heart, a lovely song is sung under his window, informing him that Zara is true but in danger, and he can save her if he will. A key is thrown in, which unlocks the door, and in a spasm of rapture he tears off his chains and rushes away to find and rescue his lady love.

第四幕大家看到罗德力戈听说莎拉离弃了他，万分绝望，准备自杀。他刚刚把剑对准心脏，突然听到窗下传来优美的歌声，告诉他莎拉没有变心，但身处险境，如果他愿意可以把她救出来。接着外面扔进一把钥匙。把门锁打开后，他狂喜地挫断锁链冲出门外，去营救心爱的姑娘。

Act fifth opened with a stormy scene between Zara and Don Pedro. He wishes her to go into a convent, but she won't hear of it, and after a touching appeal, is about to faint when Roderigo dashes in and demands her hand. Don Pedro refuses, because he is not rich. They shout and gesticulate tremendously but cannot agree, and Rodrigo is about to bear away the exhausted Zara, when the timid servant enters with a letter and a bag from Hagar, who has mysteriously disappeared.

第五幕开场时，莎拉和唐·佩得罗正闹得不可开交。唐·佩得罗要她进修道院，她坚决不从，并伤心欲绝地求他开恩，正要晕倒时，罗德力戈闯入并向她求婚。唐·佩德罗不答应，因为他没有钱。两人大吵大闹一番，依然互不相让。罗德力戈正要把筋疲力尽的莎拉背走，羞怯的小侍从拿着黑格交给她的一封信和一个布袋走进来，黑格此时已神秘地消失。

The latter informs the party that she bequeaths untold wealth to the young pair and an awful doom to Don Pedro, if he doesn't make them happy. The bag is opened, and several quarts of tin money shower down upon the stage till it is quite glorified with the glitter. This entirely softens the stern sire. He consents without a murmur, all join in a joyful chorus, and the curtain falls upon the lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro's blessing in attitudes of the most romantic grace.

这封信告诉大家她把一大笔财富赠给这对年轻人，如果唐·佩得罗破坏他们的幸福，必遭厄运。接着布袋打开了，大把大把的锡币洒落下来，堆在台上闪闪发亮，极为壮观。”狠心的父亲"这才软下心肠，一声不响地表示同意。众人于是齐声欢唱，一双恋人以极为优雅浪漫的姿态跪下，接受唐·佩德罗的祝福，帘幕随之降下。

词汇释义

1.stab[stæb] n. 刺,戳,刺伤的伤口,剧痛,尝试 vt. 刺伤,中伤 vi. 刺,扎

He stabbed at the earth with his stick.
他拿手杖戳著地.

2.unlock vt. 开启, 显露, 放开

Scientists have unlocked the secret of the atom.
科学家已经揭开了原子的秘密。

3.spasm n. 抽筋, 痉挛，（动作，感情等的）一阵发作

They burst into a spasm of laughter.
他们爆发出一阵笑声。

4.rapture n. 狂喜 vt. 使狂喜

He fall into rapture over classic music.
他对古典音乐喜爱若狂。

5.convent n. 女修道会

The nuns live in the convent.
修女们住在修道院。

6.gesticulate v. 用姿势(动作)示意, 打手势

He was gesticulating wildly at me, but I could not understand what he was trying to tell me.
他使劲向我做手势, 可是我不明白他的意思.

7.bequeath[bi'kwi:ð] vt. 遗赠, 遗留

His father bequeathed him a fortune.
他父亲给他留下了一笔遗产。

8.glitter n. 灿烂, 闪烁, 辉耀 v. 灿烂, 闪烁, 辉耀

The diamond ring on her finger glittered in the light.
她手指上的钻石戒指在灯光下闪闪发光。

9.kneel[ni:l] v. 跪

She knelt down to pray.
她跪下祈祷。

难句解析
　　
1.Act fourth displayed the despairing Roderigo on the point of stabbing himself because he has been told that Zara has deserted him.

【难句解析】on the point of...“即将，正要, 接近”；

【句子翻译】第四幕大家看到罗德力戈听说莎拉离弃了他，万分绝望，准备自杀。