The background of the book is the industrial commotion caused by the spontaneous destruction of machinery by British textile workers in the early 19th century. Shirley in the book is a portrayal of Emily. The author borrows Emily’s powerful and unique character to create a vigorous and energetic heroine. The story mainly describes the love-hate entanglement between Shirley, Caroline, Robert Muir, and Louis Muir. Shirley is the heiress of the famous local Firth House. She is open-minded, unrestrained, enthusiastic and kind. While helping Robert introduce machines, she sympathizes with the unemployed workers. When the two sides have conflicts and struggles, she gives them food for condolences. She pursues a pure love based on mutual respect and equal love, which is not based on social status and property standards. She relentlessly satirized Robert Muir, who proposed to her after the factory machinery was destroyed by the workers and resolutely rejected the proposal of the wealthy Baron Philip Nannelli. She fell in love with her tutor Louis Muir and finally married Louis…
