The Women in Pride and Prejudice - Essay Example

The Women in Pride and Prejudice: Literary Analysis on Women and Femininity in the 19th Century, England “...and turning round, he {Mr. Darcy} looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, 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.” - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice The snobbishness of Mr. Darcy to the social community members of low birthright and social rank as ‘not handsome’ is his reasoning for his refusal to dance with Elizabeth Bennett. Mr. Darcy’s pride, and his social class consciousness, and its perceived impact on reputation and familial obligations subsequently struggled with his attraction to the middle-class Elizabeth Bennet, who despite such, refuses to marry for convenience, but for love. This sets Jane Austen’s remarkable literary masterpiece Pride and Prejudice. In this novel, Austen fosters insurmountable learning and wisdoms to its readers, especially on the perspective of the conditions of women and femininity as set in the 19th century England. It does not merely entertain and captivate the readers on the romance shared by its characters, but deeply embedded is Austen’s portrayal of women’s circumstance during this era. An analysis will then be provided on women especially that of Austen’s women characters’ condition in the aspect of social ranks and courtship and marriage as showcased in the novel grounded in true to life women conditions in England. Pride and Prejudice: Plot Overview The novel commenced with the arrival of the wealthy Mr. Charles Bingley, his family and his friend Mr. Darcy. The Bennets, with five daughters, were more than thrilled for their arrival since this will mean an opportunity for any of the Bennet sisters to covet a young and rich bachelor. The newcomers arrived at a ball, in which Austen establishes the characters by highlighting on Mr. Darcy’s perception and behaviour to those not from his social strata, and Elizabeth’s perception or prejudice of arrogance towards Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley forged a relationship with Jane, the eldest of the Bennet sisters. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, also acknowledged his attraction towards Elizabeth. Several circumstances ensued as Elizabeth has the opportunity to travel to Mr. Darcy’s residence, wherein she received Mr. Darcy’s first proposal, which Elizabeth has refused due to prior prejudice. Elizabeth’s sister, Lydia, has then elopes with Elizabeth’s soldier friend, who used Lydia to emancipate money from his agreement to be married to the sister. However, it was Mr. Darcy who paid Wickham instead of their belief that it was said by their relative Mr. Gardiner. This has been a turning point for Elizabeth to change her perception and developed affection for Mr. Darcy. It is then that Elizabeth agreed to the marry Mr. Darcy. The novel ended with a happy note of a happily ever after. Women in 19th Century England The 19th century, the English country was said to be gender blind with regards to economic participation, wherein critics deemed that a woman remains to be working with low-skilled, low-waged and domestic jobs (Verdon 9). This century also demonstrates a heightened patriarchal society. Perkin stipulated that English laws also drive the domination of the male; thus, promoting that women are men’s inferior and dependants (1). This will mean that women are considered as the lesser gender, wherein they owe their dependence and freedom to men as they are the ones bringing food to the table. This is economic conditions of women during the 19th century in England. However, inequality does not only exist between genders, but also between social classes, notwithstanding the gender. According to Perkin, the women from aristocratic families can show political prowess through property ownership and influence, while they can also be more sexually aggressive after marriage (84, 90). Women in higher ranks in the society are relatively unrestrained in contrast to middle-class and the poor. These women also have more freedom in forging friendships with other women as it is deemed vital for social stability (100). Regardless of being placed inferior to the opposite sex, women in this century still strive to induce control over their lives in any other means. However, this only focuses on the aristocrats, and no similar leniency has been extended to those from lower classes. Social Conditions Burns underscored that women regardless of which social rank they belong suffer from the disadvantages of the conditions of the country in the 19th century with minimal education, less liberty to practice any professions, participate in politics and no right to property (171). However, as describe from the previous section, that women of higher rank are more likely to acquire properties than those from the lower in rank. Nonetheless, being a female in this society is relatively disadvantageous. Austen has perfectly portrays such oppression in the novel. Austen has demonstrated that the daughters or the females in the family do not have the right to acquire their parents’ wealth as this should be given to the eligible male. The Bennet spouses evidently showed their indifference and lack of enthusiasm to entail their property (estate) to Mr. Bennet’s cousin. In one of their conversations, Mrs. Bennet expressed the unfairness of the situation by stating “...I do think it is hardest in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your children...” Even the male character [Mr. Collins] also feel the obligation to marry one of the sisters in reconciliation for his entitlement of their estate in the quotation “Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters...” It can be deduced that Austen aims to utilize the novel to present the criticism of the conditions of women in their society. Despite the story being a romance novel, it is still an ingenious presentation of the dislike of the circumstance. It is important to note that this condition may be clear in the present century considering the equal of protection of rights and anti-discrimination, and increased awareness and empowerment of women. However, upon the publication of such novel in the 19th century, this has been a bold act of Austen to provide a negative commentary of the norm. Furthermore, it is also an eye-opener that even the male, who are the ones enjoying these privileges, has become affectionate of the conditions of their women. Courtship and Marriage Marriage and courtship are considered the heart of this Austen novel. The masterpiece has distinctively sketched the ways of courtship and marriage in a society, where social class and wealth is given priority alongside the domination of men. It has been underlined by Coltrane that marital activities in England and the United States is characterized to provide men more superiority over their wives that are founded on legal grounds (146). It implies that men are given the legal (not necessarily moral) rights to treat their wives as inferior to them. Austen has shown womens oppression in the different types of marriages in the novel through the point of view of women. The reason and drivers of marrying in the novel are centered on the views of women on marriage. To the characters of the novel, their primary reason is for economic stability and increase in rank in the society. The women’s concern is focused on being handsome to be amiable enough to be married to a respectable and wealthy husband. Marriage in the novel is an important consideration for women since they have does not have other outlets or activities. However, the novel demonstrates that marriage should not be for economic security and social stability, but should be of love and affection (Hathaway). Marriage for money (Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins). Miss Lucas in this novel is considered to be older and less handsome than that of the other characters and additionally, she is also not wealthy. She turned a blind eye to Mr. Collins’ proposal since she knows is not our of love, to pursue her dream of a more comfortable life. This has been apparent on her conversation with Elizabeth, in which she states “...I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collinss character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.” This is how Austen represents how women view themselves and their behavior towards marriage to establish that marriage was made out of wealth rather than of love. Schmidt has pointed out that Miss Lucas’s and Mr. Collins’ marriage was a more rational decision than “following her heart” (3). This action may be attributed to the lack of economic participation that the women have during the era. Austen has again opened the discourse on happiness based on wealth and enjoining with a husband that is only rich, whom she does not love.The novel blatantly revolted on these types of marriages by showing how Elizabeth and the other women characters perceive the unfairness of the situation of women to have fewer options in real happiness. Marriage from Affection (Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s). The marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is the defying presentation of the stereotyping and norms on how women should act towards marriage. Austen showed how the materialistic culture and social pressure shapes the behavior of her characters (Bhattacharyya 74), and how this has been redefined by the marital choices made by the protagonists. It cannot further be stretched how the 19th century social norms and practices limits the choices of women to create their own fate that marriage has become a central point of the women’s lives (Bhattacharyya 74). That is, the objective is to be married and acquire a happy life, most importantly with a wealthy man. Critics of the character of Elizabeth argued that even this heroine is not immune to the splendor of a wealthy life; and thus, she cannot be a rebel since she was deemed to also change her perceptions of Mr. Darcy upon seeing his estate (Bhattacharyya 76). However, the Austen’s novel may present that her characters are in fact human, which does not mean that the values aimed to be conveyed has changed. This is what made the novel more appealing and relative to its readers, in which wealth is a vital element, but should not be the central focus for happiness and marriage. Elizabeth’s character in this novel is deemed to be the boldest display of the ills of the society, and how this should be defied. Conclusion Pride and Prejudice may be named a classic romance novel, but it is also a form of a feminist movement. Women oppression and inferiority is a legal norm and practice in the 19th century. This practice has been challenged through the literary creativeness of the Pride and Prejudice novel. Personal choices and happiness of women are focused on wealth and not on subjective happiness. They are socially pressured and at the same time downtrodden. This novel ultimately can provide an encouragement to a social movement for women liberty. Works Cited Bhattacharyya, Jibesh. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, 2005. Print. Burns, William E. A Brief History of Great Britain. New York: Facts on File, 2010. Print. Coltrane, Scott. Gender and Families. UK: AltaMira Press, 2000. Print. Hathaway, Louise. Marriage in Pride and Prejudice. Googlebooks.com. Google Books, 2014. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. Perkin, Joan. Women and Marriage in Nineteenth-Century England. London: Routledge, 2002. Print. Schmidt, Katrin. The Role of Marriage in Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Germany: GRIN Verlag, 2004. Print. Verdon, Nicola. Rural Women Workers in Nineteenth-Century England: Gender, Work and Wages. New York: The Boydell Press, 2002, Print. Read More