Feminism
“Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies that share a common goal to define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women.”(Sastra, 2016).
Elizabeth Bennet shows feminist characteristics throughout the novel, she expresses her concern for fulfilling life accomplishments which were limited because of gender. “ "I'm no longer surprised at your only knowing six accomplished women. I rather wonder at your knowing any."( pg.39, Jane Austen) Women were expected to be mothers, wives and socialites. This made Elizabeth feel that she was of an inferior level because of her gender.
“Women take on specific predetermined roles of wife and mother that limit their freedoms keeping them dependent on men“(Deforte,2016). Society in pride and prejudice expected women to marry and build a household. “A happy ending is to fall in love with a very rich man and marry him, which is what her heroines do”(Deforte,2016). Elizabeth Bennet although she rebelled against this ideology ends up falling in love and marrying a rich man.
Social disadvantage
Although this novel is work of fiction, the themes that arise in Pride and Prejudice reflect the struggles of being a woman in nineteenth century england. Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters faced the urgency to marry before their father passed because they would be homeless and without a way to make a living. “ Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters was entailed of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mothers fortune though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his.”(pg.29, Jane Austen). The women were not allowed to own property at the time, their estate would pass to the first male in their family (Mr. Collins).
Pride and Prejudice sheds light at the lack of laws established to protect women with no family or husbands. They were left destitute without the presence of a male.
Women were expected to marry in their teen years, and were treated as a commodity often used for economic or rank advancement.
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