Woman Must Marry in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Essay

Jane Austen knowingly stated the problems in society with a particular emphasis on the harshness of the culture towards women. During her time little girls were raised being taught about the dire circumstances of a woman who did not marry well. Little girls were taught to be multi-lingual, artistic, cultured, musically inclined, and other inconsequential skills. These skills were required to make a good match for a wealthy man, which was their only goal in life. This is furthermore expressed, as Sheehan states , â€Å"Familial aspirations, coupled with women’s increased dependence on marriage for financial survival, made courtship a central focus of women’s lives† (n.pag.). Society was entirely driven by marriage. Jane Austen noticed this†¦show more content†¦Jane and Elizabeth shared the same radical idea of marrying a man because of the size of their heart instead of the size of their pocket book. The girls fought against the social normality an d married for nothing more than the deepest affection. This was clear when Elizabeth refuses to marry her cousin, Mr. Collins. Their marriage would have benefitted the entire family because it meant the younger girls would have a place to live, even if their father died. Mr. Collins was a nice enough man. His kind demeanor is shown when he works to repair the damaged family bond that was torn between his father and Mr. Bennet. His consideration of this made it evident that he had everyone’s best interest at heart. Yet because Elizabeth did not love him, she refused him breaking her mother’s heart in the process. The concept of a dowry also expresses the large extent to which marriage was consumed by thoughts of money. â€Å"A dowry is the property that a wife brings to her husband on marriage. In Europe, The dowry has a long history, frequently serving only to enhance the desirability of a woman for marriage but also to build the power and wealth of great families†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dowry 205). The Bennet family’s lack of fortune ensures that the girls would have a very difficult time finding a suitable husband. The only way they can survive without marrying well is if their dad had set aside some of his annual income toShow MoreRelated With particular reference to the novel opening, how does Jane Austen1247 Words   |  5 Pagesthe novel opening, how does Jane Austen present the role of women in pride and prejudice? Pride and Predujice With particular reference to the novel opening, how does Jane Austen present the role of women in pride and prejudice? Pride and prejudice was first published in 1893, this was a time when it just became acceptable for women to write and publish books. Pride and prejudice was set in the early 19th century in rural England. Pride and Prejudice is the story of Mr and Mrs BennetRead MoreSocial Commentary on Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin1734 Words   |  7 PagesPride and Prejudice Love and Marriage Jane Austen shows the readers within the first sentence what the plot and main theme of Pride and Prejudice is and what social ideas she plans on presenting through this novel. The first sentence of Pride and Prejudice stands as one of the most famous introductory lines in literature. It states, â€Å"it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (Austen 5). This statement puts the novel inRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen933 Words   |  4 PagesJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813(Gary vii) a time when women had â€Å"few legal and economic rights or even receiving little respect, women can be seen as oppressed victims of a patriarchal society, subordinate first to their fathers and, then, to their husbands who had, of course, been selected by their fathers† (Swords, 76-82). At first glance one might think that Pride and Prejudice reinforces sexist ster eotypes, however upon further examination of Jane Austen and herRead MoreJane Austen s Life And Prejudice1430 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, England. She was the seventh child and second daughter of Cassandra and George Austen. Jane Austen s life was one of the most transformative eras in British history. The American Revolution, The French Revolution, family and societal views caused Jane Austen s life to be influenced in several ways. Jane Austen was a conservative female who spent most of her time writing novels that reflected her views on love, war, reputation, andRead MoreThe Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth in Pride and Prejudice1184 Words   |  5 PagesThe course of true love never did run smooth in â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† The idiom â€Å"The course of true love never did run smooth† implies that the path to love is never simple and straight forward. The path to true love is filled with difficulties and obstacles from society, religion, or culture. In â€Å"Pride and Prejudice,† none exemplify this idiom more than the couples Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley and Jane. The idea behind the proverb plays a central role in constructing the plot of theRead MoreLove in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen1035 Words   |  5 PagesThe course of true love never did run smooth in â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† The idiom â€Å"The course of true love never did run smooth† implies that the path to love is never simple and straight forward. The path to true love is filled with difficulties and obstacles from society, religion, or culture. In â€Å"Pride and Prejudice,† none exemplify this idiom more than the couples Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley and Jane. The idea behind the proverb plays a central role in constructing the plot of theRead MoreJane Austen and Her Feminism1158 Words   |  5 PagesJane Austen and Her Feminism ---analyzing of feminism revealed in Pride and Prejudice Introduction It is universally acknowledged that Jane Austen was a major woman novelist in English; but it is also a truth that almost as universally ignored that Jane Austen was a feminist. By intensively reading her six novels (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion) and studying feminism, I have found some significant and fresh thingsRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen981 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Pride and Prejudice† by Jane Austen is a satire novel from 1813. The story is about a couple named the Bennets who try to get their five daughters to marry kind and rich gentlemen. The main characters however are the Bennets’ second and headstrong daughter Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, her aristocratic suitor. Throughout the entire novel, the two lovers must overcome pride and prejudice before â€Å"love can bring the novel to its magnificent conclusion†. During the novel, there are two marriage proposals Read MoreGender Roles for Women in Pride and Prejudice897 Words   |  4 PagesFerbruary 2011 Gender Roles for Women in Pride and Prejudice The novel Pride and Prejudice represents life in the middle and upper classes in the 19th century. Jane Austen, the author, does an excellent job of differentiating the status and roles that people play. Georgiana Darcy, the Bennet sisters, and Charlotte Lucas are limited in their opportunities because of their social class, gender, and birthright. Being born into a high social class leaves a woman with no pressuring obligations. GeorgianaRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen Essay1156 Words   |  5 PagesStay True Few novels go down in history, and even fewer are remembered as symbols of social change. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a novel remembered by many, and through the decades, as such a novel. The tale of Elizabeth as she overcomes various oppressions has become a classic. Women throughout Jane Austen’s time period were constantly oppressed by social codes and expectations.These social codes included requirements from chaperoned dates to a limit of expression of emotion. Elizabeth’s