Feminism in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . Pride and Prejudice has some components that focus directly on the mixing of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy during the era of the Napoleonic Wars and the start of an Industrial Revolution. Interested in the balance between pragmatism, or the need to obtain marriage, and idealism, particularly Elizabeth's romanticism and individualism, Austen dramatizes her heroine's struggle to find her place within society. conservative and social institution of marriage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay During Elizabeth's struggle, it is worth noting that she is also emerging as a feminist character. Through Elizabeth Bennett's outburst towards Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her lack of horizontal hostility, and her depiction as sporty by Georgiana, we can see that towards the end of the novel, Elizabeth Bennett truly emerges as the feminist character with whom she only started subtly. When Elizabeth meets Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the Lady visits Elizabeth's house, Lady de Bourgh confronts Elizabeth about her relationship with Mr. Darcy during which Elizabeth tells Lady de Bourgh “he is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal. (Chapter 56, page 306) This is the first time in the novel that Elizabeth can truly be described as a feminist character. Feminism is a doctrine that equates women and men as equals, and this moment where Elizabeth declares herself equal to Mr. Darcy is where Elizabeth emerges as the feminist subtly hinted at in previous chapters. From the beginning of the book, Elizabeth was just an outspoken woman with many opinions to express and who was not afraid of being suppressed by those around her. She never really assimilated with men or her oppressors, she never really carved out a real path for herself with her own virtues and her ideas of success for her future, unlike Charlotte Lucas who did so by marrying Mr. Collins with only the intention of living a comfortable life. Feminism during this time is very different from how it has evolved to the present day and a perfect example of a feminist during this time would be Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte can be seen as a feminist instead of Elizabeth during the early chapters of Pride and Prejudice due to her ability to make firm decisions for herself, not based on the sole desire to live for all wants and needs of her husband. Charlotte says: “I only ask for a comfortable house; and considering Mr. Collins's character, his relations, and his station in life, I am satisfied that my chances of happiness with him are as fair as most people can boast in marriage. (Chapter 22, page 109) Elizabeth, during these many early chapters, seemed very much like a carefree and witty young woman, but in making such a strong statement against Lady de Bourgh, she truly rose above that rank to become a feminist woman. Assimilating to a man and that too from a much higher status she shows that she has not only grown as a feminist but also in the way she has become comfortable with herself and who she is and will not accept criticism from anyone. We also observe a lack of horizontal hostility on Elizabeth's part. Horizontal hostility occurs when membersof an oppressed group fight among themselves because they cannot express their anger against those in power. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the oppressed were women and the oppressors were men and those belonging to the upper classes. Women were treated like commodities and less valued, thus causing this horizontal hostility among their own kind. Women normally expressed their anger at each other by mocking, taunting, belittling, and backstabbing each other. Elizabeth goes through various situations in which she can manifest this horizontal hostility towards her fellow human beings. For example, Miss Bingley who seems to have a keen interest in Mr. Darcy but when she notices his apparent curiosity about Elizabeth, she begins to dislike Elizabeth determined to prove her faults to him. Through this hatred shown toward Elizabeth, she can easily take her anger out on another woman or Mrs. Bingley. However, she chooses not to and strikes directly at her oppressors. For example, his outburst towards Lady Catherine de Bourgh; instead of walking away from this situation with her head hung in defeat and expressing her anger at her sisters or friends, Elizabeth quickly retaliates against Lady de Bourgh's comments. This type of self-advocacy shows the movement away from the conventional woman of the time to a more modern and self-conscious woman. The final moment in the book where Elizabeth truly comes across as a feminist is when Elizabeth is described as having a sporty attitude. Georgiana's behavior. “Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth; although at first she often listened with almost alarming astonishment to his lively and sporting manner of speaking to her brother” (chapter 61, page 333), unlike Charlotte Lucas who assumed the conventional role of a woman after marrying M .Collins and took care of him. him and his household, Elizabeth retains her livelihood and freedom after marriage. To Georgiana's surprise, it should be noted that women conventionally changed after marriage, taking on the role of domestic caregiver subject to her husband's will. Athletic is defined as being fond of or good at sports; describing Elizabeth as sporty gives her masculine qualities, because men are the ones who play sports and are active. Mary Wollstonecraft says: “I have heard exclamations against masculine women, but where can I find them? If by this appellation men intend to insult themselves against their ardor for hunting, shooting and gaming, I will join in this cry very cordially; but if we are opposed to the imitation of masculine virtues or, more precisely, to the acquisition of those talents and virtues whose exercise ennobles the human character and which elevates women in the scale of being animal, when they are generally called humanity, all those who look at them with a philosophical eye must, I think, wish with me that they become more and more masculine every day. (A Vindication of Women's Rights) In it, Wollstonecraft introduces that calling a woman masculine elevates her to the pedestal of being a human being, possessing knowledge, talents, and virtues - attributes of men. By describing Elizabeth as masculine, she automatically receives all of these attributes being put, once again, on an equal footing with Mr. Darcy; this time, not only by herself, but also by those around her. Throughout Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett has always been a headstrong personality. She was able to speak with a wide range of people, from bourgeois to aristocratic, comfortably and with a sense of wit. However, these qualities did not show his character.

Essay / Feminism in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . Pride and Prejudice has some components that focus directly on the mixing of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy during the era of the Napoleonic Wars and the start of an Industrial Revolution. Interested in the balance between pragmatism, or the need to obtain marriage, and idealism, particularly Elizabeth's romanticism and individualism, Austen dramatizes her heroine's struggle to find her place within society. conservative and social institution of marriage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay During Elizabeth's struggle, it is worth noting that she is also emerging as a feminist character. Through Elizabeth Bennett's outburst towards Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her lack of horizontal hostility, and her depiction as sporty by Georgiana, we can see that towards the end of the novel, Elizabeth Bennett truly emerges as the feminist character with whom she only started subtly. When Elizabeth meets Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the Lady visits Elizabeth's house, Lady de Bourgh confronts Elizabeth about her relationship with Mr. Darcy during which Elizabeth tells Lady de Bourgh “he is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal. (Chapter 56, page 306) This is the first time in the novel that Elizabeth can truly be described as a feminist character. Feminism is a doctrine that equates women and men as equals, and this moment where Elizabeth declares herself equal to Mr. Darcy is where Elizabeth emerges as the feminist subtly hinted at in previous chapters. From the beginning of the book, Elizabeth was just an outspoken woman with many opinions to express and who was not afraid of being suppressed by those around her. She never really assimilated with men or her oppressors, she never really carved out a real path for herself with her own virtues and her ideas of success for her future, unlike Charlotte Lucas who did so by marrying Mr. Collins with only the intention of living a comfortable life. Feminism during this time is very different from how it has evolved to the present day and a perfect example of a feminist during this time would be Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte can be seen as a feminist instead of Elizabeth during the early chapters of Pride and Prejudice due to her ability to make firm decisions for herself, not based on the sole desire to live for all wants and needs of her husband. Charlotte says: “I only ask for a comfortable house; and considering Mr. Collins's character, his relations, and his station in life, I am satisfied that my chances of happiness with him are as fair as most people can boast in marriage. (Chapter 22, page 109) Elizabeth, during these many early chapters, seemed very much like a carefree and witty young woman, but in making such a strong statement against Lady de Bourgh, she truly rose above that rank to become a feminist woman. Assimilating to a man and that too from a much higher status she shows that she has not only grown as a feminist but also in the way she has become comfortable with herself and who she is and will not accept criticism from anyone. We also observe a lack of horizontal hostility on Elizabeth's part. Horizontal hostility occurs when membersof an oppressed group fight among themselves because they cannot express their anger against those in power. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the oppressed were women and the oppressors were men and those belonging to the upper classes. Women were treated like commodities and less valued, thus causing this horizontal hostility among their own kind. Women normally expressed their anger at each other by mocking, taunting, belittling, and backstabbing each other. Elizabeth goes through various situations in which she can manifest this horizontal hostility towards her fellow human beings. For example, Miss Bingley who seems to have a keen interest in Mr. Darcy but when she notices his apparent curiosity about Elizabeth, she begins to dislike Elizabeth determined to prove her faults to him. Through this hatred shown toward Elizabeth, she can easily take her anger out on another woman or Mrs. Bingley. However, she chooses not to and strikes directly at her oppressors. For example, his outburst towards Lady Catherine de Bourgh; instead of walking away from this situation with her head hung in defeat and expressing her anger at her sisters or friends, Elizabeth quickly retaliates against Lady de Bourgh's comments. This type of self-advocacy shows the movement away from the conventional woman of the time to a more modern and self-conscious woman. The final moment in the book where Elizabeth truly comes across as a feminist is when Elizabeth is described as having a sporty attitude. Georgiana's behavior. “Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth; although at first she often listened with almost alarming astonishment to his lively and sporting manner of speaking to her brother” (chapter 61, page 333), unlike Charlotte Lucas who assumed the conventional role of a woman after marrying M .Collins and took care of him. him and his household, Elizabeth retains her livelihood and freedom after marriage. To Georgiana's surprise, it should be noted that women conventionally changed after marriage, taking on the role of domestic caregiver subject to her husband's will. Athletic is defined as being fond of or good at sports; describing Elizabeth as sporty gives her masculine qualities, because men are the ones who play sports and are active. Mary Wollstonecraft says: “I have heard exclamations against masculine women, but where can I find them? If by this appellation men intend to insult themselves against their ardor for hunting, shooting and gaming, I will join in this cry very cordially; but if we are opposed to the imitation of masculine virtues or, more precisely, to the acquisition of those talents and virtues whose exercise ennobles the human character and which elevates women in the scale of being animal, when they are generally called humanity, all those who look at them with a philosophical eye must, I think, wish with me that they become more and more masculine every day. (A Vindication of Women's Rights) In it, Wollstonecraft introduces that calling a woman masculine elevates her to the pedestal of being a human being, possessing knowledge, talents, and virtues - attributes of men. By describing Elizabeth as masculine, she automatically receives all of these attributes being put, once again, on an equal footing with Mr. Darcy; this time, not only by herself, but also by those around her. Throughout Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett has always been a headstrong personality. She was able to speak with a wide range of people, from bourgeois to aristocratic, comfortably and with a sense of wit. However, these qualities did not show his character.

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