Darcy Pride And Prejudice Feminist Analysis

After Darcy’s second proposal to Elizabeth, Jane advises that Elizabeth should “do anything rather than marry without affection” (Austen 353). Austen imparts her views on society and women’s roles through her characters, who live in a time where girls were looked upon to marry and increase their family’s status. Julia Prewitt Brown, Professor of English at Boston University, writes in her critical essay, The "Social History" of Pride and Prejudice, that Elizabeth shows great strength “given the situation of women and her own particular economic circumstances, to refuse [Darcy’s first proposal] without giving way even for a moment to anxiety concerning the future.” Elizabeth shows great strength and power in realizing that no sum of money could equate to her true happiness. Even Mr. Bennet shows concern that a marriage should be built on love when he discusses with Elizabeth, “He is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?” (Austen 356). Here Austen uses Mr. Bennet to mock her traditional society, because it was not often that a father should advise his daughter to marry according to her own feelings. Austen contrasts the happy marriages of Jane and Elizabeth, both of whom married for love, to the unhappy marriage of Lydia, who married for status. Brown observes that Lydia “[lives] only for

Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both of these characters truly encompass the novel’s title, with the attributes of pride and prejudice. Elizabeth, in her pride to preserve her tough exterior, forms many prejudices about Mr. Darcy. On the other hand, Darcy carries an air of pride and also forms his own prejudices about Elizabeth. Throughout the novel, both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s attitudes and ideas transform into a surprising ending. In the beginning both characters despise each other and behave brusquely towards one another. Elizabeth, the second eldest of the Bennet daughters, is an intelligent, sophisticated, and mature woman. She is originally off-put by Darcy’s air of pride and believes that he is “haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, [are] not inviting” (Austen 18). The untrustworthy Mr. Wickham gives her reasons that support her opinions, and she prides herself in what she believes is her good judgment and faultless demeanor. Meanwhile, the rich and refined Darcy conceitedly says that Elizabeth is “tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt [him]” (Austen 13). Darcy decides not to dance with her or associate with her out of his arrogance and