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Letters To Alice On First Reading Analysis

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To what extent does your comparative study of Pride and Prejudice and Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen demonstrate that the conflict between an individual and society is an important universal concern?

Through their respective works and texts, composers often illustrate conflict within the perspectives of both characters and responders. A close comparison of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen’, enables individuals to identify the disclosure of conflict as an important universal concern. Analysing the characterisation of Elizabeth and the didactic tone used by Weldon, conflict between an individual and society is revealed through the restrictions of marriage, rigidity of gender roles and shifting …show more content…

Disregarding one’s affection in conflict of needing security within marriage is further presented in “A single man of large fortune, four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” as the exclamation and delighted tone portrayed exemplifies utilitarian purposes in seeking marriage. Weldon reinforces the practical value governing marriages in Austen’s context in the quote “women lived well by their husbands favour”, expressed through a condescending tone. This creates emphasis on the large dependency women held to their male counterparts, further highlighting the difficulty women faced within their marriages. However, in delving into the notion of marriage in ‘Letters to Alice’, an apparent progression in changing perspectives and ideals is exhibited, when Weldon comments “I took the broad and primrose Road to Hell, by going out with our father when he left and she stayed on the narrow, uphill path of righteousness…” expressively displaying an evident social progression. As Weldon touches upon the concept of …show more content…

Women in the Regency period were often seen as inferior and malleable, objectified for purposes of marriage, continuing lineage and upholding a reputable name within society. The absence of independence they held is highlighted in the quote “ A single man of large fortune: four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”, emphasised through the delighted tone and exclamation used. This portrays conflict between women and their society through the deficiency of self-choice and confinement in domesticity. On the other hand, men were seen as breadwinners of the households. They were portrayed by society as desired objects in elevating status and financial security for women. The quote “Mr Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance” exemplifies Mr Darcy as a metaphor of society, symbolic of its values and norms, similarly highlighting conflict between individuals and society regarding personal desires and choices. Weldon’s discernment regarding Regency era’s rigid gender roles is expressed in the quote “Women were born poor, and stayed poor, and lived well only by their husbands’ favour”. Repetition of the word ‘poor’ highlights the conflict for single women against their society, as

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