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Oppression Of Women In Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen

944 Words4 Pages

Various characters in Pride and Prejudice are progressive in their independence and confidence; Elizabeth Bennet is willing to stand up for herself and Lady Catherine has a lot of power for a solitary woman. They both do not conform to the gender roles at the time, where men are generally in control of both business and social standings. By standing up for herself, Elizabeth ends up extremely happy with a marriage way out of her social ranking. Lady Catherine does not end up on such a happy note, yet her influence and the respect people have for her is evident in the book. Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice challenges the patriarchal world it depicts by presenting female characters who, in various ways, challenge the strict social rules that have been assigned to them. …show more content…

Which meant a woman's main purpose in life is to find a good marriage at or above their social level. If someone has daughters, they cannot inherit the property or the money of their parents. Instead, all the property and income will go to the nearest male relative, demonstrating the disparity between men and women at the time of Pride and Prejudice. Women are required to find a good marriage, as they receive little to no inheritance, and a well-connected husband is needed to maintain a certain social standard. As evident in the book, the Bennet family's lack of family connections does not aid in finding a marriage. Social rules dictate how successful and wealthy a woman can become, which is hinged on how good of a marriage she can

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