Social Norms In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a perfect reflection of the time in which it was written. The themes, characters, and dialogue create an image of what was happening at the time and how people acted. This book allows historians to make big picture connections and compare the society Jane Austen lived in with those 500 years later or a million miles away. Though Pride and Prejudice is considered a classic much of what Jane Austen says in the story is relevant to current events. The themes in Pride and Prejudice are courtship, reputation, and class. Elizabeth Bennet is constantly concerned for her family’s reputation.

Courtship is seen in the way that these two interact. They must first be introduced by a mutual acquaintance before they can talk to each other and then they are not supposed to be alone together at any time. These themes relate to the themes of this course in that this course focuses on relationships between people, the order of power, and societal norms in different time periods. Pride and Prejudice displays the societal norms and relationships between its people when Elizabeth comments on how her family’s behaviors will be viewed by others. The separation of classes and hesitation to marry between them shows the order of power during the time in which it was written. Elizabeth is independent, headstrong, and passionate. This makes her relationships with people much different and more vivid than with any of the other characters. The extreme reactions she gives and gets give us a better understanding of the most basic and important of societal norms and expectations of the time. Also, her relationship with Darcy gives us an upclose view of what the division of power was like at the time. Everyone wanted to marry up but it was frowned upon to marry someone

Something present at that time, not present in today’s society was the ability to only pass wealth and property on to the first born son. Mr. Bennet therefore is not able to leave his wife or daughters his house or money. Instead, it will go to their cousin Mr. Collins. The girls are therefore forced to attempt to marry into money. Another snapshot of the time that Pride and Prejudice provides is in the views of women at the time. While at Mr. Bingley’s estate Elizabeth, Darcy, Bingley, and Caroline discuss what is considered and accomplished woman at the time. They list a thorough knowledge of music, singing, dancing, and the modern languages as just a few, not to mention “a certain something in her air and manner of walking”. Elizabeth does not let any of these things influence the way she acts or thinks. She insists that only the deepest of loves will persuade her into matrimony and believes that a woman such as Caroline and Darcy describe does not exist. Jane Austen uses Elizabeth to show her views on society and women’s rights. Pride and Prejudice criticized the class system, promoted feminist views, and questioned the societal norms of the