Feminism in the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Feminism in the Novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

What is Feminism?

Feminism is a collection of ideologies and movements with the overarching goal of defining, advancing, and obtaining equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women. It is most likely that men would agree, that women and men should have equal chances, and women shouldn't face discrimination based on their gender. So, men and women should be paid equally for equal work. Moreover, feminism has undergone three waves and also, and the names of some famous feminists are Simone de Beauvoir, Marry Wollstonecraft, Bell Hooks, Andre Lorde, Fatema Merniss and Germanie Greer etc.

Social Issue

The Primogeniture system in English society is the social issue that is highlighted in the novel “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. Primogeniture is a legacy in which the oldest son, the first male offspring, receives the entire inheritance. In terms of inheritance distribution, women hold a disadvantaged position because they lack the legal authority to claim an inheritance. The primogeniture-based estate is distributed unequally between men and women. The book Pride and Prejudice also depicts society as comedy, showing how the mother is concerned if her five daughters do not find a compatible mate.

British Society and Feminism (Nineteenth Century)

Additionally, the author seeks to bring the mood of nineteenth-century Europe into the present. Through the literary genre of romance, she uses her example to describe the social situations of the entire community as well as the historical natural environment.

Men were seen as superior to women in nineteenth-century British society. Women are viewed as a second person who lack in many facets of life, including economics, social interactions, and education. In that society, men are portrayed as beings who outperform women in all facets of life. Therefore, discrimination against women is common. This problem affects women as the next group of people after men. The aforementioned explanation relates to the quotation that follows.

'I'm thinking of a novel,' Elizabeth responded. "The cousin's actions hurt my feelings. Is that what underlies the Vigilante mentality itself?’ (Page: 276).

When Mr Darcy treats Elizabeth badly, the aforementioned remark describes it. In this circumstance, she is made fun of, which hurts her. She is not a perfect human, which is why. Elizabeth believes this makes her like a second person susceptible to harm and hatred. This claim shows that a guy views a woman as an inferior being who may be easily damaged and even intimidated. According to the study, women in that British society are viewed as weak in all respects and are therefore easily injured or frightened by men.

The author of Pride and Prejudice novel portrays Elizabeth, the heroine, as not having the right to pick a husband at the beginning of the book (which means only arranged marriages were at that time and especially focused on the wealthy party for being a couple). Similarly to this, a lady travelling alone is viewed as inappropriate.

Feminist motives Reflected by Pride and Prejudice

The author of Pride and Prejudice examines the imbalance between men and women. This includes social, economic, and educational asymmetries.

The way that both the original book and its adaptation portrayed the female characters were examined through the prism of feminism. It is clear from the analysis of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that her characters fit in well with modern thought and, more importantly, gain from the transformation.

It is evident from sociological methodology. In this instance, Jane Austen attempted to illustrate human nature by having the characters gaze at a beautiful object that brings them joy. In this book, Jane Austen outlines a civilization that is constantly focused on money and the pursuit of materialistic existence.

This book also discusses the social structure or delivery system that uses the English primogeniture system. A holdover from the feudal system in Normandy is primogeniture. The first male child is the only one to get an inheritance, with the other boys and girls going in search of fortune and the kingdom itself being left empty-handed by its parents. The following exchange illustrates the issue:

Dialogue between Mrs Bannet and Mr Collins

(But the reality is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy myself without choosing a wife from among his daughters, that when the melancholy event takes place, which, however, as I have already said, may not be for several years, the loss to them may be as little as possible).

The status of women in terms of inheritance is low. They are not eligible for the legacy right. Primogeniture is an inherited system that causes gender imbalance.

Conclusion

Finally, Elizabeth supports her feminist stance by rejecting traditional gender norms and attempting to change Mr Darcy's moral character to match her own. Elizabeth motivates Mr Darcy to swallow his pride in his lofty position in society to win her love and ask for her hand in marriage.

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