In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen does not offer a harsh critique, but rather highlights the flaws in society in her opinion, using comparisons. Through these comparisons she states her opinion that the social norms of her time are not always correct. Her critique of the society isn’t biting because she points out the flaws according to her opinion and uses righteous examples to warrant her view. She uses examples of different marriages and personalities to persuade the reader of her viewpoint. From the first sentence in the book, ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife’, it is known that the novel will be exploring the theme of marriage.
Pizan so obviously from the start of her writing, introduces how women should behave (from the perspective of a princess), so that her actions shall be beneficial to her and her husband. By talking about the finances, which is radical, Pizan degrades women in all other aspects. Degrading is used in the sense that she does not promote equality in any other way other than the financial aspect. These women could be considered early feminists if they looked for equality in other things as well not just a specific
“Dear Harriet, I give myself joy of this. It would have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the consequence of your marrying Mr Martin.” (Page 52) This scenario conveys Emma’s concern about society as she expresses that she cannot keep friends of lower class than her. Emma’s behaviour reflects her society’s values towards the importance of social order. In this way, Austen criticises yet, by eventually uniting Harriet and Mr Martin in marriage, ultimately reaffirms the harsh divides within the social hierarchy of Highbury, a microcosm which represents the values of Regency England. While Austen questions her society’s views on social order, Amy Heckerling also challenges social
The upper class women were supposed to just look pretty and stand there. Women were supposed to be innocent; otherwise they would not be marriage potential. Since they were unable to provide for themselves, they expected the men to take care of them. To sum it all up, women dreamed of getting married. Another major thing in Victorian Society was etiquette.
However for both Bronte and Austen, relationships were unconventional for their time, as neither of the women married. Austen’s novel was much more widely accepted, as the heroine does not condone the inappropriate relationship that begins to form between Isabella and Captain Tilney. “His behaviour was so incompatible with a knowledge of Isabella’s engagement” Austen is satirical and ironic Cathy and Heathcliff’s relationship becomes strained and unobtainable because of the pressures society imposes on Cathy to marry for status and weath. Their family and society forbid Cathy and Heathcliff’s love throughout the novel. Critic Suzanne Birkett suggest ‘She later marries Edgar and comes to feel that she is imprisoned by society’s rules.’ As although Cathy has made a wise choice in marrying Edgar because ‘He will be rich’, her forbidden love for Heathcliff still hinders her when Heathcliff once again returns in chapter ten.
In the novel we see that Harriet and Mr Martin would be a suitable match, however Emma guides Harriet against marrying Mr Martin, as she believes that Mr Elton would be better suited. Us as the viewer though can see that Mr Elton and Harriet would be unsuitable because of their different social classes. Emma misjudges the feelings Mr Elton has for Emma, and believes that Mr Elton is referring to Harriet. Emma does not see the error of this match until Mr Elton confesses his love for Emma, and She then realizes how mistaken she was and this does unsettle her. Austen highlights the theme of social class throughout the novel, particularly in terms of Emma’s friendship with Harriet Smith.
For a 21st century reader it is easy to interpret the two themes as divided as it is what we have been socialised to do, however at the time Austen was writing Pride and Prejudice, in the 18th century, it was socially conditioned that marriage and money were inextricably linked. Women were omitted from the entail system which meant they could not inherit their family’s wealth which left them vulnerable and in need of a husband. For those people who read Jane Austen’s novels for her flare of the romantic it is easy to conclude that Jane Austen championed love as being more important than money. However if this is the case, why do both Jane and Elizabeth Bennett marry suitors that are deemed to be wealthy? To explore the tension between love and money even further the main concern in the other two marriages in the novel revolve around money and fortune.
As the context is altered from Jane Austen's 19th century novel, Emma to the late 20th century film, Clueless directed by Amy Heckerling, the initial attitudes towards the existence of patriarchy in society remain of concern but adjust to their new backgrounds. Austen’s novel, through Emma’s self-improvement shows the notions of the importance of marriage, as a subjectification of women and also uses the characters of Emma to challenge society’s patriarchy and Mr. Knightley as the male archetype to whom Emma must impress, whereas Heckerling transforms these ideas to the importance of dating, and Cher’s need for Josh’s approval, with the remaining of both their requirement of improving themselves. Emma makes a statement on the notions of female independence, and subtly confronts the values of her 19th century patriarchal context. Women’s roles in society at this time were solely marital and maternal, with writers such as Rousseau stating the idea that women must be subservient, dutiful and devoted to the men in their lives. The book firmly projects the patriarchal society as the context: “A young woman, if she falls into bad hands may be teased…but one cannot comprehend a young man’s being under such restraint.” This language, although satirical reaffirms a main attitude existent in the context of Regency England.
The practice of polygamy distorts the meaning of marriage. Goodman says that "defenders argue that polygamous marriages are freely entered, freely left, well protected by law or custom" (pg 90). I believe this type of marriage is wrong for the women involved and it breaks down the institution of marriage. The women are denied the intended bond they are to have with a husband. Not being able to have this bond disables her trust and intimacy with her husband, these are meant to strengthen a relationship and marriage.
AP English Open-ended Prompt: 1987 Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen seems to challenge the traditional order of society in her time and age, where women marry not out of love but rather for wealth and an establishment of a stable household. She presents this progressive stance through the contrasting relationships of couples who had a love marriage such as, Darcy and Elizabeth as well as Jane and Bingley, as opposed to couples who did not - Mr. and Mrs. Bennett as well as Lydia and Wickham. From the very beginning of the novel, it is clear to the readers that Mr. and Mrs. Bennett do not have a very loving nor compatible relationship, despite the frequency to which she addresses him as ‘my dear’. In fact, it is evident that even