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Pride and prejudice feminist analysis
Pride and prejudice feminist analysis
Using feminist theory to analyze pride and prejudice
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Throughout the early 1800s, British women most often were relegated to a subordinate role in society by their institutionalized obligations, laws, and the more powerfully entrenched males. In that time, a young woman’s role was close to a life of servitude and slavery. Women were often controlled by the men in their lives, whether it was a father, brother or the eventual husband. Marriage during this time was often a gamble; one could either be in it for the right reasons, such as love, or for the wrong reasons, such as advancing social status. In 19th century Britain, laws were enacted to further suppress women and reflected the societal belief that women were supposed to do two things: marry and have children. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen portrayed a women’s struggle within a society that stresses the importance of marriage and strict behavioral customs. As evidenced by the Bennett daughters: Elizabeth and Jane, as well as Charlotte Collins, marriage for young women was a pursuit that dominated their lives.
The much acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice was written during the Regency Period (1790-1820). The Regency period is often overlooked because it is caught in the middle of two prominent time periods: The Georgian/ Baroque period and the Romantic/ Victorian period. Although brief, the Regency period made a lasting impact, because the early nineteenth century produced some of the most significant art and literature pieces of all time. Some of the most iconic symbols of this period include: Jane Austen’s works, most notably Pride and Prejudice, the artwork of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the scandals of Lord Byron. Other prominent writers Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters grew up during this period. Perhaps ...
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Fowler, Karen J.Introduction. Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen: The Complete Novels. By Jane Austen. New York: Penguin, 2006. 211-421. Print.
Johnson, Claudia L. "Pride and Prejudice and the Pursuit of Happiness." Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 367-376.
Gregory, Dr. John. "A Father’s Legacy to his Daughters." Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Robert Irvine. Peterborough: Broadview Press Ltd, 2002. 402-412.
Pride and Prejudice exists to show the world that first impressions are not always correct. In fact, they are hardly ever correct. Jane Austen wrote this novel to show that the circumstances in which one was born cannot be changed, but through self-knowledge and exposure to correct ideals one could improve themselves. Austen criticized the influence others, such as family and friends, had on one’s decisions. She also criticized the way the people in her time were caught up with reputation and appearances instead of character. The themes in this book are marriage, family, prejudice, pride, and class.
Sheehan, Lucy. "Historical Context for Pride and Prejudice." Columbia College 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2014
Moler, Kenneth. Pride and Prejudice: A Study in Artistic Economy. Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers, 1989.
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996.
A. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 1994. Print. The. Bloom, Harold, ed., pp. 113-117.
Works Cited Austen, Jane. A. Pride and Prejudice. Norton Critical 3rd edition, ed. Donald Gray. New York and London: Norton, 2001.
It takes a creative imagination for a women of the 21st century to realize what their life would have been if they were born 150 years ago. In today’s society, almost any woman could have the career of their dream if they apply themselves. They can choose to marry or not to marry, or choose whether they want children or not; Women have the option to be independent individuals. However, in the 19th century none of those were choices for women. Women weren’t allowed high educations or careers, they had to marry men for social and economic purposes, have children and be housewives. The women of Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice appear to have no exception; both texts show women to be dependent because of their gender, birthright and social class.
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2001.
“Biography of Jane Austen.” Critical insight: Pride and Prejudice (2011): 18-31. Literary Reference Center. Web. 24 Nov 2013.
The much acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice was written during the Regency Period (1790-1820). The Regency period is often overlooked because it is caught in the middle of two prominent time periods: The Georgian/ Baroque period and the Romantic/ Victorian period. Although brief, the Regency period made a lasting impact, because the early nineteenth century produced some of the most significant art and literature pieces of all time. Some of the most iconic symbols of this period include: Jane Austen’s works, most notably Pride and Prejudice, the artwork of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the scandals of Lord Byron. Other prominent writers Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters grew up during this period. Perhaps known ...
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: WW Norton &. Company, 1996.
2 Feb. 2010. Moore, Catherine E. “Pride and Prejudice.” Master Revised Second Edition (1996): Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. The Web.