Jane Eyre And Pride And Prejudice Feminist Essay

Throughout history, women have opposed the established gender norms of their time and asserted their individuality whenever they can. This recurring theme of feminism is prominent in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, through the characters Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre respectively. Adhering to their convictions and refusing to compromise their principles, Elizabeth and Jane rebel against the traditional idea of what a woman should aim for. Although Elizabeth places her sentiments over what her family and society impose upon her, she risks far less rejecting Mr. Collins and Darcy’s proposals as she is relatively pampered. However, at the expense of prioritizing her feelings, Jane repeatedly gambles with

The Bennets bear a decent background with very few problems for the future. Mrs. Bennet believes that “ the hardest thing in the world” for the family is the fact that the “estate [will] be entailed away from [their] own children” (52). The Bennets’ only pressing worry is the entailment, which will not be in effect until Mr. Bennet passes away, which is still rather well into the future; Mr. Bennet is not at the precipice of death. Regarding the daughters’ relationship status, the Bennets can be rest assured that Jane will eventually get married because she’s beautiful, and Lydia is visible enough in society to be noticed by a man in need of a wife. Even Elizabeth has a good chance of getting married since Charlotte, a pragmatic woman, believes that Colonel Fitzwilliam, a man with a notable background, finds felicity in Elizabeth’s company, and therefore, “she sometimes plan[s Elizabeth] marrying Colonel … [for] he certainly admired her” (154). Moreover, even as her mother exaggerates the need for a husband, Elizabeth does not fear being physically manhandled or forced to do her mother’s bidding; she is free to decide for herself, even if her beliefs clash with her mother’s, without worrying of what would happen after doing such actions, even Mr. Bennett has endowed her his approval (96). Elizabeth spares little thought to when she will be harassed by her family about her inferiorities and beliefs; she does not have any pressing worries regarding her