Problems In Pride And Prejudice Essay

Unable to provide for themselves and constantly being judged by everyone, women face many daily problems in Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen follows the heroine Elizabeth and her romance with Mr. Darcy in a world where gender truly matters. Without a husband women cannot survive; therefore, it is very important for women to get married. They are also expected to behave in a specific way, and when they don't they are looked down upon. Overall, gender is very one sided and because of this causes a lot of problems for women.

Marriage back in the 19th century was mainly for financial reasons. Love is the last thing even thought about before getting married. This is because women were dependent on a husband to provide for them since they could not go out and get themselves a job. One prime example of this is through Charlotte and when the narrator states, “Marriage had always been her object; it was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune.” (Austen 149). Charlotte is not innately wealthy, so she needs a husband. Furthermore, this proves how one sided gender is, and how it leans more towards the benefits of men. If Charlotte were a man she would not need to worry about getting married. The man she marries is, naturally, a wealthy man with no particular reason to marry other than the fact that it is the normal thing for him to do. The narrator emphasizes this by saying, “Mr. Collins to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband.” (149). Contrarily to women, men had no real purpose in getting married. This made married women almost lucky. The only way a women could get married is if...

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... more of a problem for people of lower class rather than women but this is not the case. If a man of low class were to disagree with a woman of higher class his word would still surpass her's. Again reputation is threatened and this is because the ruin of reputation can be the end of a woman's life. No man would want to marry such a disrespectful and spiteful women which in turn leaves her using the last of the money her family is willing to give.

In conclusion, women in Pride and Prejudice are hindered behind the ideal perceptions of women that were created by men. Keeping women under control by disallowing any dependence, forcing marriage upon them and shunning those who disobey. Consistently giving more power to men and taking away any freedom women could have. It truly is a wonder that Elizabeth Bennet found love in the end despite all that was against her.