Pride and Prejudice-Feminism Was Jane

Pride and Prejudice-Feminism

Was Jane Austen a feminist? or, did she promote sexist stereotypes? Ask a room full of English literature educators this question and there may very well be a brouhaha. Beliefs will range anywhere from "Really, what did she ever do to change the world for women? She never preached as Mary Wollstonecroft did on behalf of women. and, where is her book on women's rights?" To "All right, so Jane Austen did not stand on a soap box in the middle of Trafalgar Square, or Charing Cross, as it was known back then, to scream out the rights of women. Yet how many women of her generation dared to write what they wanted? This paper leans toward the latter view. Context and timing must be considered. By 2005 standards, Austen is admittedly a feminist wimp. In the late 1700s and early 1800s -- Victorian Times -- it was a different story, entirely. Women did not have equality in England or America at this time. Austen may have primarily written about marriage. However, she also wrote about the positive and negative relationships between men and women and the problems of women in her day and had some scathing criticisms of society - especially as it affected women.

Regina Barreca, professor of English and feminist theory at the University of Connecticut and author of several books including They Used to Call Me Snow White...But I Drifted, called many of Austen's character's "bad girls." That is, even though they stay within the prevailing structure, "they mess it up." Some of her characters just throw off their straitjackets, or the restraints put on them by their patriarchal society.

Barreca points to the end of Pride and Prejudice as an example. When Elizabeth marries Darcy, one of the last lines is that he has not yet learned how to joke about himself. Yes, the book ends happily, but that line is there for a good reason: "In all the happy endings at the end of the novels, there is a slight caveat saying, "You need a happy ending, here it his. But remember, I am not telling you that everything is going to smoothly from now on."

There are several themes that wander through the Austen books and show that she is not totally happy with the woman's plight in life. These themes are seen in Pride and Prejudice, as well, from the opening that sets the theme and setting: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters."

Brown states that one of the reasons why Austen has received a "thumbs down" from feminists is that her women get married. That is indeed true. The characters may marry, but that does not mean that they are 100% in favor of the institution. In most cases, they had little or no choice. At that time, if a woman did not marry, she would have to continue living under her parents' roof. or, if they did not have the funds, she would have to become a governess. Unfortunately, a woman would never know how she would be treated by an employer -- she could even become the desire of the gentleman of the house. Sometimes marriage was the lesser of the evils.

In fact, not all of Austen's marriages are good ones. Granted, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is fortunate and ends up wedding a wealthy and honorable husband. However, their relationship did not happen over night. Darcy finds himself increasingly attracted to Elizabeth after several meetings. He proposes marriage, which she quickly refuses. Part of the reason for declining, says Johnson (Gray 348), is because Darcy proposes without giving much thought to whom he is proposing: Just as it is assumed that that a man who desires money would seek a wealthy wife, Darcy believes that a woman desiring fortune would accept a wealthy husband. In addition, Elizabeth realizes that Darcy is talking as if she is not even present. Actually, he is having a dialogue with hims inner self. Johnson calls this an 'appalling resemblance' to Mr. Collins' proposal approach. Thus, Elizabeth tells Darcy that she considers him arrogant and unpleasant.

Later, as Elizabeth gets to know Darcy and the circumstances better, her feelings change. However, Darcy's aunt says she has heard that Darcy is planning to marry Elizabeth. Since she considers a Bennet an unsuitable match for her nephew, she demands that Elizabeth promise to refuse him. Elizabeth spiritedly refuses, a strong gesture for a woman at that time, saying she is not engaged to Darcy, but she will not promise anything against her own happiness. A little later Elizabeth and Darcy go walking together. He tells her that his feelings have not altered since the spring. He proposes again, and Elizabeth gladly accepts this time.

Her friend, Charlotte, has a different fate. Charlotte, who is neither attractive nor charming as Elizabeth, knows she has to settle for that lesser of evils. Austen reveals her feelings about marriages to men such as Mr. Collins:

Charlotte's] reflections were in general satisfactory. 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. Without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at her intended marriage. Already at the age of 27, there was a good chance that she may have died as an old maid. Charlotte summed up her situation: "I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state."

As Van Ghent states: "Marriage in Austen's terms does not man an act of ungoverned passion; marriage means a complex engagement between the marrying couple and society -- that is, it means not only "feelings" but "property" as well. In marrying, the individual marries society as well as his mate, and "property" provides the necessary articles of this other marriage" (Gray 299).

Besides having to live at home if not married, women had a number of restrictions placed on them by their society. For example, forget receiving an inheritance if one was a woman. The laws of the country required a family's money to go to a male heir. For example, Mr. Bennet's inheritance, money and home, Longbourn House, would have gone directly to his cousin Mr. Collins. Mr. Bennet's wife and five daughters would be at a loss.

In addition, men, not women, could attend schools of higher education. A woman would have to learn on her own through private studies or by being tutored. Elizabeth relates this to Catherine, as she states: "such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle certainly might." In discussing a woman's accomplishments, Darcy also comments that a really commendable woman will improve "her mind by extensive reading."