Women Putting Down Other Women in Pride and Prejudice

Feminists contend that throughout history, women have been treated as less than human by men. However, women are not exempt from putting down other women, especially those who are of lower social rank. In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, women are seen treating other women unequally based upon their appearance, manners, and skills. During the Regency era appearance was extremely important. If a woman arrived at a party under or overdressed she would be mocked and ridiculed for days by other women. Since propriety was valued as well, those who were dressed scandalously would be avoided by others to safeguard their reputation. Appearance was also and indicator of social status and wealth, which determined whether or not a person was†¦show more content†¦Despite the fact that the Bennet family comes from gentry and are of the same social ranking, her appearance leads the ladies to consider her far inferior to any of them. Manners were also very important in the Regency era. Woman were judged on how they behaved in public and one little mistake could cause extreme embarrassment. They were expected to â€Å"possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions†v. Although Elizabeth follows most of the social norms of the era, she is too outspoken and strong-willed which causes many of the other women to dislike her: â€Å"Her [Elizabeth] manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no taste, no beauty.†vi Caroline, Mr. Bingleys sister, also remarks that â€Å"in her [Elizabeths] air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable†vii. Lydia and Kitty, two of Elizabeths younger sisters, are also viewed very negatively because of their manners. Elizabeth describes Lydia as â€Å"unguarded and imprudent†viii and says that Kitty â€Å"will follow wherever Lydia leads à ¢â‚¬â€œ vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled!†ix They are both seen as very immature throughout the novel and risk their reputation by spending a great deal of time with the soldiers stationed in town. Lydia also causes a great embarrassment to the Bennet family byShow MoreRelated Feminism in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Essay1713 Words   |  7 PagesFeminism in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice, holds feminist views and uses the novel to show her opinions about womens issues. Pride and Prejudice is a personal essay, a statement of Jane Austens feelings about the perfect lady, marriage, and the relationship between the sexes. Jane Austens characters, plot, and dialogue are biased to reflect her beliefs. The biased process and importance of marriage are introduced with the first lineRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Pride and Prejudice Essay763 Words   |  4 PagesPride and Prejudice The characters and general setting in Jane Austens; Pride and Prejudice, portray life in the rural society of the day. Austen is very clear in setting up the social classes of the characters and immediately portrays why the book is titled Pride and Prejudice. Though the more specific example of Pride and Prejudice is that of Elizabeth and Darcy, and how they first view each other. There initial feelings towards one another set the plot of the novel. It is this constantRead MoreGender Roles . Regency England Is The Time Period In England1544 Words   |  7 Pagessociety, in which some women did not approbate. With Pride and Prejudice’s opening line: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife† (Austen 1) immediately informs the audience the importance of gender roles in the novel. Austen’s diction and syntax shows how these people have an ordinary/everyday mentality, members of the rural middle class at that time, such as the Bennetts. This quote suggests that women are just meant to beRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1702 Words   |  7 PagesIt is undoubtedly incredible that Pride and Prejudice, a novel written and published in 1813, continues to have an impressive degree of relevance in the modern world. In the 19th century society that serves as the backdrop for Pride and Prejudice, perhaps the most important societal norm is getting married. Women are preoccupied with finding suitable husbands so that they can live a comfortable life, while reciprocally, men are hoping to find a wife for a potential financial benefit or property gainRead MorePride and Prejudice1906 Words   |  8 PagesPride and Prejudice tells a story of a young girl in the midst of a very materialistic society. Jane Austen uses the setting to dramatize the restraints women had to endure in society. As the novel develops, we see how women have to act in a way according to their gender, social class, and family lineage. Elizabeth Bennet’s sisters represent the proper societal lady while Lizzy is the rebel. Through her characters Austen shows how a women’s happiness came second to the comfort of wealth. As the plotRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen2500 Words   |  10 PagesHayden Webster Mr. Drake AP Lit 12 January 2014 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) Elizabeth Bennet: Elizabeth Bennet is the protagonist of the novel. Her prejudice and tendency to pass quick judgment (hence the novel’s title) takes a large effect on her relationships, especially her relationship with Mr. Darcy. Unimpressed by wealth and status, she differs from her somewhat naà ¯ve sister Jane in that she allows herself to see that humans are flawed beings. Put simply—Elizabeth is â€Å"realRead MoreThe Stereotypes Of Misogyny965 Words   |  4 PagesIn order to understand the broad topic of misogyny, it must first be recognized. The oppression of women in society can be found in many aspects of daily life, current events, and in human history. Specifically, this misogyny is largely observed from the way in which the female narrative is suppressed. In â€Å"How to Date a Brown Girl (Black Girl, White Girl, or Halfie)† by Junot Diaz, the female voice is silenced, leaving room for stereotypes to emerge and sexist--and racist--undertones to ru n throughoutRead MoreMarriage in Pride and Prejudice Defined by Gender, Social Class, and Family 1800 Words   |  8 PagesAusten’s novel is commanded by women; Pride and Prejudice explores the expectations of women in a society that is set at the turn of the 19th century. Throughout the plot, Austen’s female characters are all influenced by their peers, pressures from their family, and their own desires. The social struggle of men and women is seen throughout the novel. Characters, like Elizabeth, are examples of females not acting as proper as women were supposed to, while other women like Mrs. Bennett allow themselvesRead MoreJane Austins Pride and Prejudice: A Famous Work of Englands Regency Period 1636 Words   |  7 Pagesromance that was prevalent at the time. Famous Regency Era literary works, such as Pride and Prejudice, portray young English women getting their happily-ever-after endings with their true loves. Unfortunately, such endings did not actually ha ppen to real women of the era because they lived very austere and vapid lives. They hardly had a choice in many of their lives’ decisions and had little to no career options. These women were raised from birth to be lady-like, obedient, and agreeable in order to attractRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen2107 Words   |  9 Pages‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’ are seen as being mainly concerned with social class and the wealth of those who are in the upper class but readers must consider other themes the novels are concerned with. In Jane Austen’s 1813 novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’, the opening line of the novel; â€Å"a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good wife sets the tone for the aftermath of the novel, addressing the fixation of wealth and the benefit of money. Wealth can be