Degradation Of Women In Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen

In Pride and Prejudice, Austen ridicules the values of her society as well as the expectations set for women using her characterization of women to demonstrate that the constant degradation of a woman leads to her accentuating unflattering behaviors and mirroring the flaws of society. The lives of young women, such as Lydia and Charlotte, revolved around marriage. Women were expected to be courteous, act appropriately at all times, and most importantly, every woman was expected to marry- even if marriage meant sacrificing her aspirations for financial security. Then, the older women, such as Mrs. Bennet and Lady Catherine, depict the consequences of a submissive life on their conduct and intelligence. However, Austen offers an escape from societal expectations in her characterization of Elizabeth, which demonstrates her hope for equality and true companionship. Austen’s portrayal of women in Pride and Prejudice allows her to criticize the values of her society as well as offer advice for other women to transcend gender barriers.
From the start of a young woman’s life, she is taught to display cordial and courteous mannerisms to
Elizabeth deviates from traditional behaviors simply through her wit and introspection. During a time when women were degraded and undereducated, Elizabeth transcends societal barriers by discovering love and her individuality through knowledge. Her intellect and propensity to act autonomously attracts Darcy; but, her autonomous nature causes her to be ridiculed by others’ as well. Her reflections when walking to Netherfield along with her determination to endure hardship to visit Jane exemplify her independent spirit. However, Elizabeth’s decision to walk alienates her from Miss Bingley since any indication of self promoted thought gave people the impression of a poor