Culture and Women's Liberation
Culture has a way of barricading women's ways with a plethora of societal dogmas that aggregate women's woes while mystifying male mystique in plain and complicated types. Elizabeth Bennet uses her admiral portrayal as "Pride and Bigotry" full of wit, courage, brilliance, virtue, and a greater degree of authenticity to maneuver and go against social norms to smash women stereotyping and stereotypical gender stereotypes, as mentioned in the paper below.
Exercising Freedom
Despite society's restrictions on the freedom of expression and conduct of fairer sex, Elizabeth Bennet exercised her liberty, aware of her deeds. She spends her free time, for instance, to play piano, read books and worse still enjoy walking outdoors without company of any of her relatives, an act that was scorned by both her parents as well as Bingley's sisters as such practices were a reserve of men (Austen chapter 14). With brevity in the face of traditional rudeness to her gender, Elizabeth never refrained from speaking her mind disregarding the consequences just to support her feelings especially with Darcy talking him in his face to rebuke the type of treatment her sister was subjected to under the watch of Darcy.
Societal Expectations
In Jane Austen's society, an individual is perceived as a perfect woman if she is well equipped with greater ability to showcase her talents in dancing, music, singing as well as articulate in modern languages. Such an allegation of a perfect woman demoralizes Elizabeth to accept Darcy's dance invitations. The duo, though feels some compassion, are buried in their pride drawn from the different social classes both come from. The extreme social classes depict reluctance to accept socioeconomic diversity in marriage as they spend more time in prejudice than understanding each other.
Women's Role in Stereotyping
Women were also to blame for the stereotyping of their gender. In a majority of the incidences, there exist other women who occupy the focal point in perpetuating female stereotyping. In Mrs. Bennet's mind, the arrival of Bingley is a golden opportunity for one of her girls to get a "worthy" husband (Austen chapter 2). Her actions, in addition, exemplify women inferiority and are only to get married and confined in the kitchen. She makes a proposal to his husband to make a haste arrangement for the two families to meet. Part of the anxiety Mrs. Bennet is portraying maybe to secure her estate in her widowhood by having an heir that will prevent the transfer of property to Mr. Collins- Mr. Bennet's cousin.
"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield...and all others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for" (Austen chapter 3).
Men's Expectations and Defying Social Norms
The protagonist, however, takes her time in prospecting the type of man she would like to marry despite her advancing age. The novel, in isolated instances, exposes men to object of humor. In the Regency eras, men were expected to depict a character that is more dominating and full of confidence even if their actions could result in dire consequences. Fitzwilliam Darcy defies such a social standing by potraying a lot of weakness in thought and speech by blaming his parents for the lack of social skills. He says that:
"...allowed and encouraged and almost taught him to be selfish and overbearing" (chapter 58)
Such sentiments are a disappointment to the male populations as it is expected that as he grows so do his social skills. In contrary, Elizabeth speaks with a lot of vigor. She goes ahead to reprimand Darcy on his face due to the suffering Jane, her sister, underwent in the hands of Darcy without any trace of fear as was expected. It was also a normal occurrence that an individual's parents linked their children to people they perceive as potentials making women perceived as a source of financial security (Austen chapter 2). Marrying from high social class makes not only the parents to be happy, but the whole community rejoices. Mrs. Bennet on realizing that there would be a new wealthy bachelor in town named Charles Bingley agrees to the social cliché that:
"It is universally acknowledged truth that a single man with much fortune in his name, must be in need of a wife" (chapter 1).
What is hidden from the quote is the truth that a wife needs a highly fortunate man to be by her side. However, the protagonist has a dissenting perception of love and companionship favoring love as opposed to economic convenience as a prerequisite for a successful marriage. Elizabeth defies such arrangements holding on her life's philosophy of nothing, but happiness despite what other people will say over her life.
Inheritance and Rebellion
Women also had no authority to inherit their father's property. Despite having five daughters, Mr. Bennet estate would be under Mr. Collins- a distant elder son to his cousin- until his elder daughter gets a husband. The protagonist, however, is reluctant to get married for the sake of getting an heir to the family's estate (Austen chapter 18).
From the above examples, Austen adopts analytical of personal psyches, social mores as well as interpersonal relationships portraying the protagonist as a woman of substance defying the socially ascribe behavioral practices. She comfortable engages and controls the relationships reversing the role of men even.
Work Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and prejudice. Vol. 1. Artisan Shoppe, 2017.
