The book Letters to Alice on the first reading Jane Austen, (hence force known as Letters to Alice) written by Fay Weldon bridges the generation gap between modern day society and the society of early 19th century. Weldon helps the modern day reader connect with the meaning and understand the social conventions such as social class and marriage in Jane Austen’s renowned novel Pride and Prejudice. Weldon clarifies the meaning and understanding behind Jane Austen’s helping bring together both societies.
After the feminist movement that occurred in the 1980’s, women had more rights and access to such things as a steady income through work, while men were becoming less a dominant force. This resulted in marriage being less of a requirement for …show more content…
The early view on marriage is exhibited vastly throughout the array of characters in Pride and Prejudice, a big constant example of this being Mrs. Bennett. She is tirelessly desperate for her daughters to get married as soon as possible, pushing them continuously to marry any rich man that fancies them. Charlotte, one of Mrs. Bennett’s daughters demonstrates this eagerness to follow the early tradition of marriage when she makes the practical decision to marry Mr. Collins. Her view of marriage lacks what is a common place in modern society, such things as love, loyalty and commitment towards the partner and this is shown by her knowledge of Mr. Collins imperfections. When she proclaims, “I am not romantic”, “I ask only a confortable home”, it shows her intent behind her reason to marry such a man who she knows is not fit for her. With these events, Austen exposes a society where a woman’s forthcoming life is an unknowingly dangerous one, showing the differing contradictions between the romantic ethics and financial requirements of marriage. Weldon delivers an understanding to modern readers as they would interpret the society and ways of marriage shown by Austen, as an upsetting one no one in the modern day should have to go through. A way she delivers it is
After the feminist movement that occurred in the 1980’s, women had more rights and access to such things as a steady income through work, while men were becoming less a dominant force. This resulted in marriage being less of a requirement for …show more content…
The early view on marriage is exhibited vastly throughout the array of characters in Pride and Prejudice, a big constant example of this being Mrs. Bennett. She is tirelessly desperate for her daughters to get married as soon as possible, pushing them continuously to marry any rich man that fancies them. Charlotte, one of Mrs. Bennett’s daughters demonstrates this eagerness to follow the early tradition of marriage when she makes the practical decision to marry Mr. Collins. Her view of marriage lacks what is a common place in modern society, such things as love, loyalty and commitment towards the partner and this is shown by her knowledge of Mr. Collins imperfections. When she proclaims, “I am not romantic”, “I ask only a confortable home”, it shows her intent behind her reason to marry such a man who she knows is not fit for her. With these events, Austen exposes a society where a woman’s forthcoming life is an unknowingly dangerous one, showing the differing contradictions between the romantic ethics and financial requirements of marriage. Weldon delivers an understanding to modern readers as they would interpret the society and ways of marriage shown by Austen, as an upsetting one no one in the modern day should have to go through. A way she delivers it is