In a pre-modern world, women existed to do nothing but remain obedient wives and mothers, and today, women are known to be much more than this. The reasoning behind this tradition alteration of gender roles is women taking a stand and exercising the power they partake in, and using it to make themselves conspicuous in a man’s world. Renowned female icons today all inherit the same quality; their ability as women to exercise power successfully in a man’s world. In Jane Austen’s, Pride and Prejudice, Austen emphasizes on the various ways that women exercise power in a man’s world, and what they use this power for. Charlotte Lucas, Lydia Bennet, and Elizabeth Bennet all have unique personalities causing them to have different ways of exercising
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She especially does this with Mr. Darcy. For instance, she exercises power over Darcy when "she smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question with some surprise to her silence" (Austen 46). Darcy asks Elizabeth a question and when she does not answer, he is surprised as he typically is the one to have all of the power and not reply to questions. Generally, women politely do everything men request and men are used to this. However, Elizabeth does not think the same way as the rest of society. She uses her power to say “no” and to assure the man she one day marries is the right man. Moreover, her denying Darcy’s proposal caused him rethink his life, his attitude, and eventually made him a better man fit to marry Elizabeth. Furthermore, when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, she replies, “do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister” (Austen 168). Elizabeth displays power over Darcy when rejecting his marriage proposal. Both Lydia and Charlotte have low expectations of marriage and if they were placed in the same position, they would have immediately replied, ‘yes’ to Darcy’s proposal; unlike Elizabeth who kept her integrity and used her power to say no to Darcy as he had ruined her sister’s
She especially does this with Mr. Darcy. For instance, she exercises power over Darcy when "she smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question with some surprise to her silence" (Austen 46). Darcy asks Elizabeth a question and when she does not answer, he is surprised as he typically is the one to have all of the power and not reply to questions. Generally, women politely do everything men request and men are used to this. However, Elizabeth does not think the same way as the rest of society. She uses her power to say “no” and to assure the man she one day marries is the right man. Moreover, her denying Darcy’s proposal caused him rethink his life, his attitude, and eventually made him a better man fit to marry Elizabeth. Furthermore, when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, she replies, “do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister” (Austen 168). Elizabeth displays power over Darcy when rejecting his marriage proposal. Both Lydia and Charlotte have low expectations of marriage and if they were placed in the same position, they would have immediately replied, ‘yes’ to Darcy’s proposal; unlike Elizabeth who kept her integrity and used her power to say no to Darcy as he had ruined her sister’s