When it comes to Jane Austen novels there is no mistaking the repetitive trend found in her heroines. She gravitates towards the perspective of those who aren’t exactly poor, yet they don’t come from a point in life where the world is served on a silver platter. Elizabeth is no exception, and when comparing her to most of the other characters of Pride and Prejudice, it is obvious that she is inferior. Yet as one reads the novel, it is hard to agree with all of the evidence that Elizabeth is inferior because she is written in a way which commands authority. In fact, Jane Austen seems to specifically create strengths for her heroine with devices which would normally have an adverse effect on superiority of a woman in this time period. Elizabeth
…show more content…
While it is easy to assume the power of an estate such as Pemberley-- a place so regal that it evokes an evolution in our headstrong heroine-- it is much harder to understand how Elizabeth’s home of Longbourne can create a similar effect. Since we are first introduced to the property as simply, “the village where [the Bennets] lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants”, it is hard to imagine Longbourn as anything special due to the mediocrity of the owners. In order to actuate the significance, we must read on to chapter 56-- the chapter in which Lady Catherine has come to discourage any thoughts of marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth. As soon as she arrives, she walks around the house commenting on all the simplicity in a mostly demeaning manner, but she does mention one particular aspect of note. She says, “...Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn...”(449). Of course, she is just trying to get Elizabeth alone at this point, but in her phrasing I found an oddity. It is extremely similar to Elizabeth’s account on Pemberley when she first observes it with her Aunt and Uncle. In both instances, the characters find beauty in the untouched nature. Lady Catherine’s pitiful attempt at praise for an otherwise lackluster property is unknowingly creating an allusion to …show more content…
Without these elements, our heroine would become a woman who just got lucky in the marriage plot, and most of the satirical elements would be lost on a stereotypical female. It also reminds the reader that this novel is indeed a reflection of its period. As Jane Austen wrote this, the nouveau riche were steadily rising from the confinements in the social system. Sure, the aristocrats were obviously still the heads of society, but there can be no doubt that the middle class was certainly emerging as a new rival to previous standards. Rather than earn respect by being born into power, the new class bettered themselves in the same way that Elizabeth uses to distinguish herself in this novel. Anyone can evolve if he or she is willing to improve on their faults and strive to break the mold of
While it is easy to assume the power of an estate such as Pemberley-- a place so regal that it evokes an evolution in our headstrong heroine-- it is much harder to understand how Elizabeth’s home of Longbourne can create a similar effect. Since we are first introduced to the property as simply, “the village where [the Bennets] lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants”, it is hard to imagine Longbourn as anything special due to the mediocrity of the owners. In order to actuate the significance, we must read on to chapter 56-- the chapter in which Lady Catherine has come to discourage any thoughts of marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth. As soon as she arrives, she walks around the house commenting on all the simplicity in a mostly demeaning manner, but she does mention one particular aspect of note. She says, “...Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn...”(449). Of course, she is just trying to get Elizabeth alone at this point, but in her phrasing I found an oddity. It is extremely similar to Elizabeth’s account on Pemberley when she first observes it with her Aunt and Uncle. In both instances, the characters find beauty in the untouched nature. Lady Catherine’s pitiful attempt at praise for an otherwise lackluster property is unknowingly creating an allusion to …show more content…
Without these elements, our heroine would become a woman who just got lucky in the marriage plot, and most of the satirical elements would be lost on a stereotypical female. It also reminds the reader that this novel is indeed a reflection of its period. As Jane Austen wrote this, the nouveau riche were steadily rising from the confinements in the social system. Sure, the aristocrats were obviously still the heads of society, but there can be no doubt that the middle class was certainly emerging as a new rival to previous standards. Rather than earn respect by being born into power, the new class bettered themselves in the same way that Elizabeth uses to distinguish herself in this novel. Anyone can evolve if he or she is willing to improve on their faults and strive to break the mold of