Social Decorum In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

Children running in a restaurant is not the appropriate way to behave, women must entertained their guest, and men must simply be polite. Jane Austen, who lived in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century in England, published Pride and Prejudice in 1812. A book in which illustrates the social decorum of the time and the expectations of men and women. The book focus on the interactions and interpretations of Elizabeth and the persons who live in the landed gentry’s class, rich people who do not have to work, and with Mr. Darcy the man in which Elizabeth hold prejudice against due to him being too proud. Decorum is the appropriate way of behaving, such as, having good manner, being polite, and following the social norms. A keystone concept …show more content…
Social rules are not written, but everyone must have knowledge of them and follow them when the time is appropriated, however, the social decorum that is followed during the early nineteenth century are rules that should not be broken. In such times the women were expected to act certain ways and to respond in accordance to the social decorum. Elizabeth, who resides in the landed gentry’s social class, during the early nineteenth century was expected to become a wife, which is the only socially acceptable course of action to take for a women; as working in a profession would deem them unworthy. During Mr. Collins stay at Longbourn, he proposes to Elizabeth in hope to impress Lady Catherine, however, Elizabeth responds, “I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” (106). Elizabeth refuses Mr. Collins in a very polite way, and states that he should not think of her as a lady who follows the social decorum, but as an independent woman capable of rational thinking. Jane Austen demonstrates her view about social decorum as a lose set or rules, which may be broken in certain situations, as Elizabeth goes against the …show more content…
Decorum being very important to those in nobility would be follow in order to maintain an image of a sophisticated and respectful family. The decision of Mr. Bennet letting Lydia go to Brighton cause a discussion of the possible outcomes and Elizabeth said to her farther, “Our importance, our respectability in the world, must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia’s character” (223). Elizabeth is warning her farther that whatever Lydia might do in Brighton might affect their image and respect they receive, as that if Lydia breaks the decorum will bring an unfavorable situation to the Bennet family. Austen recognizes that social decorum as an important part of keeping a respectful image in society, and if a person is not careful with their actions it will bring negative consequences to that person and family. The landed gentry is very aware of the social rules, and are very careful not to interact with those who breaks the decorum. Austen demonstrates the reaction of someone going against the decorum in Mr. Collins letter in regard to Lydia interactions with Mr. Wickham, and in that letter Mr. Collins says, “They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter, will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others, for