Social Values In Pride And Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, is a novel that is based on the interactions amongst the upper class families and their social values. In Pride and Prejudice, the main character, Elizabeth, is exposed to a society where women have little power and the only way they can secure high social status is through marriage. The novel portrays how unequal men and women are in terms of marriage as they have limited options in regards to marriage and usually, their choices are governed by their financial conditions. The women in this novel are pressured to marry as they cannot inherit property and are not expected to have a career. An exception to this is Elizabeth Bennet who does not view marriage as a means of elevating her status, as she refuses …show more content…
Therefore, Elizabeth is a heroine because she goes against the social aspects or expectations of her society with respect to marriage and does not let the society around her control her actions and value of life.
The ideas and values of the society in Pride and Prejudice are reflected within the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet is influenced by society to compete with others in order to establish a good social status for herself and her children. In the novel, Mrs. Bennet urges Mr. Bennet to go visit Bingley because the other women will be doing the same. She says “Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general you know they visit no new …show more content…
Collins, Lady Catherine is another example of how the society is degrading to women 's choices and individuality. She reflects an upper class opinion or ideology of women and how important status and social class is within the upper class. When Elizabeth is visited by lady Catherine in her home, Lady Catherine directly tells her how she is inferior due to her social class and that she will not be able to marry outside of it. She emphasizes the importance of Elizabeth having high status as she says “honour, decorum, prudence, nay interest, forbid it … your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us” (Austen 336). But Elizabeth does not let this change her opinion of herself or her ambitions as she replies “I am resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my opinion,constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me” (Austen 338). Elizabeth is expressing her self-determination and sovereignty in making her decisions, without Lady Catherine or society’s influence and