The marginalization of the female persona is exemplified particularly in Pride and Prejudice. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice her strong female character is a reflection of the continued sense of inequality among genders. The inequality between genders is an overarching theme that the female characters are expected to succumb to. Women have limited opportunities because of societal manners and class which sets the pressure to be married. In the case of the Bennet daughters there are no brothers or heir to the estate meaning their need to be married is critical for their future. Elizabeth’s dignity and respect remains intact when she denies not one but two marriage proposals from Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. She will not accept a marriage
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She discusses her opinion and her changed views she has on Jane Austen’s writing. “I read Austen in order to contemplate her views on the proper behavior of women, and her views are complex. They evolve from novel to novel. They cover a lot of ground, too-small things like the rudeness of not answering letters quickly fully express larger problems of selfishness. A quick joke at the expense of a well-meaning but foolish woman who is getting by on a pittance reveals much about the responsibilities of life in a stable, hierarchical community, where social relationships may last entire lives.” (Smiley, 29). She expresses her admiration for Austen’s ability to create scenarios that depict higher levels of meaning than what is described. She reveals she “no longer read for the love story, or even, in some ways, for the comedy.” (Smiley) showing her discovery of a new meaning and new found respect she has for Austen. It is not just a love story or comedic but influential. In Pemberley Revisited, Allegra Goodman reminisces upon Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. As she rereads she revisits the characters as well as things she could not recognize when younger. “What I found irresistible this time was the way Austen combines astute social satire with fairy tale.” (Goodman, 160). Goodman realizes the gender inequality between the female and male characters, but done so eloquently in a fairy tale way. Between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy love has been introduced through trueness. Mr. Darcy finds interest in Elizabeth due to difference of persona among other females. He sees that she is unlike the others, Elizabeth does not follow the expectations of a woman nor her class. It is obvious to Mr. Darcy she does not act as if she is in the middle class nor will she be treated as such because of it. Goodman understands the relativity and reasoning through Austen’s writing. In Radical Jane,
She discusses her opinion and her changed views she has on Jane Austen’s writing. “I read Austen in order to contemplate her views on the proper behavior of women, and her views are complex. They evolve from novel to novel. They cover a lot of ground, too-small things like the rudeness of not answering letters quickly fully express larger problems of selfishness. A quick joke at the expense of a well-meaning but foolish woman who is getting by on a pittance reveals much about the responsibilities of life in a stable, hierarchical community, where social relationships may last entire lives.” (Smiley, 29). She expresses her admiration for Austen’s ability to create scenarios that depict higher levels of meaning than what is described. She reveals she “no longer read for the love story, or even, in some ways, for the comedy.” (Smiley) showing her discovery of a new meaning and new found respect she has for Austen. It is not just a love story or comedic but influential. In Pemberley Revisited, Allegra Goodman reminisces upon Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. As she rereads she revisits the characters as well as things she could not recognize when younger. “What I found irresistible this time was the way Austen combines astute social satire with fairy tale.” (Goodman, 160). Goodman realizes the gender inequality between the female and male characters, but done so eloquently in a fairy tale way. Between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy love has been introduced through trueness. Mr. Darcy finds interest in Elizabeth due to difference of persona among other females. He sees that she is unlike the others, Elizabeth does not follow the expectations of a woman nor her class. It is obvious to Mr. Darcy she does not act as if she is in the middle class nor will she be treated as such because of it. Goodman understands the relativity and reasoning through Austen’s writing. In Radical Jane,