Women in Jane Austen’s novels are denied quality because of certain factors in society. I will proof this statement by referring to women’s lack of education and financial wealth due to the submission of the patriarchal figures and supported by the actions and words of heroines, Elizabeth Bennet in the novel Pride and Prejudice and Emma Woodhouse in the film Emma based on the novel Emma.
Jane Austen was born and lived in the 1700’s where young woman were subjected to keeping house, playing instruments, entertaining guests rather than developing intellectual properties. (Ivins, 2011). Women’s place in the patriarchal society was as wives and mothers. Women’s only education thought necessary by the patriarchal men is of how to be a better mother to their children and good wives to their husbands. In Austen’s novel the heroic women defy social believes and patriarchal figures by stand up for …show more content…
Knightley addresses her in a masculine way when coming to break the news of Harriet’s marriage to the man she first refused. Emma hates being addressed with care, she demands to be treated as an equal for she, like any man, has access to her own wealth. For this reason she does not need to get married to survive in society. Emma makes her statement clear in her words “I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry. Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing; but I have never been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine.” (Austen, 2009, p.82).Emma does not need to be like other women and marry she is intelligent and wealthy enough to proclaim her own role in society. It is clear that Emma is very rational and women were expected to be emotional, men were the rational and abstract thinkers. Emma’s abstract views on society allowed her the choice of choosing a life mate without folding into social
Jane Austen was born and lived in the 1700’s where young woman were subjected to keeping house, playing instruments, entertaining guests rather than developing intellectual properties. (Ivins, 2011). Women’s place in the patriarchal society was as wives and mothers. Women’s only education thought necessary by the patriarchal men is of how to be a better mother to their children and good wives to their husbands. In Austen’s novel the heroic women defy social believes and patriarchal figures by stand up for …show more content…
Knightley addresses her in a masculine way when coming to break the news of Harriet’s marriage to the man she first refused. Emma hates being addressed with care, she demands to be treated as an equal for she, like any man, has access to her own wealth. For this reason she does not need to get married to survive in society. Emma makes her statement clear in her words “I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry. Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing; but I have never been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine.” (Austen, 2009, p.82).Emma does not need to be like other women and marry she is intelligent and wealthy enough to proclaim her own role in society. It is clear that Emma is very rational and women were expected to be emotional, men were the rational and abstract thinkers. Emma’s abstract views on society allowed her the choice of choosing a life mate without folding into social