Compare the Representation of Relationships in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Rapunzstiltskin’

Fay Weldon’s ‘Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen’ (1984) through the form of an epistolic novel, serves to enrich a heightened understanding of the contemporary issues of Jane Austen’s cultural context. In doing so, the responder is inspired to adopt a more holistic appreciation of the roles of women inherent in Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1813). Due to the examination of the shift of attitudes and values between the Regency era and the 1980s, the reader comes to better understanding of the conventions of marriage for a women and the role education had in increasing one’s marriage prospects. Weldon’s critical discussion of these issues transforms a modern responder’s understanding of the role of a woman during the 19th century.

In public settings he withdraws into himself, and begins to seem rude and standoffish to others when it is expected for him to do something that would cause him to step out of his comfort zone. He will try to rationalize his behavior, and in doing so will often come of as cruel. When Bingley suggested that Darcy might want to dance with a woman named Elizabeth Bennet, known as Lizzie by those closest to her, Darcy claims that it would be improper to dance at an assembly may might see as being beneath him, and goes as far as to say “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me” (Austen, 2006, p. 216). Darcy insults Lizzie, but then several months later proposes to her, admitting that he had been in love with her since almost the moment he first laid eyes on her. Upon Lizzie’s harsh refusal (Austen, 2006), Darcy knew that he would have to try to change his ways.

Pride and Prejudice tells a story of a young girl in the midst of a very materialistic society. Jane Austen uses the setting to dramatize the restraints women had to endure in society. As the novel develops, we see how women have to act in a way according to their gender, social class, and family lineage. Elizabeth Bennet’s sisters represent the proper societal lady while Lizzy is the rebel. Through her characters Austen shows how a women’s happiness came second to the comfort of wealth. As the plot develops, events are laid out to illustrate how true love is unattainable when women marry for intentions of wealth. Women have very specific and limited roles in a society where men are the superior. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

“Oh, fairytales, where desperate, naïve girls sacrifice everything for their so-called prince charming”. The realities of these childhood classics are controversial, sexist, and dark, yet, it’s also adored by millions of young girls around the world. Cinderella, an often sugar-coated story, is a great example on how sexism and gender stereotypes prevail in literature. The Grimm Brothers touch on a variety of devices, from characterization to symbolism, all revealing the inequality in not only fictional literature but our real-life society as well. A feminist literary critic will interpret these controversial themes and apply their beliefs of equal rights into the study of the Grimm Brother’s Cinderella.

His sense of her inferiority–of its being a degradation of–the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclinations were dwelt on...” (Austen 12). These words reflect Mr. Darcy’s excessive pride and heightened awareness of social status, while inducing him to recount all the ways in which he and Elizabeth are an illogical union, rather than relaying anything complimentary. In response to this insult-ridden proposal, Elizabeth proclaims that if he had acted in a more “gentlemanlike manner,” she would have been more inclined to express sympathy following her rejection of his advances. Despite Elizabeth’s clear message that she will not observe his insensitive words in submission, Mr. Darcy endures in the conviction that his prideful manners toward Elizabeth are well-justified and merely detail the truthful, adverse nature of her inferior social standing with the utmost sincerity.

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice examines and critiques a society built upon gender roles. Austen does this by examining the obstacles women experienced in the Regency Period. Austen expresses how women were controlled, and objectified by men through their need to get married to a man. Additionally, the novel ridicules how women who could not afford to live without men were shadowed by their partner. This commentary is seen through the portrayal of the Bennet sisters. The females of the family are forced to marry because they do not inherit any wealth. The family is forced to comply with the same boundaries Austen was governed by. Therefore, Austen focuses on how the Bennet sisters overcome a society that suppresses them. This allows the reader to comprehend the strength, perseverance, determination, and assertiveness of the women in this time. Overall, Jane Austen addresses gender issues throughout the story. This is seen in the progressive image of Elizabeth, as she combats the inequality women experience. Although it was not common for women to criticize the patriarchy, the overall depiction of females is progressive. Elizabeth represents Austen’s feminist views, and the depiction of women in the novel is seen through her feminist image as she deals with Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy.

By observing the interactions between characters, readers are more likely to understand the theme of the novel. One of the many troubles shown is that of Mr. Darcy and his pride, which alters the way he views others. When he first sees Elizabeth Bennet he calls her “FIND THE EXACT QUOTE AND MAKE IT LONG” . He is too prideful to think of Lizzie as anything except a poor young girl who would never be good enough to marry a man worth anything, especially a man like himself. As the story progresses, and Mr. Darcy spends more time with her, he is forced to rebuke his previous assumptions and look at Lizzie in the way that she deserves. He falls in love with her and must overcome the challenges that came with his earlier prideful remarks. This is an important moment, because it shows how love is subject to the tough trials that characters face with difficult decisions and uncomfortable interactions as they learn what is best for them. Due to the false accusations that Mr. Darcy made towards Lizzie, she was less likely to return his love. This was a challenge that the two characters had to face throughout the novel, as it was a pivotal moment in their relationship. Lizzie was too upset with Mr. Darcy to accept his marriage proposal at first. She says QUOTE THAT SHE SAYS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL. Mr. Darcy takes this as just another of love’s obstacles, and he decides to remain considerate towards Lizzie.

Although Darcy's words revealed a large metamorphism in his disposition, his actions are more evident and show his true ability to change. At Mr. Darcy's introduction to the novel he is immediately described as "…haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting" (Austen 12). Austen introduces Darcy with all of his pretentious nature. Following the Meryton ball, Austen continues to display that unattractive nature of Darcy by comparing him to Bingley. "Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure" (Austen 12). This statement reinforces the idea that Mr. Darcy is only concerned with talented women of great importance. It is Elizabeth, however, who wins his heart with her liveliness and witty remarks.

In the poem “Cinderella”, Anne Sexton illustrates the unrealistic expectations that fairy tales put into the minds of young women. The story of Cinderella has many versions in both print and film. Millions of dollars are generated annually with romance novels and romantic comedies commonly dubbed chick flicks. All versions share a similar story, a young lady meets a man and her life is then happy, fruitful, carefree and complete. These images are nothing more than fairy tales, but they set expectations on young women that are unattainable. The poem was written in 1971, there was a growing awareness of women’s liberation and feminism at the time but, sadly, in 2016, I feel that the majority of women

Beginning with Mr. Darcy's failed proposal and his later letter of explanation, Elizabeth's proud and judgemental nature is altered by the pressure placed on her to decide if she wishes to marry Mr. Darcy or not. Introspection and her eventual acceptance of her romantic feelings for Mr. Darcy demonstrate that strenuous emotional situations can lead to a change in character, by allowing her to open up her prejudiced mind and see that the opinions she has are not always correct. Prior to her relations with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth is a young woman who sees little point in marrying if she does not find a man whom will bring her happiness in life. This provides a foundation from which she can change, placing her in an ideal position to change in response to the

Elizabeth thinks of Darcy as being “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (15). After Darcy discomfits Elizabeth, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (13), she herself becomes prideful and prejudiced against him. Prejudice also is an issue for Darcy because he dislikes Elizabeth in the beginning for her low social status, for being impecunious and socially inept family: “Their struggle is as much as against each other as it is against the pressure of society or family. The novel presents a balance of power not only between two characters but between two conflicting modes of judgment” (Bloom 50), but Darcy is forced to deal with his pride and prejudice when he falls in love with Elizabeth. Elizabeth rejects Darcy’s first proposal based mostly on his pride and condescension.

Pride and Prejudice, a Jane Austen novel, is one of the most classical pieces of literature in history. It has been evaluated and critiqued a countless number of times, and has been adapted into several films. It can be argued that there is a lot to be retained by readers from this literary work, an important message that can be passed down from generation to generation. During Jane Austen’s time, in the early 1800’s, women were around to be married off, bear children, and cater to their man. Men were meant to work and instruct their women, and the more money you had, the more respected you were. A woman’s goal in life was to marry

Mr. Darcy nervously paces around the room for a few minutes. Suddenly, he declares his love for her. He starts by expressing his admiration. He then refers to the inferiority of Elizabeth's social connections and explains that her family's rather unattractive behavior dissuaded him from proposing sooner. Elizabeth is offended and harshly declines his proposal, much to Darcy's surprise. Elizabeth explains her reasons for turning him down. First, she cites the arrogant manner of his proposal. Second, she explains her distaste over the way he worked

When Elizabeth flatly turns down his marriage proposal, it startles Darcy into realizing just how arrogant and assuming he has been. Soon, there is reconciliation between Darcy and Elizabeth where each admits how much they have changed as a result of their earlier encounters. An example of this is when Lady Catherine visits to insure the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth. She came in order to prevent it, but when Darcy hears the manner in which Elizabeth answered Lady Catherine, he realizes that Elizabeth regards him differently. He saw that her attitude of him had changed which prompted him to make his marriage proposal. Thus, we can now see that Darcy and Elizabeth both have balance in their relationship because they are able to reflect against each other and each is capable of undergoing a change. In the end, Darcy is willing to marry into a family with three silly daughters, an embarrassing mother and is willing to make Wickham his brother-in-law .It may be that he is more easygoing about other people's faults because he is now aware of his own.

This journal uses Carl Jung’s personality theory to explain the way Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy interact with each other. The journal touches on their prejudice towards each other as well as what they learn from one another and why they should be together. Jenny establishes the similarities between the characters in regards to their personality. They are both introverted, intuitive and judgmental. She expresses that the characters learn from each other the balance between judgment and perception to avoid prejudice and pride.