Jane Austen Double Standards

In Breaking Tradition, paragraph two states, “People in “polite society” demanded that ladies live under the guidance and protection of their fathers, husbands, or other male relatives. Women could not vote or sign contracts. And under the law, husbands usually controlled their wives’ poverty, if they owned any, and wages, if they earned

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen introduces the major thematic concept of marriage and financial wealth. Throughout the novel, Austen depicts various relationships that exhibit the two recurring themes. Set during the regency period, the perception of marriage revolves around a universal truth. Austen claims that a single man “must be in want of a wife.” Hence, the social stature and wealth of men were of principal importance for women. Austen, however, hints that the opposite may prove more exact: a single woman, under the social limitations, is in want of a husband. Through this speculation, Austen acknowledges that the economic pressure of social acceptance serves as a foundation for a proper marriage.

Austen is mocking the meaning of marriage during the late 18th century through the eyes of Elizabeth Bennett. At first Miss Bennett rejects the proposal from Mr. Collins, her uncle. Meaning that Austen doesn’t believe women should fall into

In the early 19th century, women were oppressed, and marriage was a social status, not a choice. Mrs. Mallard was a wife during 19th Century and her home was where she would spend most of her days. She also suffers from a heart condition. She learns of the tragic news on the first floor of her two story home. Her sister Josephine was the one to tell her “ in broken sentences, veiled hints that revealed in half concealing.”(287) The news was revealed as delicate as possible, due to Mrs. Mallard's heart condition. Mrs. Mallard heard the news, she wept, a sense of grief comes upon her. Once she removed herself from her sister Josephine's arms, she went off to her room. It reads, “ When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. No one to follow her”(287). During this time, women were looked down upon if they were not married. Most women were given away by their

When Jane’s father had passed away in 1805, the three ladies of the family, Jane, her mother, and her sister, Cassandra, had moved to lived in a smaller house that was helped paid by the now wealthy brother, Edward. This house was located in the little village of Chawton. Later on Jane had been proposed to by one of her close friend’s brother, and she accepted only because she felt like it was the right thing to do because it was kind of an “in the moment” act. She had turned him down the next day and this was very painful for her because her father had always said that a good and sturdy marriage was the key to having a stable and secure life. Her father acknowledged the fact that single women would have a harder time getting to live in an estate and that they were most likely to be the ones to lean on wealthier family members and have some support from them; this is the root of the next novel she wrote, Sense and Sensibility (pbs.org). Jane Austen had eventually died unmarried, and so did her younger sister, Cassandra (express.co.uk).

Some expectations for women of this time period were succumbing to the authority of men and staying faithful in marriage. They were

“[In 16th century European society] Marriage was the triumphal arch through which women, almost without exception, had to pass in order to reach the public eye. And after marriage followed, in theory, the total self-abnegation of the woman.”

They were head of the household, while their rank was under their husbands. Her authority was limited and she had no voice in public matters. Assumptions and attitudes shaped ideas about what proper manhood and womanhood was, and this ideology had the capacity to either empower or constrain men and women. Women could either form bonds with other women, or challenge the social construct and enter the public realm in exchange for their privately held sphere. Through networking, women formed a sisterhood and resisted the ideology through their own power and

Most importantly, due to his religious duty. As she told her friend, Elizabeth, about accepting a proposal from Mr. Collins, Elizabeth full of of shock replied, “Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte, -- impossible” (Austen, 122). Elizabeth’s shock is because she believed he would not be the right person for her. However, Tony Tanner agrees that Charlotte views her marriage strictly as a “preservative from want” (Bloom, 66). This symbolizes Charlotte marries Collins because she did not want to be a load for her family especially her mother who went through difficulties to find her a mate Marrying Collins helps Charlotte than it did for him because she received advantages such as financial, security, and unburden to her family as well as getting a higher rank. She coldly admits to Elizabeth, “…I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins 's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state" (Austen, 123). Charlotte’s train of thought is Mr. Collins is her last option of marriage to have her own life instead of living with her parents. Their marriage is based on societal norms and she agrees to marry him, even with the knowledge that they have different personalities. She marries Collin in disregards of her self-respect and his undurable personality.

In the 18th century wealthy families invested in their sons education, however the only purpose women served was to learn how to be suitable wives. A women that was well educated was strange, and not suitable for marriage. Puritan women in the Massuhtushes bay colony could not participate in ordinary town meetings. They were viewed as instruments of Satan, and the children belonged to their father. If any child was disobedient he/she could receive ten lashes. Hum! What does this remind us of. Married women where not allowed to posses property, sign contracts, or conduct business. If widowed as well as not remarried they could own property, and conduct business. Women found guilty of immodest dressing where

Some women dared to go against the grain regardless of the way that society would view them, they chose to pursue their own desires, rather than feign propriety. A Church

Gender oppression and gender roles in marriage during the late 1800s. The role or behavior learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by the prevailing cultural norms. There were fixed gender roles assigned by male-dominated societies. The man’s role being that of the husband and rational thinker, and the woman’s role being that of the dutiful wife who does not question her husband’s authority. Back then it was normal for the women to be seen as weak minded and lesser than the men. Even from religious figures like pastors and priest in the 18 and 1900s contributed to the oppression of women in marriage. New brides were told that they are the submissive partner

engaged." Pathetic fallacy is employed to portray the dreaded effect of displeasure this has on Elizabeth that her best friend is engaged to such a "ridiculous" man. In her own defence against Elizabeth's disappointment, she claims that "[she's] been offered a comfortable home and protection. [She's] twenty seven years old. [She has] no money and no prospects. [She's] already a burden to [her] parents, and [she's] frightened." Charlotte's desperate actions executed against her will to obtain financial security exemplify the exact reason why most women initially married during the time of Regency England – which was entirely out of the benefit of their families. The source of Charlotte's distress stems from the fact that women are unable to inherit their family's fortune unless they marry a man who can. From birth, women are thrown into a race to wed in fear of being disowned or becoming a burden to the family when the father of the household dies. Marriage, at the time, was mainly viewed as a commitment solely for the purpose of economic sustainability rather than a one of love and care.

This type of marriage is very uncommon in contemporary culture, but it was the societal norm during the regency period. The author, in the earlier chapters of the story, describes Charlotte as “sensible, intelligent young woman.” (Austen 16). Charlotte is a sensible woman so her actions were typically frivolous. “Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane’s disposition as you do. ‘But if a woman is partial to man, and does not endeavor to conceal it, he must find it out’.” (Austen 20). Elizabeth and Charlotte are having a typical conversation about Jane and Mr. Bingley. The author describes Charlotte as being a kind and normal person. She is a great friend to Elizabeth and seems to converse easily. The portrayal of Charlotte being normal shows that her actions and thoughts were common of the women of the time period.

In the novel Mrs. Bennet begs her husband to introduce their girls to Charles Bingley, even though Mr. Bennet already met up with Mr. Bingley and already had plans for him to meet his daughters. A girl or mother were not allowed to introduce themselves to a man, when Mrs. Bennet says to her husband “It will be no use to us, if twenty such come, since you will not visit them” (Austen 32) Only being able to meet someone through a father’s approval and introducing of his daughters shows how powerless women were in the fact they could not make their own decisions. At the town ball the Bingley’s and Mr. Darcy arrive late but almost instantly noticed by every family, with a daughter, in the room. Mr. Bennet took this opportunity to introduce all his daughters in front of his wife. After Mr. Darcy,