Feminism in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Running head: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
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Author Note

2PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
The romantic novel set in the regency period in England by Jane Austen and has followed
the classic regency fiction style. Composed in 1813, the novel explores the societal structure of
then England and the way prejudices played an important role in shaping the lives of the
common mass. This period gave some of the classic literatures based on romanticism and
feminist ideas challenging the prevailing social system and reflecting the importance of love and
marriage which were which were rigid social systems during the period. The whole plot of Jane
Austen’s Novel is based on the social institution called marriage and the importance of love in
marriage was emphasized through the novel (Austen). The concept of love was never associated
with marriage in British Regency period, and was only a means to earn a secured steady life. It
was looked upon as a tool to achieve security in life. The novels during the time tried to identify
the lives of the women through the protagonist, who defining the prejudice, goes on marry
someone she loved deeply. Pride and Prejudice thus erodes the sexist stereotypes of women
prevailing during the regency period in England (Gustavsson). The essay will review the novel
and understand how Jane Austen has struck the prevalent system with her novel and has tried to
portray a feminist approach thereby eroding the existing social stereotypes. Along the course of
the novel Jane Austen has established themes which reflect the existing social bigotry, and
contradicts these preconceptions through the protagonist.
The plot of the story is developed among several characters and their involvement to each
other in an attempt to find the perfect groom for marriage. The story develops around Elizabeth
Bennet, the protagonist who is in a marriageable age and is seeking a hand in marriage. The
novel opens up with the discussion between the Mr. and Mrs. Bennet about visiting an eligible
bachelor who has recently shifted to their neighborhood. Mr. Bennet has entailed his property
and none of his five daughters can inherit it without getting married. This explains the social