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Feminism In Pride And Prejudice

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Feminism in the nineteenth century was barely nonexistent. Although women just began to think about their rights as individuals, Pride and Prejudice should be considered a feminist novel because Austen recognizes gender discriminations and the main character fights against said inequalities. The first step towards feminism is acknowledging gender discrimination. “Feminism as a belief system recognizes that inequality exists and that not all people are treated equally or have the same opportunities.” There are multiple times that Austen, throughout the novel, presents examples of gender discrimination. "Mr. Collins begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its cooking was owing. But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, …show more content…

The witty, independent, and intelligent, Elizabeth Bennet. Despite their difference of social ranking, she declares herself equal as Mr. Darcy to Lady de Borough “He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal.” as the definition of feminism is the believe of equality between the two sexes, Elizabeth Bennet is a feminist. But not only she thinks herself alike to men; she fights against discrimination and challenges the point of view of many characters. Although in her century women were pressure to get married, the heroine rejects Mr. Collins “I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you so. ” Even though marrying him would prevent the man to inherit her family’s estate after her father dies in this passage the main character explains that she can’t marry Collins because they do not love each other. She also rejects Darcy’s first proposal even though that also would have accommodated and ameliorated her family situation. At the end she accepts Darcy’s proposal after she felt in love with him and he respected her. Additionally, Elizabeth defies gender roles by educating herself by reading, even though women in early nineteenth-century could not go into higher education. Private tutors, governesses, and private schools were the extent of structured education open to them. She …show more content…

In the first place, the author perceives that there were discrimination against woman. However, most importantly, Jane Austen gives examples of how Elizabeth Bennett fought for said inequalities throughout the

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