Gender Roles
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In every society people have different roles they play; these roles in many cases define them. More specifically, it is purported that to every gender there are assigned roles. Male roles and female roles though there has been somewhat of a break through now-a —days, it was almost set in stone with the exception of the well to do and the progressive thinkers during the 19th century which Pride and Prejudice was set in. Everyone’s place and role in society is shaped by the social order and their lineage of thought.
In the book Pride and Prejudice, men and women had very different roles. Men had certain privileges and status that are not bestowed upon a woman. Men already had the status and entailment; women had to earn their status through marriage. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: The Modern Library, 2000. “Mr. Bennet’s property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed in default of heirs male, on a distant relation” (21).
The traditional role of a woman was to be amiable, beautiful, have impeccable social grace, and make sure their daughters are schooled in the arts.
Not all women conformed to their place among their gender. Elizabeth and Lydia were way ahead of their time. Elizabeth had a completely different point of view from every other woman. She wants true love rather than a pragmatic relationship, she is a romantic. �I should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy; but since we see everyday that where there is affection, young people are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many of my fellow creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even to know that is would be wisdom to resist?’(106) However, Elizabeth was not only different in the way she thought about marriage but she also didn’t care what people thought about her. She was ridiculed by Miss Bingley and her friends when she arrived in a muddy skirt and looking disheveled from walking in the rain to see her sister. Though her gender peers saw this as unbecoming, the men loved it; Mr. Darcy describes it as exotic.
Lydia was a rebellious as one of today’s most rebellious teen. Her outlandish and scandalous behavior was seen as immoral and loose to many people around her, even her sister, Elizabeth. Her non-traditionalist behavior almost embarrassed the family and almost caused Elizabeth to lose Mr. Darcy. She eloped and 16 years of age, however to make matters worse she was living with Wickham out of wedlock for some time. Lydia’s non-conformist behavior was best shown in her letter to Harriet. �I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is my angel. I should never be happy without him, so think no harm to be off.’ (209)
These types of behavior were not at all common placed. It is deemed as out of the box and a breech of the traditional limitations that majority of women did not question. The limitations that were stipulated as per the female gender greatly affected their ability to progress successfully without the company of a husband. Mrs. Bennet and charlotte Lucas are prime examples of the traditional society.
Charlotte, who was all of 27 years old felt herself to be old and in want of a husband. She expressed her discomfort to Elizabeth in not being wed. Charlotte, being the pragmatic person she is, she accepts Mr. Collin’s marriage proposal. �I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections 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’(93) This type of unromantic and practical view point was the common way of life for women.
Mrs. Bennet’s made her priority to be that of getting her daughters married, she saw this as her role being a woman and moreover, their mother. She is however, the baton holder of the non-fulfillment of her role as a woman. Her foolish and buffoon like persona coupled with her lack of social graces made it a painstaking task in helping to find her daughters suitors. Her behavior was unbecoming of a woman and her place in the society, this behavior almost repulsed Darcy and Bingley. “ his being such a charming young man and so rich, and living but three miles from them, were the first points of self-gratulation; and then it was such a comfort to think how fond the sisters were of Jane, and to be certain that they must desire the connection as much as she could do.” (74)
The role of men in this novel was not a rigid as that of the women. The men seemed to be content within themselves. They are generally well breed and have already attained a level of status that is vastly different from that of a woman. The men of Pride and Prejudice had some power and loved to assert it.
Darcy was a very affluent and well breed person. He was said to be handsome which made him a marvelous catch for the ladies. His pompous attitude however, repulsed Elizabeth. He asserted his status and showed Elizabeth’s inferiority in comparison to him; when at the ball when he refused to dance with her. вЂ?Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye,