Gender Politics in Pride and Prejudice

During the late eighteenth century and into the early nineteenth century, England was a society of patriarchal, in which men held the economic and social power. Women's roles were very limited, having little impendence that the modern women enjoyed. Instead, women often had to resort to marriage in order to advance themselves socially or even just to survive. Pride and Prejudice depicts a world riven by ethnical relativity, enhancing the quality of everyday life in a small country village. Published in January 1813, Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen. This novel contains many elements of psychological economy, social power, and feminist criticisms, mocking any pretense to absolute moral standards.

Elizabeth confides to Jane in a moment of telling self-awareness, wit and prejudice have been her two sources of power, two means of distinguishing herself:

I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike to him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually abusive without saying anything just; but one cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty (Austen 225-226).

From this statement, Elizabeth's psychological economy is clear: she directs her intelligence toward defending herself against emotional vulnerability, basing her moral judgment on her defensiveness. Elizabeth rationalizes both the romantic fantasies with which she consoles herself and the forays of wit with which she protects herself as spontaneous effusions of a lively and superior mind.

Such criticism of Elizabeth's "liveliness" is elaborated by Austen's characterizations of both Mr. Bennet and Lydia. Elizabeth is her father's favorite daughter, and Mr. Bennet's witty intelligence clearly reinforces and feeds off Elizabeth's superiority. Mr. Bennet is a failure lacking in social duties, which are most important to the Bennet Family and to Elizabeth in particular. Mr. Bennet tries to make light of his moral irresponsibility by describing social relations as an amusing game. Lydia noisy laughter helps clarify Elizabeth's impertinence but perhaps the most important function of Lydia's story derives from its placement. Austen positions the announcement of Lydia's elopement so as to precipitate the second and most important stages of Elizabeth's education. Through Darcy's letter, Elizabeth has already learned that she was wrong about both Wickham and Darcy, but Darcy's proposal and her angry rejection, if anything has increased her pride and sense of superiority. She is deeply flattered by the great man's attentions and since she does not regret her decision, she is free to bask in the triumph his proposal give her over his pride, over his prejudices, and over Lady Catherine and Miss Bingley as well. Elizabeth realizes that her power is even greater than she had dared imagined it to be.

Elizabeth's fantasies no longer seem as wild or romantic as they once did, but before her wish can be fulfilled, she must be humbled by her own sister. Elizabeth will recognize the pernicious effects of Lydia's passionate self-indulgence, but she will also understand how intimately her own fate is bound up in the actions and characters of others. Austen suggests individualism in not simply morally suspect, based on a naïve overestimation of personal autonomy and power. To pretend that one can transcend social categories or refuse a social role is not only irresponsible, it also reveals a radical misunderstanding of the face that, for an individual living in society, every action is automatically linked to the actions of others. To believe that one can exercise free will, even when parents do not intercede, is to mistake the complex nature of desire and the way in which social situations affects psychology and self-knowledge.

Elizabeth's eventual love for Darcy is legitimate because it springs not from the vanity we ordinarily associate with romantic expectations but precisely from the mortification of pride. Uncontrollable romantic love continues to play a role in Pride and Prejudice- in Darcy's desire for Elizabeth. This passion, which Austen notes but does not dwell on, is the subtextual force behind much of the action. In response to love, Darcy overcomes his prejudice against Elizabeth's connections, proposes to her, returns to her even after hope seems gone, and eventually brings about the marriages of three of the Bennet daughters. Romantic love remains the unexamined and unaccountable source of power in a novel preoccupied with various forms of social and psychological power and powerlessness. It not only overcomes all obstacles, it brings about a perfect society at the end of the novel.

Marriage is addressed and presented as a central theme in the novel Pride and Prejudice. For Austen, marriage is readily accepted and shown as an honorable, welcomed part of a woman's life. Both Jane and Elizabeth's engagements are celebrated events, a sort of triumph for the women against the villainous conducts of Miss Bingley and the foolishness of Lydia. Although happiness and matrimony is not guaranteed, as Mr. Bennet and Charlotte's marriage shows, the author does