Does Pride And Prejudice Reinforce Or Erode Sexist Stereotypes Of Women (Module 7)

Does Pride And Prejudice Reinforce Or Erode Sexist Stereotypes Of Women
Name
Course
College
Tutor
December 4, 2015
Introduction
Pride and prejudice is an epic tale interwoven with clarity and acerbic wit. The author, Jane Austen, stands out for her biting social annotations and indirect speech to bring out a fundamentally comic love story. Her story highlights the dependence of women on marriage for the purposes of securing social standing and economic security. The setting of the plot is in the context of the 18th century, during a time epoch when women were subjugated and treated like subordinates to men, the society also accorded them subsidiary social status. A closer examination of Austen’s book Pride and prejudices underpins sexist’s stereotypes of women during the 18th century epoch. Thesis
Through the analysis of the main characters namely Elizabeth and Darcy this paper will bring into limelight the sexists’ stereotypes etched the tale to rubber-stamp women as the inferior sex in the highly patriarchal society. Foremost, the character of Mrs Bennet who epitomizes the traditional mind set of the 18th century women folk will be examined (Dexter, 2008). Her prime purpose in life is to get her five daughters married successfully. The story of Elizabeth and Darcy reflects the foundation of misunderstandings between the male and the female genders, the pride of Darcy and Prejudice of Elizabeth hinders them from attaining a common ground. Nonetheless, the shadows of doubt and arrogance are slowly cleared away to giving way to a solid union.
Story Analysis
Pride and Prejudice was not written primarily to bring out sexist stereotypes, nonetheless as various characters from varied genders and social standing intermingle the theme of sexist stereotype stands out prominently. Mrs Bennet clearly states she would have nothing to wish for if only all her daughters were happily married (Austen 6).This is a very natural character amongst women; every mother would like her daughters to be married and remain in stable relationships. This tenet reinforces sexist stereotype, every woman has the responsibility and inner wish for her daughters to be married off successfully.
The Bennet’s family is at the center of this tale, a family of five daughters and no son at all. This definitely affects their social standing, marriage comes out primarily as the major theme the novel opens with the statement “a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Austen 2). Through the tale it’s apparent that marriage is not just a union between a man and a wife but it’s a pivotal agreement to both individuals and the society (Dexter, 2008). As the story opens, Fitzwilliam Darcy a friend of Mr Bingley has attended the party in which the entire Bennett’s have been invited. He displays cold airs and he is bizarrely reserved. His mannerism is understood by the people attending the party as improper and pretentious, Elizabeth is particularly repulsed by his mannerism.
Austen describes Darcy as the proudest, most disagreeable m...