An Analysis of Gender Discrimination and Social Roles in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

Abstract

In the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen criticizes society’s general attitude towards marriage and questions the traditional stereotypical authority exercised by men over women. They are only needed as house makers and the sad reality is that apart from one or two opposite voices majority of them have become a part of this social order. Through the characters like Bennetts, the Collins and the Wickhams she portrays how marriage could affect negatively based on long-established understanding of the roles of both male and female with respect to the society. They fall short of an ideal marriage. On the other side, in bringing the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy and through the strong independent heroine who goes against the rigid rules of the society , she brings a new model that is built on understanding, love , equality and mutual respect.