What Do Women Want?

Trisha PunamiyaProfessor Kaitlyn McWilliamsDISC 1313April 4th, 2108Title What do women want? Seems plain enough education, respect, to be fancyed as the intelligent equals of men, emotional and sexual fulfillment, and marriage.(Staves 170) Susan Staves uses this powerful description to present the standing and single-valued function of women in the eighteenth century patriarchal hostelry. Jane Austens P exempte and Prejudice boldly and skillfully manages and portrays the dynamics amidst the men and women in that era.Love, infatuation and via media be revealed through the relationships of different characters in the novel and the implications that these factors accept on their decision to marry.Society placed high expectations on women without providing equal opportunities in terms of education, hence there was al counselings a constant wide disparity in the over entirely in all discourse of men and women. Marriage was considered to be an ultimate goal for all of the women, and the convention was to marry well.There was a higher importance placed on economic security as comp ard to love. Heritance, estate and wealth were considered to be the primary factors, whereas love and connection were condemned to arrive over time. While Pride and Prejudice represents all of the stereotypical society norms and compliance of the expectations, it in any case dares to take a new stand in terms of feminism through the main female protagonist, Elizabeth.Austens Elizabeth defies genial expectations and norms in a patriarchal 18th century, rising above the orthodox women including her counterparts. She, be healthy and wise, strongly justifies her decisions, presenting a new front on feminism. 18th century was considered it be a time where development was seen in the treatment of women, and this novel essentially depicts that improvement.Jane Austen, as Wang and Liu believed, gave all her female characters an imsomebodyal freedom, go awaying them to be the focus a s well as the reflectors of the narration. Austen concentrated on womens use life and hence was able to provide the readers with a deeper understanding of the social expectations and norms that the women had to comply with on a regular basis.Making her women the center of the novel, Elizabeth specifically, Austen got rid of the masculine discourse and dominance present otherwise in the society, proving the sort of developed and sensible nature of Elizabeth. Austen to a fault allowed Elizabeth to transmit information and by following her journey, viewing things from her perspective enabled the readers to build a more drizzly relationship with her.Female characters were portrayed not only from the outside world, seen by an objective observer, further also from within the character giving an prospect to reveal their own memories and thoughts. Elizabeths unaffected charming personality overshadowed the arrogant and affluent men proving her to be an advocator of indep land upence f rom societal bounds and from traditional views roughly marriage that hinder womens self-autonomy.All of Austens women are distinct individuals and have their own set of ideologies and views on marriage and societal expectations. While, rough bed be described as sensible and mature, others nave and dumb. Elizabeth had a bewitch relationship with all of the characters, through which Austen reveals a substantial amount of discernment into the shaping and development of Elizabeth as an individual.Despite being the sensible sisters, who dual-lane similar values and ideologies Jane and Elizabeth were rather different in many ways. Jane waited for the aright man all along, marriage for her meant love, passion and meaning. She was willing to forgive Mr Bingley for the faultings he had committed, accepting his long-anticipated marriage proposal. Jane shared her immense happiness with Elizabeth and wished for her to experience this ecstasy as well.This proves that despite being wise , Jane had a longing craving for Mr Bingley only, and chose to be a silent sufferer during their time apart. She didnt even blame Mr Bingleys sisters or Mr Darcy for the negative role they played in her relationship and even refused accept Elizabeths views on how a bad influence they were to Mr Bingley.As Reena distinguished, Jane was more advised of the manners of the society and believed that it was necessary for women to marry at a original age, while Elizabeth rejected men, aspiring to marry some mavin whom she thought of as an equal in terms of temperament and had a strong amatory connection with. Elizabeth was rather affirmative and outspoken than Jane, who was on the contrary nave and kept to herself.Despite being the younger one, Elizabeth had an instinct to protect Jane, this was be when Elizabeth defended Janes silence to Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley, when Jane and Mr Bingleys courtship was sidelined. Janes beauty and charm were somewhat affected by her shy and quiet demea nor and the outspoken and confident Elizabeth is rather contraceptive of her for this reason.Elizabeth is also a rather fastidious girl who discriminates between people. She was lively in observing the differences between Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. She quickly understood the nature of Mr collins whose proposal she rejected without least hesitation. Elizabeth claims that There are few whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. (164)She also declares that she is fed up with the inconsistencies in human beings, showing that she is at measure prejudiced herself. Jane, on the other hand, forms a good opinion about others and is undiscriminating in doing so. Elizabeth, the society in extension, believe that Jane is too beautiful and doesnt have a bad thing to say about anybody. Lizzy says to Jane, You neer see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you peach ill of a human being in my life. (53)They believe that because she has such a generous heart and the most affectionate personality, she must be nave enough to think of the best in people.The fact that she has captivating manners and an angelic personality, she is hence considered to be the more ideal lead into the 18th century society. Elizabeth has a pungent wit which enables her to ridicule some people like Mr collins. She has the capability to laugh at peoples absurdities, as she herself tells Mr Darcy towards the end of the novel. Contrary to that, Jane could never mock or retaliate like Elizabeth would, proving her to be the more ideal and proper woman in terms of the societal expectations.The society hence place the two distinctly this was also seen with the way Mrs Bennet treated both of them differently, relying on Jane more than on Elizabeth. done Lydias elopement, Mrs Bennet demanded Janes company more than Elizabeths, and often confronted in Jane about Elizabeths rejections and what a big mistake she was committing.Because of these d ifferences one can conclude that Elizabeth was the only one who dared to step up against the unfairness of the society, unlike Jane who was equally educated and sensible but didnt just possess it in her character to do so. On the hand, there was large disparity in terms of personality between Lydia and Elizabeth. Being the youngest of the five sisters, she received keen amount of attention from their mother. randy and immature, Lydia is the daughter who shares her mothers characteristics the most.However, she was the least dear to Mr Bennet, we often see him pass sarcastic remarks on how silly and dumb Kitty and Lydia are. On the other hand, Elizabeth resembles her start out the most, being his favorite. She is strong-willed, stubborn, frivolous and foolish. Despite, having the same background and upbringing Elizabeth and Lydia are limpid opposites.Lydia is Jane Austens way of portraying some of the young girls of that era and satirizing them, while Elizabeth, on the contrary, i s Austens way of depicting the development of women in the male-dominated society. Lydias interests lie within balls and flirt with the new men in town.Not only does this cause great embarrassment to Elizabeth, but to the Bennet family as a whole. Her main pipe dream in life is to attain the attention of men, uniquely different from Elizabeths character. She elopes with Mr Wickham at the first chance that she gets. Samina and Khattak in their article identify Lydia as self-seeking for being involved in self-interested schemes to achieve individual rather than bodied happiness.Lydia barely knew Mr Wickham or his intentions, she was certain that they were going to get get hitched with but was so self-absorbed that she never wondered to consider what kind of a person he is and what is aim was. Unlike, the other female characters, Lydia didnt entirely marry for gold or wealth, everyone knew that Mr Wickham wasnt the owner of a large estate. She wanted to fulfill her desire of attr action and physical gratification, not love.Like her mother, Lydia had very little commonality sense, poor judgement and no consideration or understanding of the consequences that her look would have on the reputation of the family, especially her two unmarried senior sisters. Society considered her elopement a big crime and the eighteenth century was unapologetic to women as such anyway.Lydias elopement hence brought disgrace to the entire Bennet family. Mr Collins in his letter to Mr Bennet as a form of compassion wrote that The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in relation to this.This portrays how ignorant Lydia was, despite knowing that society was extremely unapologetic towards women. It also affected the marriage prospects of the other sisters the societys notion that the older had to be married before the younger sisters was also disobeyed by Lydia. Lady Catherine used Lydias mistake to portray her disapproval of Elizabeths presence in Mr Darcys life. Sh e embarrassed Elizabeth by saying, I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sisters infamous elopement.I know it all that the young mans marrying her was a patched-up business, at the expense of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephews sister? (Austen 358). She fails to be a good blood relative to her sister Kitty as well, who adored Lydia and supposedly had a impish knit relationship with her. Kitty was upset that Lydia didnt even bother inviting her. finished the portrayal of Lydias character and behavior, Austen successfully is able to stereotype women who lacked good sense, decorum, and empathy in that century.In contrast, Elizabeth is a sensible young woman with a distinct wit and respectful nature. She takes pride in her background, despite knowing all their faults. She passes a strong comment to Lady Catherine displaying that humility, He is a humankind I am a gentlemans daughter so far we are equal. (Austen 357) Elizabeth demands respect a nd hopes to marry someone who would treat her as an equal and would allow her to retain her sense of self. She married for love, however not completely treat the need for financial stability in her companion.