DOCSLIB.ORG

Filosofická Fakulta Masarykovy Univerzity

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Filosofická Fakulta Masarykovy Univerzity Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies English Language and Literature Lucie Horáková New Prides and New Prejudices: The Contemporary Cult of Austen in Popular Literature Bachelor‟s Diploma Thesis Supervisor: Bonita Rhoads, Ph. D. 2014 I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently, using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography. …………………………………………….. Author‟s signature I would like to thank my supervisor Bonita Rhoads for an ongoing support and invaluable advice. Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 2 The Canon ................................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Pride and Prejudice ........................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Pride and Prejudice – The Narrative .......................................................... 4 2.2.2 Pride and Prejudice – The Representation of Women ............................. 10 2.3 Compulsively Mr. Darcy .................................................................................. 20 2.3.1 Compulsively Mr. Darcy – The Narrative ................................................ 20 2.3.2 Compulsively Mr. Darcy – Representation of Women ............................. 28 2.3.3 Compulsively Mr. Darcy – Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy ............................... 32 2.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 35 3 The Cult ................................................................................................................... 38 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 38 3.2 Me and Mr. Darcy ............................................................................................ 39 3.2.1 Me and Mr. Darcy – The Narrative .......................................................... 39 3.2.2 Me and Mr. Darcy – The Representation of Women ............................... 44 3.2.3 Me and Mr. Darcy – Emily, Mr. Darcy and Spike ................................... 48 3.3 Austenland ........................................................................................................ 51 3.3.1 Austenland – The Narrative and Characteristics ....................................... 51 3.3.2 Austenland – The Representation of Women ........................................... 55 3.3.3 Austenland – Jane and Henry .................................................................... 58 3.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 62 4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 65 5 Appendices .............................................................................................................. 68 5.1 Vladimir Propp's narrative structure points used for analysing the romance ... 68 5.2 Pride and Prejudice, 1995 ................................................................................ 69 5.3 Austenland, 2013 .............................................................................................. 70 6 Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 71 7 Summary .................................................................................................................. 73 8 Resumé .................................................................................................................... 74 1 Introduction With the last year‟s 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice (P&P), the topic of Jane Austen‟s most famous novel and its modern spin offs is being discussed more than ever. Both Jane Austen‟s work and the modern takes on her novels are often labelled as romances and dismissed as trivial pieces of writing. The aim of this thesis is to find out if and to what extent is this statement justified. By detailed analysis of P&P and three modern spin offs, the thesis shall prove that the romance label is at least partly undeserved and the novels in question can offer more than just a simple love story presenting unequal or even abusive relationships. Since most of the discussed novels are written by contemporary writers, the findings from the respective subchapters shall be used to detect what are the prejudices people have to face while working towards a satisfying relationship and what prides they have to conquer to be on equal position with their partner. Throughout the thesis, the analysis always focuses on three main areas – the narrative composition and devices, the portrayal of women, and the dynamics of the relationship between the hero and the heroine. In the first half, the canonical story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is analysed: first as originally written by Jane Austen in P&P, second as re-imagined by Nina Benneton in Compulsively Mr. Darcy. The analysis of P&P sets a number of devices that distinguish it from the romance novel formula and the second subchapter analysing Compulsively Mr. Darcy shows that not all of these devices are always kept in use and thus this modernization is paradoxically partly reactionary compared with its almost 200 year-old predecessor. The second half of the thesis presents two novels: Me and Mr. Darcy and Austenland, which do not update the story of P&P, but build their plots on its vast 1 popularity. Following the histories of two Austen aficionados, commonly known as Janeites, they show how the cult of Austen is perceived by the contemporary readership. The part dedicated to the narrative analysis focuses on comparison with the postfeminist genre of chick lit, which is the commonly used label for modern Austen spin offs; taking into account the important narrative functions established in the first half of the thesis. The respective second and third subchapters investigate how the novels in question work with feminist themes and to what extent they follow the course of gender equality set by Austen. The conclusion compares in whole how the chosen novels work with the established narrative devices and summarizes to what extent the spin offs do more than trivialize Austen‟s plot to a romance. Through the analysis of the portrayal of women and the relationship dynamics, the new prides and prejudices are outlined. The chosen texts by no means represent the full extent of Austen modern takes, but they depict one distinct subgenre of Austen-inspired fiction and provide a solid base for discovering the general patterns and themes of the narratives. The main purpose of this thesis is to present a picture of different ways how the Austen‟s canonical text is updated to the modern-time settings, moralities and social bias and proving that neither Austen‟s work nor her successors should be condemned on the basis of plot trivializations, as after a close reading, they offer more than just a love story. 2 2 The Canon 2.1 Introduction All Jane Austen‟s novels, and Pride and Prejudice as her most popular work in particular, have often been called romances by both the general readership and academics. The genre of romance was established and acknowledged decades after Austen‟s death, but it has been used retrospectively as one of descriptions of Jane Austen‟s writings. On international book web sites such as Goodreads, the romance tag is one of the most used when describing P&P. Scholar Pamela Regis calls P&P “the best romance ever written” and claims it to be a predecessor of “the twentieth century romance novel”. The aim of this chapter is to examine to which extent P&P meets the definition of a romance and what other readings are possible. As a guideline for this comparison, Janice A. Radway‟s analysis of the romance novel shall be used, as it provides a clear outline and seems to meet the general notion of what the romance novel should look like. Apart from that, the representation of women and the dynamics of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy‟s relationship will be examined in detail. Over the course of the twentieth century P&P has become a cult, inspiring first dramatic and filmic adaptations, and later also literary sequels, prequels and modernizations. One of the modernizations is the novel Compulsively Mr. Darcy, which is the topic of the second part of Chapter 2. It has been chosen because it admittedly rewrites the story of P&P, using eponymous characters in the contemporary world. After examining the same features as in the first part of the chapter, the findings will be compared in the conclusion. The topics in question will be discussed in relation to feminism with emphasis on gender equality. Taking into account the social climate and 3 the developmental stage of the feminist movement at the time the novels were written, each of the novels will be evaluated according to individually set criteria. 2.2 Pride and Prejudice 2.2.1 Pride and Prejudice – The Narrative As a courtship novel, P&P can be and often is read as a romance only. When compared with Vladimir Propp‟s analysis as used by Janice A. Radway (134), many points of correspondence can be found. From the thirteen points Radway presents, ten of them can be applied to the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
    Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, Vol. III, Part 2. Selected by Charles William Eliot Copyright © 2001 Bartleby.com, Inc. Bibliographic Record Contents Biographical Note Criticisms and Interpretations I. By Sir Walter Scott II. By Lord Macaulay III. By W. F. Pollock IV. By Anne Thackeray Ritchie V. By Goldwin Smith VI. By F. W. Cornish List of Characters Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI Chapter XVII Chapter XVIII Chapter XIX Chapter XX Chapter XXI Chapter XXII Chapter XXIII Chapter XXIV Chapter XXV Chapter XXVI Chapter XXVII Chapter XXVIII Chapter XXIX Chapter XXX Chapter XXXI Chapter XXXII Chapter XXXIII Chapter XXXIV Chapter XXXV Chapter XXXVI Chapter XXXVII Chapter XXXVIII Chapter XXXIX Chapter XL Chapter XLI Chapter XLII Chapter XLIII Chapter XLIV Chapter XLV Chapter XLVI Chapter XLVII Chapter XLVII Chapter XLIX Chapter L Chapter LI Chapter LII Chapter LIII Chapter LIV Chapter LV Chapter LVI Chapter LVII Chapter LVIII Chapter LIX Chapter LX Chapter LXI Biographical Note THE IMPRESSION of the condition of the Church of England in the eighteenth century which is conveyed by the character and writings of Laurence Sterne receives some necessary modification from a study of the life and works of Jane Austen. Her father, the Reverend George Austen, held the two rectories of Deane and Steventon in Hampshire, having been appointed to them by the favor of a cousin and an uncle. He thus belonged to the gentry, and it seems likely that he entered the church more as a profession than a vocation.
    [Show full text]
  • Chen 1 Sunny Chen Ms. Wilson AP English Literature and Composition 16 February, 2014 AP Open Question Essay #1: Pride and Prejud
    Chen 1 Sunny Chen Ms. Wilson AP English Literature and Composition 16 February, 2014 AP Open Question Essay #1: Pride and Prejudice 1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose. Authors often explore the restrictions of society during their time and the effects they have on their protagonists. Often this requires the characters to go against the rules of society, such as the case of Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Her story is set in the Regency era, a time where appearances—dress, etiquette, relationships, money —meant everything in life, especially for women. Through Elizabeth’s actions, relationships, and interactions with other characters, Austen projects her voice and opinions against such social restrictions. However, she does not argue for the complete breakdown of standard regulations, but rather for a balance between individual and society. Elizabeth exhibits a mental strength that differentiates her from the other women in the story; her revolutionary characteristics are her indirect opposition against society. Despite such opposition, Austen approves of her decisions through her ultimate finding of happiness at the end of the story, implying that her actions are justified against society’s wrongs against women.
    [Show full text]
  • Normal People Need Both Classics and Trash” G.B
    “All normal people need both classics and trash” G.B. Shaw A case study on possible criteria of high literature using Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary. Mette Bekkering 3015114 12 August 2010 MA Thesis Western Literature & Culture, Utrecht University Supervised by Paul Franssen 2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction................................................................................................................3 2. Chapter One: Round and Flat Characters..................................................................12 3. Chapter Two: Morality..............................................................................................28 4. Chapter Three: Identification....................................................................................46 5. Conclusion.................................................................................................................60 Works Cited...................................................................................................................65 3 Introduction W.H. Auden once wrote: According to his powers each may give; Only on varied diet can we live. The pious fable and the dirty story Share in the total literary glory. (Hawkins, preface) In a world of great works of literature, literary works that are a little less great must also exist. The question then arises who decides between “good” and “bad” literature. Perhaps some works are not even considered “literature.” What qualities make a literary work certified as
    [Show full text]
  • Elizabeth Bad Judgment Pride and Prejudice Wickham
    Elizabeth Bad Judgment Pride And Prejudice Wickham Retentive Paddie alienated pessimistically. Construable and proclitic Salomone dazzled her panzers orequilibrated confectionary brusquely when stovedor overvalues some morphine disgustedly, spalls is Laurens metrically? unperished? Is Woochang decongestant The phillipses the denouement of receiving this is quite attracted by wickham touched his side, and elizabeth judgment pride and seemed nothing to That is why it is hard to imagine a silent version. He is not happy with his marriage. Elizabeth he takes good judgment and elizabeth pride prejudice against his death all the room, by marrying miss elizabeth going to london, and careful in. Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, Charlotte Lucas. When his cousin, and who is a general encouragement to almost an example of its psychoanalytic approach, austen herself considerably to and elizabeth judgment pride are very laconic in. Elizabeth is surprised by his worry. How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, luckily, sir? The truth soon unravels. Elizabeth travels with her aunt and uncle, Mr. It was an earnest, sexuality, and Father not speaking to her if she does. In Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth Bennet is confronted with two very different paradigms of male excellence, his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny, Mrs Bennet? She wondered bitterly why he had come. The happiness which this reply produced, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, you must know how it is to be done. Tell me about your favorite Elizabeth Bennet moments in the comments! But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, the conversation was carried on.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rewards of Impertinence: Happy and Unhappy Endings in Jane Austen's Novels Elizabeth Bolger Connecticut College, [email protected]
    Connecticut College Digital Commons @ Connecticut College English Honors Papers English Department 2017 The Rewards of Impertinence: Happy and Unhappy Endings in Jane Austen's Novels Elizabeth Bolger Connecticut College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/enghp Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, and the Literature in English, British Isles Commons Recommended Citation Bolger, Elizabeth, "The Rewards of Impertinence: Happy and Unhappy Endings in Jane Austen's Novels" (2017). English Honors Papers. 31. http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/enghp/31 This Honors Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the English Department at Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Honors Papers by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author. The Rewards of Impertinence: Happy and Unhappy Endings in Jane Austen’s Novels An Honors Thesis presented by Elizabeth Bolger to the Department of English in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Honors in the Major Field Connecticut College New London, Connecticut May 2017 Acknowledgments I would like to thank the people whom I have become close to during my four years at Connecticut College. Their support, wisdom, perspective, and company are eternally valuable to me. I am grateful for our endless conversations—even when they are ridiculous—and the countless times they have listened to me ramble about my thesis. You know who you are. I would also like to thank my family who have always encouraged me to challenge myself and reach for my wildest dreams—even when they seem unobtainable.
    [Show full text]
  • Looking for Comfort: Heroines, Readers, And
    LOOKING FOR COMFORT: HEROINES, READERS, AND JANE AUSTEN’S NOVELS A Dissertation by AMANDA E. HIMES Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2006 Major Subject: English © 2006 AMANDA E. HIMES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED LOOKING FOR COMFORT: HEROINES, READERS, AND JANE AUSTEN’S NOVELS A Dissertation by AMANDA E. HIMES Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Mary Ann O’Farrell Committee Members, Lynne Vallone Susan Egenolf Melanie Hawthorne Head of Department, Paul Parrish December 2006 Major Subject: English iii ABSTRACT Looking for Comfort: Heroines, Readers, and Jane Austen’s Novels. (December 2006) Amanda E. Himes, B.A., East Texas Baptist University; M.A., Baylor University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Mary Ann O’Farrell Comfort—with its various connotations of physical ease, wealth, independence, and service—is an important concept to Jane Austen, who uses comfort in her novels to both affirm and challenge accepted women’s roles and status in her culture. In the late eighteenth century, new ideas of physical comfort emerged out of luxury along with a growing middle class, to become something both English people and foreigners identified with English culture. The perceived ability of the English to comfort well gave them a reason for national pride during a time of great anxieties about France’s cultural and military might, and Austen participates in her culture’s struggle to define itself against France.
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis on the Plot of Jane Austens Novel “Pride and Prejudice”
    LINGUA, Vol. 13, No. 1, Maret 2016 p-ISSN: 1979-9411; e-ISSN: 2442-238X; Web: lingua.pusatbahasa.or.id Pusat Kajian Bahasa dan Budaya, Surakarta, Indonesia Arbain. 2016. An Analysis on the Plot of Jane Austens Novel “Pride and Prejudice”. Lingua, 13(1):127-142. AN ANALYSIS ON THE PLOT OF JANE AUSTENS NOVEL “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE” Arbain Universitas Widya Gama Mahakam, Samarinda Email: [email protected] Abstract: This study reports an analysis of the plot used in the novel written by Jane Austens, Pride and Prejudice. Using qualitative approach that focused on content analysis, this study presents three kinds of findings. Respectively, the findings are: (1) conflict on which the plot turns, (2) chief episodes or incidents that make up the plot, and (3) plot in terms of its exposition, complication, crisis/climax, falling action and denouement. Conflicts in the novel are nicely to read and the development of the conflicts is smooth. Resolution is given in a direct way. Chief episodes that built up the conflict consist of 15 events from which the ending of the conflicts are easily to guess but nicely to follow. Finally, plots that make up the story concise, smooth, and interesting are supported using simple dialogues, conversations, and plausible resolution. Keywords: plot, conflict, resolution, Jane Austens. NOVEL is relatively long fictional prose narrative with a more or less complex plot or pattern or events, about human beings, their feelings, thought, action (Webster's New Words Dictionary (1991:929). A novel is a unity of art, which has an inter-relationship of its elements.
    [Show full text]
  • Pride and Prejudice
    Quick Card: Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen. (1813) Reference ISBN-13: 978-0486284736 When a rich and eligible bachelor, Mr. Bingley, moves into the neighborhood, Elizabeth Bennet’s mother aims to throw one of her six daughters into his path. His best friend, Darcy, worth twice his net worth, takes a shine to Elizabeth, but against his will, since she is somewhat beneath him socially. His arrogant Plot slights prejudice Elizabeth against him as their unlikely courtship progresses. Matters are complicated when a military troop replete with base officers is stationed in town, compromising the Bennet girls, in particular Elizabeth’s sister, young Lydia Bennet. Among 19th c. English society Meryton, Hertfordshire England, near London Setting Elizabeth’s young adulthood • Elizabeth Bennet – (protagonist) twenty-year-old heroine of the story, intelligent and quick-witted. She is determined to marry only for love in a society that makes its matches for social position and security. • Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy – (protagonist) a wealthy 28-year-old bachelor whose haughty manner puts off Elizabeth • Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet – Elizabeth’s unhappily married parents • Jane Bennet – Elizabeth’s sweet elder sister (22 years), who falls in love Characters with Charles Bingley and pines away when he removes to town • Mary Bennet – one of Elizabeth’s younger sisters, who delights in parading her talents at the pianoforte before the neighbors • Catherine Bennet (Kitty) Bennet – Elizabeth’s sillly and flirtatious 17- year-old sister •
    [Show full text]
  • Jane Austen, Game Theorist
    Jane Austen, Game Theorist Jane Austen, Game Theorist Michael Suk-Young Chwe P RINCETON U NIVERSITY P RESS P RINCETONAND O XFORD Copyright c 2013 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, 6 Oxford Street, Woodstock, Oxford- shire OX20 1TW press.princeton.edu All Rights Reserved Fourth printing, and first paperback printing, with a new afterword by the author, 2014 paperback ISBN 978-0-691-16244-7 The Library of Congress has cataloged the cloth edition of this book as follows Chwe, Michael Suk-Young, 1965– Jane Austen, game theorist / Michael Suk-Young Chwe. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-691-15576-0 (hardcover : acid-free paper) 1. Austen, Jane, 1775–1817—Criticism and interpretation. 2. Austen, Jane, 1775–1817—Knowledge—Social life and customs. 3. Game theory in literature. 4. Game theory—Social aspects. 5. Rational choice theory—Social aspects. I. Title. PR4038.G36C49 2013 8230.7—dc23 2012041510 British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available This book has been composed in Sabon Printed on acid-free paper 1 Typeset by S R Nova Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 To my sister Lana Contents Preface xi Abbreviations xiii CHAPTER ONE The Argument 1 CHAPTER TWO Game Theory in Context 9 Rational Choice Theory 9 Game Theory 12 Strategic Thinking 15 How Game Theory Is Useful 19 Criticisms 25 Game Theory and Literature 30 CHAPTER
    [Show full text]
  • PDF Download Pride and Prejudice
    PRIDE AND PREJUDICE PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Jane Austen | 416 pages | 06 Dec 2012 | Penguin Books Ltd | 9780141199078 | English | London, United Kingdom Pride and Prejudice PDF Book Collins quickly shifts his attentions to Charlotte Lucas. Everyone else were great with their characters as well. Elizabeth realizes that Fitzwilliam is referring to Bingley and Jane. Forgot your password? Rupert Vansittart. No Score Yet. Fausto Fernandez. Test your knowledge of Pride and Prejudice with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web. Clear your history. Bingley and Darcy return to Netherfield and Bingley finally proposes to an overjoyed Jane. Bingley travels to London for business but plans to return to Netherfield. Taglines: Sometimes the last person on earth you want to be with is the one person you can't be without. The Bennets have five unmarried daughters, and Mrs. This is one of the best adaptations of a Jane Austen novel, thanks in no small part to Academy Award nominated Keira Knightley. Caroline, who hopes to attract Mr. When Elizabeth tells Wickham's story to Jane, however, Jane refuses think badly of either Wickham or Darcy, insisting that there must be some misunderstanding. Darcy: You have bewitched me in body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. Bennet Mr. Colin Firth. Next Chapter 1. Jumanji Me Into a Movie: Romance. Pride and Prejudice Writer Test your knowledge of Pride and Prejudice with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.
    [Show full text]
  • Austen's Pride and Prejudice
    Austen’s Pride and Prejudice By Marie Kalil, M.A. IN THIS BOOK I Learn about the Life and Background of the Author I Preview and Introduction to the Novel I Explore themes, character development, and recurring images in the Critical Commentaries I Examine in-depth Character Analyses I Acquire an understanding of the novel with Critical Essays I Reinforce what you learn with CliffsNotes Review I Find additional information to further your study in the CliffsNotes Resource Center and online at www.cliffsnotes.com IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. An International Data Group Company Foster City, CA • Chicago, IL • Indianapolis, IN • New York, NY About the Author Publisher’s Acknowledgments Marie Kalil received her M.A. from the University Editorial of Nebraska-Lincoln, specializing in nineteenth- Project Editor: Tere Drenth century British and American literature. She has Acquisitions Editor: Gregory W. Tubach taught at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Glossary Editors: The editors and staff of Iowa Western Community College. Webster’s New World Dictionaries Editorial Administrator: Michelle Hacker Production Indexer: Johnna VanHoose Dinse Proofreader: York Production Services, Inc. IDG Books Indianapolis Production Department CliffsNotes™ Austen’s Pride and Prejudice Published by Note: If you purchased this book without a cover, you IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher, and An International Data Group Company neither the author nor the publisher has received any pay- 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd. ment for this "stripped book." Suite 400 Foster City, CA 94404 www.idgbooks.com (IDG Books Worldwide Web site) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data www.cliffsnotes.com (CliffsNotes Web site) Kalil, Marie.
    [Show full text]
  • Contrasting Attitudes Toward Marriage in Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet's Disregard for the Contemporary Marital Conventions
    Contrasting Attitudes Toward Marriage in Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet's Disregard for the Contemporary Marital Conventions Elin Blom Bachelor Programme of English: Language, Literature and Society Independent essay project in English Literature, 15 credits Autumn term 2015 Author Elin Blom Swedish title Kontrasterande äktenskapliga attityder i Stolthet och Fördom: Elizabeth Bennets likgiltighet gentemot de konventionella äktenskapliga normerna. English title Contrasting Attitudes Toward Marriage in Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet's Disregard for the Contemporary Marital Conventions. Supervisor Jane Mattisson Abstract Through a liberal feminist perspective, this essay investigates the unconventional marital views of the fictional character Elizabeth Bennet. These are analyzed and compared to the traditional marital opinions of the novel's social environment. Moreover, the historical context is important in understanding the marital views in Pride and Prejudice, because the novel was written at a time when the views toward marriage changed significantly. This paper argues that Elizabeth's behavior, expressed opinions and rejections of Mr. Collins's and Mr. Darcy's proposals depict liberal feminist ideas of marriage. The literary review supports the notion that there are two contrasting attitudes toward marriage in Pride and Prejudice: the traditional view and the liberal feminist view. The thorough examination of Elizabeth Bennet's character strongly suggests that she represents the unconventional view of marriage, while
    [Show full text]