How Does Jane Austen Create Negative Feelings Towards Mr. Darcy in the First Few Chapters of Pride and Prejudice?
How does Jane Austen create negative feelings towards Mr. Darcy in the first few chapters of Pride and Prejudice?
Jane Austen wrote her book about life for women in the nineteenth century; the Regency period. For women in this period, life was very unbalanced, women were not perceived as equals and men were superior and had full authority in every aspect of life. There was a clear segregation among men and women and the values they were expected to maintain.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife".
Men received greater respect; an ascribed dominant identity. Their ideas and needs were considered a necessity; they were entitled to decide their own destiny. Women however, had to meet societies expectations. A married woman has achieved her purpose in life. When Mr. Bennet tells his wife she is as handsome as her daughters, she says that she has had her share of beauty but doesn't pretend to be anything extraordinary now.
"When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty".
In the very introduction of the novel, the difference between men and women is made very clear. Mr. Bennet is a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve', whereas Mrs. Bennet is a woman of little information, her mind is not difficult to develop'; the business of her life, and indeed the life of any married woman, is to get her daughters married. Austen includes the intent and actions of attracting Mr. Bingley for one of the Bennet's daughters. Mr. Bennet has always intended to visit Mr. Bingley but has said to his wife he won't go. Once he has gone, his wife says to him,
"I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance".
She says to her daughters,
"What an excellent father you have girls".
Any conflict among families involves the pursuit of a suitable husband for the younger female members of the family.
Jane Austen wrote her book about life for women in the nineteenth century; the Regency period. For women in this period, life was very unbalanced, women were not perceived as equals and men were superior and had full authority in every aspect of life. There was a clear segregation among men and women and the values they were expected to maintain.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife".
Men received greater respect; an ascribed dominant identity. Their ideas and needs were considered a necessity; they were entitled to decide their own destiny. Women however, had to meet societies expectations. A married woman has achieved her purpose in life. When Mr. Bennet tells his wife she is as handsome as her daughters, she says that she has had her share of beauty but doesn't pretend to be anything extraordinary now.
"When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty".
In the very introduction of the novel, the difference between men and women is made very clear. Mr. Bennet is a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve', whereas Mrs. Bennet is a woman of little information, her mind is not difficult to develop'; the business of her life, and indeed the life of any married woman, is to get her daughters married. Austen includes the intent and actions of attracting Mr. Bingley for one of the Bennet's daughters. Mr. Bennet has always intended to visit Mr. Bingley but has said to his wife he won't go. Once he has gone, his wife says to him,
"I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance".
She says to her daughters,
"What an excellent father you have girls".
Any conflict among families involves the pursuit of a suitable husband for the younger female members of the family.
Bibliography: Pride and Prejudice Darcy 's story