Irrelevance of Marriage: Debunking Patriarchal Values in “Pride and Prejudice”
Introduction
Marriage is irrelevant in the modern society. It has become an atavism of the patriarchal concept that is no longer important today. Marriage is the remnant of the past, which a lot of people confuse with one of the standards characterizing good life. Moreover, while a lot of males pretend they are scared, confused, and resistant to tie the knot, marriage was constructed only for the sake of men. In the past and today marriage is still presented as the main goal and dream for women, implemented in numerous vague sitcoms, romantic movies, and symbolism of the pop culture. It is quite strange, as the modern Western society is quite open-minded, the relationship between men and women are built on the basis of mutually benefiting conditions, including the economic side of a question. Yet still, the popular culture as well as the government through economy and policies continues to support “family values”.
Nevertheless, a lot of women were questioning the patriarchal values and the institute of marriage several centuries ago implying that it is unfair, degrading, and unnecessary for women. While, a lot has been done since the 19th century when the first glimpse of feminism movement emerged, yet at some point today feminism obtained a negative connotation. The entire movement is ridiculed and mocked by perverting the ideas of feminism and limiting them to absurd questions, like if a woman has to shave her legs. It is quite vulgar and irresponsible in the time when women are still not paid fairly, they still encounter with physical and verbal abuse, and despite all odds are eager to get married and maintain the traditional family. It happens partially due to the fact that women are still considered to be frivolous and emotional beings, whose problems are not serious and, thus, remain to be ignored. Marriage serves today as the restraint of a female, the same way it did in the 19th century when Jane Austen wrote her “Pride and Prejudice”.
Discussion
It is considered that Jane Austen was one of the first feminists in the traditional sense of this notion. Both have been criticized for their libertinism and deviation from the rules. Even today, Austen is attacked due to her superficial vision of the problem and the ability to focus only on the upper-class females. At the same time, they forget to remember that it was the same prejudice towards females that limited her vision and experience for the sake and comfort of men. Jane could not know about the life of the lower class, as she has never encountered with them. Moreover, due to gender and economic inequalities, only the wealthy could be the artists, writers, and scholars, as it was the only class that received a classic education. Actually, it is not quite right, the classic education was received only by males because women did not have the use of it.
Jane Austen realized the inequality and unfairness of marriage and patriarchal values quite early and managed to put her thoughts into the speeches of one of the protagonists in “Pride and Prejudice”. Her Elizabeth claims, “I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other” (Austen 28). It was quite unusual for women of the 19th century to express such an opinion as well as to have these thoughts. Even today, women are forced to adjust to men’s needs and follow traditional values even if she does not want to. Apparently Austen emphasizes the independence of the protagonist and her desire to remain true to herself, despite constant reminder that she has to get married, where one of the reasons is simple – money.
However, women had the reason to consider financial state of their future husband, as back to the 19th century they were deprived of property ownership rights. In other words, if a family had only daughters, the father could bequeath the house only to her husband. Austen included this fact into her novel as well. In the novel, the father has to find a husband at least to anyone or to leave the house to her closest relative that had to be a male. Yet, his wife exclaims, “I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it” (Austen 39). Here, a woman expresses her desire to do something, to change the ridiculous laws and she cannot accomplish it because she is deprived of rights, yet her husband simply refuses to change it due to the convenience and lack of motivation to change something. The main drivers of movement here are a woman, as everything that happens to the main characters is launched by females.
In another instance, Austen points to the same direction claiming that a female in the 19th century is not safe and she cannot rely only on herself, yet women left to believe it is their fault. One of novel’s heroine’s claims that “our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money” (Austen 109). It has been written two centuries ago, yet it is still painfully familiar. Women are still blamed in vanity, unnecessary expenditures, and squander. It is quite frustrating that the lines are written long time ago still remain relevant in the modern society. It is another evidence of the patriarchy and inability of women to break the vicious circle due to the inability to realize to what consequences such thinking may lead.
Nevertheless, Elizabeth considers herself equal to men, even if it sounds unusual to her peers. Austen made her protagonist particularly independent because she was of the same nature herself. Also, Austen wanted to show that patriarchy prevailing in the society does not leave a chance to women to express themselves pushing them to resist the oppression. In “Pride and Prejudice” Elizabeth claims, “in marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal (Austen 206). While the Elizabeth’s reasoning can seem quite controversial, as even in proving her equality she had to link herself to another patriarchal figure, nevertheless, she still is ahead of many characters in the novel perceiving the inadequate treatment of women as normal.
In the novel, a lot of characters are antagonistic to Elizabeth and her thoughts. In this way, the author made the contrast between the traditional beliefs about women and her natural state even more vivid. For instance, the requirements for women of those days were quite limited, as one of the characters admits, “a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word the manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved” (Austen 25). The list of women’s spheres of knowledge is quite limited. In addition, it is quite evident that she has to deserve the world while men receive this opportunity by the birthright. This statement resonates with the modern prejudice against women, who have to be beautiful, have appropriate behavior, and there are still professional areas for woman and men.
A female in “Pride and Prejudice” is perceived as the property or a necessary attribute of every fortunate man. According to the story, “it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen 5). This perception of a woman directly connects her to money and suggests that a man can spend his fortune only for women or to make it due to charitable intentions. It is a controversial and ambiguous reasoning. It came to the modern times in a changed form when women are forced to look for wealthy spouse pointing to the fact that she cannot earn such amount of money. Yet still, women had to secure their future by marrying immediately after reaching the appropriate age.
Elizabeth is also forced to get married. Even though she finds her future husband attractive, the main heroine insists, “I am not romantic you know I ask only for a comfortable home I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is fair” (Austen 93). This citation highlights the fact that women had to protect themselves against the possibility of poverty through marriage, despite their inner potential. At the same time, Austen makes Charlotte, who can be seen as the antagonist to Elizabeth, pragmatic and clear in terms of her intentions to marry someone for money and comfort. It is quite strange, but today when women are granted the opportunity to express themselves, access the job, and choose a career, the culture still forces them to find a wealthy man. Despite the fact that men earn more than women, a female has a choice not to follow faulty patriarchal morals, which will eventually lead to necessary changes in the society.
However, a female is forced to think marriage her only choice to build her life. The perception of a woman as an object was evident in the 19th century and earlier and it still persists in the modern days. In the novel, one of the characters claimed to be not pretty, which drives her to marry as soon as possible, as she does not have another choice. Austen writes, “it was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from wantand at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it (Austen 75). It is possible that Charlotte had the talent of becoming an artist, a scientist, or a lawyer, yet, as she is considered undesirable in terms of marriage and has no place in the professional world, marriage is the only option for her. Today, the situation has changed, but the modern emphasis on beauty and strict requirements to a female’s appearance make the situation similar.
Feminism of Elizabeth Bennet
It has to be noted that, the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, is not a revolutionary, but she still has her own position regarding the unfairness of the society towards women, as she understands how unnatural and inadequate women are treated in her environment. The protagonist does not oppose to the concept of marriage, even though she claims that she is not romantic. However, Elizabeth thinks that it is abnormal to marry under the pressure. Elizabeth tries to use her opposition to the demands of the patriarchal. She insists, “I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected to me” (Austen 260). Here, Elizabeth explains her personal beliefs towards the traditional values and people who always push her to settle down. It is quite evident that she will remain a housewife, yet still she chooses to find a man whom she respects and love, rather than to marry because of the estate or fortune. Today, the females are not forced by their parents, yet the pressure existing in the society and popular culture in some cases drives the females to eventually settle down, even if it means to give up their career.
Elizabeth’s feministic intentions are controversial in the modern interpretation of this concept, as her vision and the ability to characterize her as a strong person who can accomplish a lot. Yet, she still remains a person of her time, thus, she cannot be a straightforward rebel. She says to Catherine, “in marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere [in which I have been brought up]” (Austen 258). She claims to be equal to a man and believes she will not give up her way of thinking. The protagonist advocates for women’s rights and emphasizes the significance of having the same financial and social status.
When evaluating Elizabeth as a feminist, it is possible to point to her multilayered personality, as she is both deeply intellectual and romantic. She can be feminine, but still oppose to the values and ideas that do not comply with her personal strategy. At the same time, it is quite clear that Elizabeth struggles against the position of a woman as a simple attribute, rather than a person who has all rights and freedoms. In those days as well as today, marriage was the intention of men to control females in order to produce the progeny and enjoy their life. Austen implements a happy ending in “Pride and Prejudice” more as the requirement of the literature of the 19th century rather than the logical end to her story. It has to be noted that the author herself has never been married and despite the scarcity of the information about her personal life, it is possible to assume that her views as a feminist overvalued the requirements of the society.
Conclusion
After the analysis of “Pride and Prejudice,” it is possible to make a conclusion that there are several indicators pointing to the obsolete nature of the traditional marriage. Even in the 19th century it is quite evident that females did not feel happy serving a role as a child bearer and an attribute of a wealthy man. Marriage does not provide a female with anything positive, except for money and insurance of her wealthy being. Today, such insurance is no longer needed, as women received the rights to choose their career path. The author shows that even wealthy women do not have rights, and they are discouraged to think critically. A woman in such world is the accessory to their husband. In the modern world, it is possible to encounter with the similar situations. It is unsettling and devastating as women have been fighting for these rights for centuries.
Simultaneously, Elizabeth Bennet is a romantic girl who does not understand why she has to abide by the inadequate rules and unnatural behavior. She admits that her feelings and thoughts are important to her, and have to be the same to the other members of the society. She is concerned about the quality of life with a person she does not know, thus, it is unnatural to her. Nowadays, women are able to do whatever they want, either to follow a traditional path or following their career. They can provide financial support and be promoted to the higher position.
The relationship with men have been transformed as well, thus, it is possible to maintain free and full life. At the same time, popular culture still pushes them to commit to traditional marriage, give up the career, and abide by the traditional values. It is difficult to find a logical explanation why it happens and what are the reasons for this. Jane Austen showed that it is possible to have an original opinion towards the traditional patriarchal values and remain true to personal beliefs. Austen described a typical situation in the Victorian Era, yet today is a 21st century that implies that the beliefs of the old age cannot be applied in the modern society. In the novel it was admitted that when women learn about their rights, express their position freely, they are usually ridiculed for being frivolous, inconsistent, and unable to support a serious conversation and thus, unable to become leaders and execute authority. Today, women have already proved the inadequacy of such delusions, yet still they remain the subjects of the constant pressure and forced to commit to the values that are no longer valid.
Works Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice (Wordsworth Classics). London: Wordsworth Editions, 1992. Print
