This 5 page paper considers the limited roles of men and women in Jane Austen's society and assesses the social conventions, enforced by gossip, that keep women in line. This paper specifically explores the characterization of Elizabeth Bennett in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and argues that she is a representation of a modern woman in a nineteenth century world. Jane Austen's insightful glance into the inner workings of society, relationships and one's own personal existence is what has endeared her to her many readers. No additional sources cited. The paper concludes that over the course of these three novels, Austen makes a tentative movement away from a rigid social conservatism toward the embrace of limited social change.
Bibliography lists six sources.
This 14 page report discusses two classics of 19th century English literature and the importance that social status played in each of the stories. Both Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy clearly understand the essential nature of social status in the process of creating, developing, and maintaining a relationship with another person, as well as the opportunities available to an individual. In fact, it would seem that they both suggest that social status is a fundamental ingredient in the actual processes and meaning of life. However, because each author presents the ideas and ideals of social status in significantly different ways, this paper argues that Austen s work, her characters, plots, and outcomes are actually the more dependent on it than Hardy s. Bibliography lists 8 sources.