Feminism in Austen Novels

So after reading the article that was assigned for class tomorrow (“Giving Patriarchy its Due”), I started thinking about the role of females in “Pride and Prejudice” and the significance that they have on the story. 

All of Austen’s novels are set in the Regency Period (1811-1820) of England, a time when women were rendered voiceless under the hand of societal rules.  Women weren’t permitted to own or inherit land, travel alone, be in company of a man without a chaperone, or correspond via letters with a man for an extended period of time (unless engaged or married to him).

So basically, women were allowed to do nothing besides minding their own business and looking pretty.  Oh, and finding a suitable husband with a large fortune, of course.  But there was one thing women had the power to do.

They could say no.

That is what gives Austen characters their power and shapes their overall personalities, especially Elizabeth Bennett.  The fact that they are completely free to form their own opinions of men and to reject them at the drop of a hat allows the women of Austen’s world to subtly determine their otherwise predetermined future. 

In a word where women have no rights, Austen manages to give them a kernel of feminism in a male-dominated society.  The simple act of saying “no” is just the beginning of the feminist movement to come.

I believe that Austen knew exactly what she was doing when she gave her female characters this power and exploited their use of it in her novels.  In “Pride and Prejudice,” for instance, Lizzie doesn’t hesitate to loath Darcy, adore Wickham, and judge Caroline.  She voices her opinions and questions the motives of others.  And it’s interesting to see that most of her long harbored impressions of people turn out to be completely wrong. 

Though Lizzie does represent the female power in Austen’s novel, she is still human and makes mistakes.  Austen exactly pinpoints the various imperfections of women while maintaining their subtle power within society.