Is it possible to see Elizabeth Bennet as a feminist heroine?

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7th December 2010

Is it possible to see Elizabeth Bennet as a feminist heroine?

Elizabeth Bennet is perhaps the least conventional of Austen’s characters, and certainly does not conform to what her society expected of her in the way of being submissive. Austen herself admitted that ‘pictures of perfection … make me sick and wicked’, and so our lovable protagonist Elizabeth is set apart from the traditional heroine with her independence of mind, and courage to challenge accepted role of women. To the modern day reader her refusal to be the demure, submissive ideal woman of the conduct books written by such a Hannah Moore, insisting ‘girls … should early acquire a submissive temper and a forbearing spirit’ allows her to appear a feminist heroine. By refusing two offers of marriage Elizabeth exercises her only available method of choice, as Henry Tilney of Austen’s Northanger Abbey points out ‘Man has the advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal’. This demonstration of control earns our respect for Elizabeth as a heroine, and it certainly challenges the society’s insistence on the significance of class distinction, appealing to the modern reader.

Feminist critics Gilbert and Gubar assert that ‘Elizabeth stands out as a young woman who has no intention of following the prescription of restraint and submission for the achievement of happiness’. She demonstrates this with the manner in which she turns down Mr. Collins’ proposal, explaining her refusal of his hand in marriage, ‘You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so’. Mr. Collins is so shocked by her rationality he believes it can only be due to her modesty; and hopes ‘when I do myself the honour of speaking to you next I shall hope to receive a much more favourable answer’. Her action contradicts entirely the principles set out in the conduct books, and the reaction she receives reinforces the unusualness of our heroine’s honesty. Charlotte, however, seems to conform with society’s expectations of a young lady, and accepts as though she is presented with no happy alternative, ‘convinced that my chances of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state’. Austen paints a bleak picture of this marriage for the reader, deeming it ‘impossible’ for Charlotte ‘to be tolerably happy’, and her position reveals the difficulties facing young women, and the pressure on them to marry. Elizabeth’s refusal to submit to this is certainly what sets her apart, with more modern ideas of how women ought to be.

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When she is around Darcy Elizabeth behaves very differently from the more traditional Bingly sisters, not allowing her herself to be put down. In their discussion over how accomplished young women are, Elizabeth is not afraid to put her own argument forward, and demonstrates her intelligence and rationality by deducing ‘[Darcy] must comprehend a great deal in your idea as an accomplished woman’. Miss Bingly on the other hand simply reiterates what Darcy says, and for this Austen reduces her to ‘his faithful assistant’. Miss Bingly tries to creep towards Darcy, with her flattering tone, whereas Elizabeth is far ...

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Here's what a teacher thought of this essay

The writer raises several interesting and persuasive points about Elizabeth from a feminist perspective. The essay could be improved by more clarity and consistency about what is meant by 'heroine', more careful attention to spelling, expression and accurate quotation, and the addition of a bibliography to reference the critics quoted. ***