pride & prejudice

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Explain in detail how Elizabeth's views and actions are not of a typical regency woman.

Introduction-

My understanding of pride is someone who thinks very highly of themselves and thinks no one can beat their standards. For example we have Mr Darcy, who shows us in the novel that he is arrogant and thinks he is higher than the rest. "She's tolerable but not handsome enough to temp me," this is one of the quotes said by Mr Darcy in the novel, referring to how he thinks Elizabeth is not good enough for him and that she's not handsome enough to tempt him. In other words his pride is being shown in how he's so arrogant. Prejudice means judging someone without knowing them. Its like judging a "book by its cover". Examples of prejudice from the novel would be, when Elizabeth rejected Mr Collins, all simply because she assumed and judged him and thought he was a sleazy, disrespectable man. Elizabeth didn't even know Mr Collins, and yet already was being prejudice towards him. The title " Pride & Prejudice" fit's the novel well because there is a lot in the novel about peoples pride and how they are prejudice against other people, even before knowing that person. Examples would be Mr Darcy and Elizabeth's story line.

Back in the regency period a role of a typical regency woman would be different to women these days. Women back then were expected to be quiet, well mannered and obey their husbands/fathers at all times. Girls were like a fathers property back then and must have never disobeyed their fathers commands. It was the fathers duty to find a suitable man for their daughter. The daughter must agree to whoever her father picks and must make a real go of the marriage and settle down. Women didn't really question who they got married to back in the regency days. Marriage to women wasn't about love back then, it was all about the future and money. If the man had money and could support her financially then why does love matter? Even if the man was a nuisance, it wouldn't matter. The women would jus put up with it. Examples of a typical regency women would be women like Miss Bingley from the novel. A lady of well manners, polite and high classed. She would be the typical regency lady you would see around in them days. Examples of marriage would be people like Charlotte and Mr Collins from the novel. Even though Charlotte did not love Mr Collins, she was in no position to make decisions of whether she should marry him or not. If he could provide her with money and security in the relationship, then there would be no further questions, and in this case Mr Collins has all that to provide Charlotte, therefore Charlotte has no hesitations and must agree to marry him because he has everything she needs.
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Elizabeth is a completely different woman, to a typical regency woman you would expect to see. Elizabeth's whole mind and attitude is different. She believes that marriage should be about love. She believes in love. Elizabeth is an open minded lady who speaks for what she believes is right. Typical regency women must be quiet all the time and must not speak up for themselves, whereas Elizabeth is different and believes if something should be said, it should be said, and that she should stand up to herself. She has an honest mind and heart and clearly in ...

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