Redefining Womanhood in Jane Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice"

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• A Brief History of Austen Criticism
• Conduct Books and Mary Wollstonecraft's Feminist Theories
  • The Ideal of Womanhood in Emile or on Education
  • The Ideal of Womanhood in Sermons to Young Women
  • The Ideal of Womanhood in A Father's Legacy to His Daughters
  • Mary Wollstonecraft's Feminist Theories
• Pride and Prejudice as Anti-Conduct Book
  • Lack of Parental Influence in Moral Education
  • Sisterhood between Jane Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet
  • Marriage between Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas
  • Marriage between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet
• Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis aims to portray Jane Austen as a moderate feminist who argues for women's moral and intellectual potential while showcasing their ability to control their thoughts and actions. It examines how Austen subverts the instructions of conduct literature but still emphasizes marriage as a desired outcome for her heroines. Pride and Prejudice is analyzed as a representative example of Austen's feminist ideology, contrasting its themes with prevalent conduct books and demonstrating the influence of Mary Wollstonecraft's feminist theories.

• Austen's depiction of women's moral and intellectual agency
• The influence of conduct literature on shaping female behavior
• The critique of patriarchal social structures and norms
• The role of marriage in Austen's novels and its implications for women
• The impact of Mary Wollstonecraft's feminist theories on Austen's work

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the thesis argument, framing Jane Austen as a moderate feminist who challenges patriarchal norms while advocating for women's moral and intellectual autonomy. Pride and Prejudice is presented as a central example of Austen's feminist ideology.
• A Brief History of Austen Criticism: This chapter analyzes various interpretations of Austen's work, highlighting three main critical trends: conservative, feminist, and moderate feminist. It discusses key critics and their perspectives on Austen's ideological inclinations.
• Conduct Books and Mary Wollstonecraft's Feminist Theories: This chapter explores the impact of conduct books on shaping feminine ideals and social norms. It examines three prominent conduct books - Rousseau's Emile or on Education, Fordyce's Sermons to Young Women, and Gregory's A Father's Legacy to His Daughters - that aim to reinforce patriarchal dominance and restrict women to subordinate roles. It also delves into Mary Wollstonecraft's feminist theories, contrasting them with the prevalent conduct literature and emphasizing the importance of women's education and intellectual capabilities.
• Pride and Prejudice as Anti-Conduct Book: This chapter analyzes Pride and Prejudice as a direct critique of conduct literature and its limitations on women's agency. It examines how Austen subverts the prevailing social norms and standards through her characters' actions and interactions. The chapter focuses on four key themes: lack of parental influence in moral education, the intimate sisterhood between Jane Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet, the dependency-seeking marriage between Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas, and the equal marriage between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Keywords

This study focuses on the feminist perspective in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, analyzing the impact of conduct books on shaping women's roles and contrasting them with Wollstonecraft's feminist theories. Key themes include women's agency, marriage, social norms, and the critique of patriarchy. The analysis examines specific character interactions and narrative elements to understand Austen's moderate feminist approach to challenging conventional expectations while still acknowledging the limitations of her time.