In "An Old-Fashioned Story" written by Laurie Corwin, Corwin describes Elizabeth Leopold as "rebellious, spunky, and passionate" (63). In her story these three characteristics are not only shown throughout Elizabeth's childhood but throughout her adulthood as well.
As a child her rebellious nature is revealed through her secretiveness. Because Elizabeth's parents, especially her mother, Mrs. Leopold, were so controlling, she concealed her thoughts, feelings, and most of her outside life from her parents. She does not bother to tell Mrs. Leopold how she feels about Nelson or how upset she is with her parents for pushing her on him. As an adult, her rebellious nature comes alive at the Rodker's annual Christmas Party. Mrs. Leopold asks Elizabeth why she has not spoken to Harriet. Elizabeth tells her mother that "Harriet can go to hell" (69). Elizabeth rebels against her parents not just because they are so controlling, but also because her rebellious nature allows her to relieve the pressure that her parents have placed on her.
As a child Elizabeth's spunkiness is implied by Mrs. Leopold when she questions her about where she has been when she notices that Elizabeth has been coming home late from school. As the questioning continues, Mrs. Leopold obviously thinks that there is more to what is being said. She finally asks Elizabeth what she is after. In her mother's mind it is not the boys she is worried about, "It is Elizabeth herself" (65). As an adult, Elizabeth shows her spunkiness at the Rodker's annual Christmas party when she plans to seduce Nelson's brother, James (68-69). As a child and an adult, Elizabeth's spunkiness allows her to keep in touch with herself while she aggravates her mother at the same time.
Elizabeth's passionate side is shown throughout her childhood as well as her adulthood. As a child, she is very passionate about horses. Because she loves riding them so much, she is willing to muck out the stalls at the stable once a week in exchange for a free riding lesson, though this is unknown to her mother (65). As a child she also has a great passion for reading which also continues on to her adulthood. During her adolescent years, if she wanted to read with out being disturbed she would read under the covers with a flashlight (64). When she got older and went to college, her newfound freedom allowed her to "stay up late and read anything she liked" instead of partying or becoming promiscuous like some of the other college girls (65).
That violent, crazy act was the last of childhood.” This passage clearly shows how Elizabeth is growing up from her
Basically there is not an evil bone in her body. Elizabeth lied about John’s adultery to protect him, saying he’s a “goodly man” (113). Yes, that does not sound like that big of a deal, but for Elizabeth this is a monumental thing. She's going against everything she believes in, even her own morals of being a good christian morals and following the ten commandments to protect John. This is shows her selflessness on a higher level because she such a strong will women. Another example of her selflessness is when she asks John to “forgive” (137) her for being “cold wife” (137). Elizabeth does this because she begins to believe that she is the reason John committed adultery. Elizabeth said “ it were a cold house I kept” (137), which goes to show she believed she was the reactant which led to the product of Johns mistake. Selflessness is shown because first, she is taking on the responsibility so John does not worry and blame himself. In the movie she saved his life for a little longer because she gave him some self worth and made him feel like a better person. If she would not have told John it was her fault he would of died with the burden of ruining the family, but instead she took the responsibility. Secondly she comes to think that because she was self conscious and did not lover herself she was “cold” (137) or did not let her husband love her. This made her believe that she made him feel like there was little compassion between him and her which led John to give “a promise that a stallion gives a mare” (62) to Abigail. Elizabeth is all around a selfless human being. Always trying to make it better for the other person and take the responsibility on her self which is opposite of
Elizabeth from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is bright, direct, and unapologetic. Throughout the novel she proves to have her aspirations and goals clear and will not settle for any less. She refuses proposals from men in high places who would more than likely rise her hierarchal status, simply because the men would not make her happy. Austen makes it very clear that Elizabeth sets herself apart. When Darcy and Bingley are discussing what makes a woman accomplished, Elizabeth is quick to refute this claim because she, “never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance.”(Austen) Lizzy is typical in that she is a self-acclaimed woman who is “not like other women” but like all humans, she is susceptible to the effects
Elizabeth's strength of character is emphasized by its contrast with the weak, naive acceptance of Jane's, the instability and excess of Mrs. Bennet's and the blind, weak-willed following of Kitty's. Her strength is also shown in her rejections of the proposals of Mr. Collins and Darcy. Unlike her mother, she does not base her choice of lovers on the financial security they will give her, and has the strength to reject them. This is especially evident in her rejection of Darcy's initial proposal, when she displays a passionate strength in her anger due to her belief that he has willfully prevented Jane and Bingley's marriage and wronged Wickham by refusing to grant him the property that the old Mr. Darcy bequeathed him. In both cases, the suitor is self-assured that his suit will be accepted, and as a result Elizabeth's rejections are amplified by the size of the blows that their egos receive. In Rosings, she does not let Lady Catherine tyrannize her as "the mere satellites of money and rank, she thought she could witness without trepidation." The Lucases and Collinses are submissive to Lady Catherine, with Maria being "frightened almost out of her senses", and it is probable that society as a whole behaves likewise, as Elizabeth suspects she is "the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with such dignified impertinence". She is again presented as a rebel against ideas of class when Lady Catherine pays a visit to her to ensure that ...
Elizabeth studied at Johnstown Academy until she was 16, she learned Latin, Greek, Math, Religion, Science, and French. She was in many co-ed classes where she could compete with the boys. She spent a lot of time with her father, he would give her access to his law library, and even let her debate with the law clerks. Elizabeth came to understand that married women had very little rights, they couldn't own property, have a say in their income, employment, or in the custody of their own children. She went on to get the best education a woman could get at the time at Emma Willard’s Troy Female Seminary.
Elizabeth does not listen. She does not realize it fully until he asks to marry her and
In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen portrays Elizabeth Bennet as "strong and intelligent, yet bewitching in a completely feminine way". Elizabeth's possession of these attributes: strength of character and moral integrity, great intelligence, and an attractive personality, make her an admirable person. Yet Elizabeth has faults, which makes her more human. Austen's portrayal of Elizabeth is realistic and masterful, often juxtaposing her with characters lacking her attributes to heighten our appreciation of her.
After everyone has left for Rosings, Elizabeth is still fuming from the news that Darcy was the cause of Jane and Bingley's break up. Elizabeth is then startled by the arrival of Darcy. After a few minutes of silence, Darcy shocks Elizabeth with a sudden declaration of love for her and a proposal of marriage. In the beginning Elizabeth is flattered in spite of her deeply rooted prejudice against Darcy. Elizabeth's feelings soon turn to rage as Darcy catalogs all the reasons why he did not pursue his feelings earlier. These reasons include her inferior social class and her family obstacles.
This was because Elizabeth was a very caring person and did not like the things
Darcy, the illusion that Mr. Wickham had built surrounding himself was now shattered: “How different did everything appear in which he was concerned.” Elizabeth now realizes her mistakes, which her prejudice was built and hopefully will never fall for such deceit again. Mr. Darcy is not the only one who is haughty, Elizabeth’s pride takes a massive blow after reading the letter, “she grew absolutely ashamed.” Realizing her mistakes will make Elizabeth grow as a person as she realizes how despicable she was, and has learned from her mistakes. Elizabeth had always thought she had the perfect judgement, but in fact she was horribly blind: “Till this moment I never knew myself.” Elizabeth now sees that she has flaws and it got in the way of her judgement rendering it blind. It is in maturity that people see their flaws; now Elizabeth has to make sure the same mistakes does not happen again. It was only after her prejudice of Mr. Darcy was finally gone that Elizabeth realized her true feelings towards him: “She explained what it’s [the letter] effect on her had been, and how gradually all her former prejudice has been removed.” After reading the letter, Elizabeth was able to realize her flaws as a character and grow into maturity and because of that she was able to see her true feelings about Mr.
Throughout the novel, the reader follows Elizabeth through her struggle to maintain her personal identity, despite what her mother, sisters, and other women in society think of her. Elizabeth enjoys physical activities, such as walking , which is uncommon for women in the society in which she lives. “She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.” (Austen, 24). The women often look upon Elizabeth negatively due to her behaviour and personality, especially for her outspokenness, which was especially uncommon and unacceptable upon women. “‘Lizzy’, cried...
Elizabeth is strong willed and knows what she wants. “A stile-jumper by conviction as well as instinct, she not only flouts convention, she holds it up for deliberate mock...
Cinderella’s mother passed away and her father remarried a woman who had two daughters from a previous marriage. A few weeks passed and a prince is holding a three day festival and all the beautiful young girls in the town were invited. Cinderella wanted to go but her evil stepmother gave her two impossible tasks to complete before she could attend the festival. Cinderella completes the two tasks with the help of her bird friends and her mother’s grave. Cinderella goes to the festival and she dances with the prince all three days. Finally, the prince has fallen in love with her and eventually they get married. Fairytales and Disney productions threaten gender politics and women’s role by portraying women in certain areas like domestic behaviors
Her security had also become one of her major problems, since her mother was executed by order of her father and their marriage annulled before her third birthday, so she had become an illegitimate child. Elizabeth had been arrested at the age of 21 and ch...
Elizabeth was her father’s favorite child. Being twenty years old she possesses brains, beauty, confidence, and independence. A lot like her father, Elizabeth knew that society was all about money and rank. By being prejudice against society, she attacks Mr. Darcy's pride (Moore). Her pride comes from discriminating against others by believing she knows everything.