In the book Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen decided to make Elizabeth Bennet the central character. Elizabeth is the second eldest of the Bennet sisters and from the very beginning of the book; we can sense that the whole plot in the story is based around her. Therefore, we can suggest that there are many reasons to think that Elizabeth is the heroine in Pride and Prejudice. However, I believe that before arguing on this idea, we must define the concept of heroine. When we talk about the heroine of a story, we usually expect a woman who is brave, courageous, trustworthy and has many other positive qualities, depending on what she does. This makes the reader like the heroine more than any other character in the story. However, the question is if Elizabeth fits into this general frame for heroines.
One of the main reasons why we might think Elizabeth is a heroine, is that she is very caring, especially for her family and those who she is fond of. A clear example of this is when Elizabeth walks all the way to Netherfield when her sister Jane gets sick. This is shown in page 32, chapter 7: “Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her (Jane), though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horse-woman, walking was her only alternative.” The fact that she is caring makes Elizabeth a good heroine because there is a generalisation, where we think that heroes and heroines would help other people. However, Elizabeth doesn’t show this side of her in a usual way, as she doesn’t go around saving other people’s lives. Instead, she subtly lends a hand when people can make a good use of her aid. The fact that Elizabeth does it this way shows how actually she is a good heroine because her actions aren’t purposely do...
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...ple have and is generally spotted in heroes and heroines, like her.
Overall, I think that we can say that Elizabeth Bennet is an attractive heroine within the book. Jane Austen succeeds to make Elizabeth a heroine because she gives her a witty, caring and confident personality, but what I believe is the most effective way in which an image of a heroine has been created for Elizabeth is by allowing her to make mistakes and showing how she later solves them. This gives Elizabeth the opportunity to show how she is a normal human being (and like every human makes mistakes) and a heroine at the same time. Therefore, we can suggest that Jane Austen wanted to create a different type of heroine who wasn’t stereotypical and would stand out between all the other ones, even though there are some aspects where she could improve, such as avoiding becoming prejudiced too fast.
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
Throughout history, heroes/heroines have been stereotyped to look, behave and have certain backgrounds. Typically a hero is described as somebody who is strong in appearance, and usually an overachiever. However, in the novel, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, Catherine Morland is depicted as a weak and unintelligent person that turns out to be a heroine. In order to make these descriptions, Jane Austen uses literary elements such as tone, imagery and the technique of describing others in order to describe the main character.
(Introduction) Many people all around the world face many difficulties and misfortunes throughout their lives. But the people that overcome adversities portray heroic characteristics within themselves. Depending on the amount and type of adversity leads to more heroic actions and behaviors of the heroine throughout each of the stories. When learning about adversities and overcoming them to become a heroic character, we learned about two important ones throughout the semester. Although the situations between the characters are very different, and they both show different heroic characteristics, they both prove themselves to be heroines. The first character we learned about was a twenty- seven year old girl named Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth Bennet was a girl born into a not so wealthy
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 ...
With all of her traits and characteristics, she is one who teaches great things to many readers. Elizabeth is just a normal lady with flaws like every other character. She has her own way of doing things and her own way of living life. Even though she tried to block fate out of her life, she still found a way to come back in, thus giving Elizabeth her happily ever after with her true love.
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.
The physical appearance of Elizabeth Bennet is quite often referred to as pretty by many people. The first mentioning of her beauty is by Mr. Bingley , but she is also referred to as pretty by Sir William Lucas , Lady Catherine , and Colonel Fitzwilliam . Perhaps the most important person of all who comments on her beauty is Mr. Darcy. Although at first he only viewed Elizabeth as tolerable , his opinion of her later changed and grew. Mr. Darcy begins to admire her fine eyes, but he also begins to view her as pretty. This can be observed when he states ‘a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman’ . He even goes on to say that he considers her ‘one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance. ’
Which is similar to the working woman character trope, which is seen in the adaptation Lizzie Bennet Diaries, however the Fanny Prices and Bridgets Jones’ of the world however are viewed as weak with their opinions and are even seen as weak physically. It is interesting how Helen Fielding chose to have Bridget Jones to have less wit than her parallel character of Lizzie and instead makes her very similar to Fanny Price’s weaker moments, with only moments of Lizzie’s wit. However Fanny Price does show strength when proposed to by Henry Crawford, while Lizzie Bennet seems to soften to idea of marrying a rich, decent man even if it did not start as a true love relationship. All of these characters are underdogs in the eyes of their societies. All of these female leads share one very important common traits that must be the reason these characters have remained relatable through time - they are all underdogs. They are all not the most desirable female character in their novels. It is as if Austen doesn’t want us to connect or relate to the superior females in their society’s standards. She wants us to be the underdog who finds love. For example Lizzie Bennet is loved by her father for her wit and her charm, her mother however her mom describes her “Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane nor half so good humoured as Lydia,” (Pride and Prejudice
Throughout Jane Austen’s, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett faces many challenges to realize that she was in the wrong and her prejudice against Mr. Darcy was misguided. Austen emphasizes the importance of wisdom through Elizabeth who faces the challenge of overcoming her prejudiced judgement to reach maturity and recognize the man she loves.
Elizabeth Bennet has been characterized in opposition to the views of women and she lives a life full of independence, without relying on men to make decisions and provide financial stability. On the other hand, Jane and the other sisters represented the typical views of women, making them very dependent on men, with little power. The differing views of women displayed in the novel have changed throughout the years and eventually have brought society to the current views of women, which are much more equal to men than in the
...ews of these ideologies. While Elizabeth does accept many of the norms of the period she also challenges the purpose for marriage and has an outspoken mind. Her confident personality doesn’t allow the fact that she has less wealth than many others and is constantly being scorned at to interfere with her happiness. She doesn’t permit the social expectations of her times to hinder her strong beliefs and fate in life. Pride and Prejudice is so vastly different to most other novels during the early 19th century that Jane Austen must have held some very alternative views. The heroine Elizabeth challenges the most social expectations of that time and she ends up the happiest of all the characters. This theme must have opened Romantic readers minds, perhaps to the way society should be and this I believe is why this novel is one of the great classics of English literature.
During the 1800s, society believed there to be a defined difference in character among men and women. Women were viewed simply as passive wives and mothers, while men were viewed as individuals with many different roles and opportunities. For women, education was not expected past a certain point, and those who pushed the limits were looked down on for their ambition. Marriage was an absolute necessity, and a career that surpassed any duties as housewife was practically unheard of. Jane Austen, a female author of the time, lived and wrote within this particular period. Many of her novels centered around women, such as Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice, who were able to live independent lives while bravely defying the rules of society. The roles expected of women in the nineteenth century can be portrayed clearly by Jane Austen's female characters of Pride and Prejudice.
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...
The main protagonist of the story, Elizabeth Bennet (nicknamed both Lizzy and Eliza), is the second daughter in the Bennet family. Second only to her elder sister in beauty, Elizabeth’s figure is said to be “light and pleasing,” with “dark eyes,” and “intelligent…expression” (24). At 20 years old, she is still creating her place in society. Known for her wit and playful nature, “Elizabeth is the soul of Pride and Prejudice, [she] reveals in her own person the very title qualities that she spots so easily” (“Pride and Prejudice”) in others. Her insightfulness often leads her to jump to conclusions and think herself above social demand. These tendencies lead her to be prejudice towards others; this is an essential characteristic of her role
The significance of having this balance is portrayed through the inability of the other couples in the story to reach an equal amount of happiness as Elizabeth and Darcy because of their pursuit of either reason or passion. Austen's view of true love is clearly evident in the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. Elizabeth Bennet is an unfailingly attractive character, but what everybody notices about her is her spirited wit and good sense of humor. She has a keen, critical mind when expressing her opinions and is unwilling to believe in the best of everyone. It is this intelligence that brings Mr. Darcy's admiration of her and her sense that she can rely on both mind and heart.