Prejudice in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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Prejudice in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

In the novels “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen and “To Kill a

Mockingbird” by Harper Lee it is evident that both novels are

dominated by prejudice. In both novels there are various themes but

both novels mainly centre on prejudice. In “Pride and Prejudice” the

prejudices is not that serious. It is mainly about first impressions

(the original title of the Book) yet in “To Kill a Mockingbird” the

prejudice is more serious and is shown in a more sinister way, the

theme of prejudice reaches a climax and end in shocking and drastic

results.

“Pride and Prejudice” was written in 1813. The period of the setting

of the novel is 1811-1812. The novel is set in England in various

places like London, Kent, Derbyshire and Hertfordshire (home of the

Bennet family).

Women in regency Britain had far less option than the women of today.

Most women did not receive a formal education, women were taught to be

useful but not independent, their aim was to become ‘accomplished’

which meant being proficient In the social graces such as singing,

music, drawing, needlework and literature, although the latter did not

have the same emphasis. There was constant pressure on women of those

times to marry well, to obtain financial security, not just for their

selves but also for their immediate family. The position of unmarried

women is clearly defined in “Pride and Prejudice” there is no instance

where a single woman travelled alone, or was without a chaperone apart

from when Elizabeth went to nurse Jane. Even then this incident was

looked down upon by Miss Bingley, however it won Elizabeth respect in

the eyes of Mr Darcy. When Lydia r...

... middle of paper ...

... forced

her to, but also because she received regular beatings from Bob which

psychologically left an impact on her and made her feel someone had to

pay and that person was Tom Robinson. So Bob Ewells prejudice was to

such an extent that he caused an innocent man to die, therefore along

with most of Maycomb County he has Tom Robinson’s blood on his

hand.

Both books contain a considerable amount of prejudice, however the

prejudice in “Pride and Prejudice” is quite irrelevant while in “To

Kill a Mockingbird” it is quite substantial.

Jane Austen has shown prejudice in a satirical manner while in to

Harper Lee has shown its evil form. “Pride and “Prejudice” is about

trivial themes like marriage, love and family life while in “To Kill a

mockingbird” it is about evil, racial prejudice and discrimination

which eventually grasps the life of a innocent man.

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