Sociology

Sociological Perspective of Pride and Prejudice
Joe Wright’s film, Pride and Prejudice (2005), demonstrates the struggle of women to be treated equal during the nineteenth century. From a feminist theoretical perspective, society was ruled by patriarchy, and women had few opportunities to support themselves. The film demonstrates how the only way for a woman to be financially stable was by marrying into wealth and status. The protagonist of the film, Elizabeth Bennett, rebels against the idea of settling into marriage for wealth or social position. However, she marries Mr. Darcy, who owns a large estate and is a prestige individual in society. The marriage between the two main characters is solely based on love. Nevertheless, the rest of the marriages that occur in the film are based on the compromise of convenience. Wright’s film, Pride and Prejudice, exemplifies social stratification and gender inequality to demonstrate the repression women went through during the nineteenth century.
Social constraints had a great influence in the role of women during this time period. During this era, social class was a prominent factor in society, which caused social stratification. The class in which an individual was a part of dictated their social role in society, as well as induced the spousal choice group. Elizabeth’s family was considered to be part of the middle class; therefore, it was important for the women in the family to marry within their social class or the upper class. If a woman married a man of a lower class, their reputation and their family’s would be ruined. At the beginning of the film, Mr. Darcy demonstrates how he thinks that Elizabeth is not worthy of him by denying dancing with her. Her middle class status and soci...

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...man’s financial stability before getting married. However, women have more rights today than they did before. Women now have a choice of whether to get married or live independently. Research has shown that there are more women pursing a higher education than men. Women today have more opportunities of prospering and have power over their future.
Through Wright’s film, Pride and Prejudice, the audience can experience the gender inequalities and social stratification that affected the women of the nineteenth century. Mr. Darcy overcomes his issues with the difference of social class to fall in love with a woman who stands up to him and is equal to him in knowledge. Elizabeth finds love without jeopardizing her beliefs of the true meaning of marriage. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s love overcomes the gender inequalities and social stratification obstacles of their time.