Megan Kuhle
11/30/06
English p. 2
Pride and Prejudice re-write
Among the countless similarities and differences between the 19th and 21st centuries, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice strongly focuses on three issues: wealth, society’s treatment of women, and marriage. Around the time frame of Pride and Prejudice, money made everything possible. A wealthy man gained instant popularity, respect and had virtually any choice of a wife. Wealth also brought strict responsibilities, expected behavior, and social classes. Whether or not people chose to use their high position for the better varied.
In the novel Lady Catherine is a perfect example of a snobbish, prideful high-class woman who looks down on everyone but her own family, especially Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, however, contradicts his stereotype and is a more humble, human character. Within the past two centuries, values and respect have changed among people of all classes.
In the 21st century, with celebrities such as Paris Hilton running about, it is evident that money does not instantly bring respect anymore. People today are generally less dense and look for more than just money in a respectable human; morals, contributions to society, and also behavior, to name a few. Pride among the rich is also becoming less popular, especially with the growing number of benefactions to charities and organizations. Even though there are still some negative aspects of some rich people, for the most part they have become more generous and relatable.
The most disturbing topic of this novel is the 19th century society’s treatment of women. The women were not educated, and therefore could not easily acquire jobs as the men could. In way of social behavior, a woman was expected to always be extra polite and modest.
Today, feminist rights activists probably cringe whenever they think of the countless limitations of the 19th century woman. Two hundred years has brought plenty of progressive reform and acceptance of the modern day, socially active woman. Women now have equal opportunities as men do in way of education, voting, employment, and everything else.
Women like Elizabeth are what made these affairs become women’s rights by law. She is open, reasonable, and more relatable than the other women in this novel. “ ‘Yes, you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that.’ “ (p. 332) Elizabeth is aware of her impact in her treatment of others, and she is not afraid to admit to saying things, no matter how controversial. Without independent and reasonable women like Elizabeth, our society might not have been how it is today, where everyone is treated equally.
The most prominent difference between these two centuries comes in the aspect of marriage. Because middle class women did not have money-earning jobs, their sole purpose was to marry into wealth, or at least into security. The enormous pressure from a girl’s family and society was probably enough to make her go insane. Elizabeth and her sister Jane seem to be the only women in the novel who want to marry for love. When Elizabeth’s best friend Charlotte marries the annoying Mr. Collins, Elizabeth is speechless, and does not understand why she is alone in that. “… the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an old maid, Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable… but still, he would be her husband.” (p. 112) Charlotte explains to Elizabeth that she is not a romantic, but rather just wants a secure living situation, and not to die an old maid.
Another disturbing marriage comes when the Bennet sisters receive a letter from their sister Lydia, informing them that she is engaged to Mr. Wickham. After knowing each other for no more than half a year, they had eloped. This affected and disturbed Elizabeth greatly, but everyone else seemed to be happy for them. “Their sister’s wedding day arrived, and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her probably more than she felt for herself… Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet.” (p. 283)
After witnessing both of these ridiculous marriages, it is no question why Elizabeth was determined to marry someone she loved and who loved her back. In that sense she is very much like the modern-day woman image. With so many feminist advertisements and commercials, women today are trained to believe that they deserve only the best, someone who will treat them right and love them. Most women today, however, do not get that fairytale image, and there is still plenty of need for security, pressure from family and society, and, of course the everlasting fear of dying an old maid, just like Charlotte had. In way of progress, our society is a lot less marriage-obsessed than the 19th century, and many people wait till they find someone they truly love. On the issues of security and pressure, however, our society has not necessarily regressed, but rather stayed about the same.
Overall, the 21st century has brought numerous positive changes and is generally a more pleasant period to live in, especially for women. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice does an outstanding job at portraying the 19th century, so that we can see the similarities and differences, and be thankful for them.