In
the late 1700s to early 1800s, when the novel takes place, society places a
great deal of emphasis on a woman’s reputation. A woman’s reputation in society
determines her potential suitors and therefore, her social rank and wealth. The
Bennet sisters being born members of the gentry and aristocracy means they are
not expected to have a career, so the only way they can ensure a financially
secure future is through marriage.
Society
expects women to act a certain way, have certain skill sets, and marry by a
certain age. Her reputation is dependent on how well she performs these tasks.
When Elizabeth walks three miles to Netherfield to attend to Jane, she shows up
with “dirty stockings” and feels that Mrs. Hurst and Miss. Bingley hold “her in
contempt for it’” (33). Walking so far in this time period would be unladylike
and a sign of a lower status. Later during her stay at Netherfield Miss.
Bingley and Mr. Darcy discuss what makes a woman “accomplished”. An
accomplished woman must
“‘have a thorough knowledge
of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the
word; and besides all this she must possess a certain something in her air and
manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the
word will be but half deserved’” (39).
To this
Elizabeth responds, “‘I rather wonder now at your knowing any’” (39). Mr. Darcy
and Miss. Bingley’s description of an “accomplished” woman illustrates the
impossible feat of being a woman in the gentry. There is always something more
to learn or perfect, and if one fails to succeed at accomplishing any of these
skills, then her reputation tarnishes. While a man’s reputation is mainly
dependent on his status and wealth, women must work to prove their worth in
society.
Another component of a woman’s
reputation is her family. A woman’s family reflects her character. When Darcy
proposes to Elizabeth, he discusses the factors that at first deterred him from
the match. The main reason being “His sense of her inferiority, of its being a
degradation, of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination”
(179). To marry a woman is to associate your family with hers, and if their
family has a bad reputation, then it affects yours as well. Elizabeth is aware
of this, and oftentimes feels ashamed of her family’s behavior. Elizabeth begs
her father to not let Lydia go to Brighton saying, “‘Our importance, our
respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the
assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia's character’” (216). When
Lydia runs away with Wickham, Mary reflects on the event as a “‘useful lesson:
that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves
her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less brittle than it is
beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behavior towards the
undeserving of the other sex’” (269). A woman's reputation is fragile and
possibly the most important deciding factor of her future.
Reputation is a very interesting concept that I hadn’t fully considered in regard to the Bennet sisters. In the setting of the novel, you are correct in stating the determinants of female reputations are based on marital status and stereotypical actions. However, there is a new standard in modern society for women to do all that in addition to being driven and hard-working. From the novel, I recall a quote that makes me think of your point about reputation. “Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” (Austen, pg. 106). There is a certain reputation that every woman in that time had simply because she was a woman. The entire gender was often discredited because of their supposed role in society, independent of whatever actions a woman might do to preserve her reputation. You made a good point about Darcy and Elizabeth, that was a relevant example that supports both your original comments on reputation as well as my own. These issues certainly have a negative impact on women. Not only did the example show when Elizabeth was ready to marry Darcy, but throughout the entire novel. This is definitely an intentional thematic addition by Austen in order to bring light to women’s issues in the novel.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of a woman's reputation and the role it has on her future was a very interesting take on a topic I have never thought about, but was very present within this novel. Austen portrays the common view of time period of the that a woman's worth was based on her marital status and wealth. From the first few chapters marriage is a central theme and surrounds a majority of the characters' minds especially the women. Darcy claims the most ideal woman, one that would be worthy of taking his hand in marriage, is "accomplished...must have a knowledge of music, art, and languages" (Austen 39). With the belief in mind, one with a reputation that high most certainly would be worthy of the Darcy fortune. Later in the novel Charlotte Lucas gets married, not for love but for status. She is "not a romantic" and "only [asks for] a comfortable home" (Austen 142). Love was present in marriages at the time but not common, it was an economic proposition facing women to be viewed as property instead of a companion. Women had to be on their best behavior and have the best reputation in order to essentially marry into the best life. Looking back on the novel I can see this theme in almost every chapter and will continue to think about this concept in other novels I read in this time period.
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