Jane Austen s Criticism And Judgment Of Socially...

By developing unconventional female characters that defied social customs, Jane Austen utilized her literary pieces as a framework to critique misogynist beliefs formed by society. Living in a patriarchal society dominated by men and harsh gender roles in England, Jane Austen sought to transform cultural values. She used the ideology of marriage and her heroines’ refusal of courtship to effectively and strategically chastise sexist views on gender and marriage. Her development of defiant characters showcases her strong opposition towards the restricting beliefs placed upon women. Although the majority of her female protagonists challenged social norms, they still chose their happiness and wellbeing above all — even if it conformed to society’s demanding expectations of them. In order to fully comprehend Jane Austen’s criticism and judgment of socially constructed beliefs of women, it is important to be familiar with the context of gender roles during Jane Austen’s era of publication. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, England endured radical economic change. Transitioning from an agrarian-based economy to a society relying on industrialization directly affected the roles of women in England. Before this extreme change in economic focus, women working in an agricultural society experienced some degree of equality as their male counterparts and husbands. Subsequent to this economic development, men started receiving more opportunities to pursue their