February 27, 2014 SSO

The
Womens

Role in th the 18
Century

February 27, 2014 SSO

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Abstract..Page 3 II. Introduction..page 3-4 III. Thesis Statementpage 4 IV. Analysation..page 5-14 V. Discussion....page 14 VI. Conclusion..page 15 VII. References.page 16

February 27, 2014 SSO

THE WOMENS ROLE IN THE 18TH CENTURY By Diane Espeleta

Espeleta.diane@gmail.com

I. ABSTRACT

Every literature that is written from an older time brings out characteristics of that specific period and it portrays the beliefs and the society of that time. As a material, a book written from that period can provide us with social information from the specific time. In connection with this, Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice novel, takes us back to the society of the eighteenth century. Austens novels are classic within English literature. The womens role has achieved great change that reflects nowadays, since the eighteenth century. The attempt of the study is to find out if womens role has changed in the selected novel by Jane Austen, by analyzing: the characteristics of the characters from the book, the society and the womens role and discuss and compare the results to present. The novel can provide us with a better picture /understanding of women during the society of the eighteenth century and its societys manipulation on womens thinking.

II. INTRODUCTION

The status and role of women has been a long discussed issue all over the world. In the eighteenth century, there has always been a cultural or traditional difference between women and men. It is a belief of the civilization that inherited since the eighteenth century, and it has persisted throughout the years within the society. During the eighteenth century womens role in England were unappreciated by the society and they have had really hard time. People were divided in three categories: the upper class, middle class and lower class. The ones that had the worst job of all were the lower class. The main role and profession of women was to remain at home, and be homemakers. Home making means 3

February 27, 2014 SSO from nurturing the children, doing the laundries, making clothes, to cleaning the house, maintaining the fire, taking care of the farm animals and even doctoring their families. The women from the middle-class and upper class get help from their servants. Women were uneducated under this period. The women, who got the chance to learn to read, write and play instruments are mostly from the upper and middle class, due to the expensiveness of schools. The women studied not for themselves, but to attract a future husband.

A lot of people connect the eighteenth century to romanticism, though there was no love in marriages at that time. Women in the eighteenth century were looked upon as property of their fathers and are considered automatically to marry a man, whom can help them financially. Therefore, women were very dependent of men. A woman could marry as soon as she reached the age of 13-14, and it was often and very common for society. If a woman reached the age of 25 and unmarried, she was considered an outcast and an embarrassment for the family and a laughing stock of the society. Once a woman gets married, she becomes a legal property of her husband. She is entitled to follow and please her husband. Her husband has the legal right to beat her up too. If she ran away from the marriage she was considered a thief, because of the clothes she was wearing from her husband. If husband kills his wife, he would be hung. If a woman kills her husband, they were to burn alive. In reflection to this, the book of Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice holds an analysis of how the society dealt with women at a very significant period. The novel gives us a deeper understanding of women in the eighteenth century, through and by following the character and love story of Elizabeth Bennet and her life with her family and her relationship to Fitzwilliam Darcy. The womens character in the novel give us a better understanding of their characteristics, by following them constantly with their reactions in a given situation.

III. THESIS STATEMENT

- Provide a summary of the significant historic features of the Industrial Revolution in England.

February 27, 2014 SSO - Then required an analysis of the novel "Pride and Prejudice" with special emphasis on personal characteristics of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and their relationship. - Discuss the female figure in the novel gives a realistic picture of women's position and their terms. IV. ANALYSATION

The main characters:

Elizabeth Bennet Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money. Elizabeth (p.185)

Elizabeth Bennet is the second to the eldest of the Bennet sisters and one of our round characters, as described by E.M. Foster. She is attractive enough, compared to Jane, the eldest and most beautiful of them all. She is a very upfront woman compared to her time. She is smart and witty with her comments. She is not afraid to get her point across, careless of the results or reactions of people. Elizabeth is a good example of a woman, who is unrealistic at that time, who marries for love and not for money. Her honesty, and sharp tongue and quick judgment of others, sometimes take her too far. The obstacle she needs to overcome is not only being judgmental. But there is also her hopeless mother, her two flirty-immature sisters, and her distant father. Including the snobbish females that are going to stand in her way, on her way to find romance in her life. She must also overcome her attitude of being judgmental, in order to pursue their marriage. In addition to that, she has the society and family problems that she needs to overcome as well. Elizabeth is a good contrast to the effects of the society to women. Although there are still some points in the story, where Austen cannot change the whole reality. But upon marriage and way of thinking about money, Elizabeth is different. She manages to stand strong on this character

Fitzwilliam Darcy

February 27, 2014 SSO All this she must possess, added Darcy, and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading. - Darcy (Page 51-52) Mr. Darcy is the son of a wealthy man, well-established master of Pemberley. He is the male counterpart of Elizabeth. We come to learn of Mr. Darcys characteristic through Elizabeths point of view of situations. The narrator does not really explain how he is or what he feels in most scenarios. But as reader we continue to learn that he could possibly be the partner for Elizabeth, although he is a proud man. A characteristic he has, because he has almost everything because of his wealth. He makes hasty and fast decisions, without really thinking it through. He is very conscious about his social status that is why he had a hard time pursuing Elizabeth. When he proposed to Elizabeth, and was rejected, his pride was hurt. But even though, his admiration for Elizabeth continues. Mr. Darcy cannot simply resist her charms and wit. He simply pursue her, by helping out Lydia, Elizabeths younger sister, and kept pursuing her against the odds, mainly: the society. The chronic scenes of Pride and Prejudice The introduction statement from chapter one of the book Pride and Prejudice, It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in a possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.(Page 1) It is already made a concrete issue of the book, about marriage, fortune and society expectation. The Bennet Family has five unmarried daughters, namely: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia and one big problem. The problem is, when Mr. Bennet dies they are to be thrown out of their home according to the English property law. They live in a village of Longbourn, where a young wealthy single man named; Charles Bingley moved. Mr.Bingley rented a manor in Netherfield Park and Mr. Bennet paid a social visit to him, because his wife pressured him to. Of course, they were invited to a ball, including his daughters. Mrs. Bennet is so excited to hear about the news, because she is so desperate to marry her daughters. In this part, as soon as Mr. Bingley enters the picture, the story of the novel begins to run. It shows how eager the Bennets mother is to show her daughters to Mr. Bingley, because he is a single man and wealthy. There are times at when the narrator on this chapter describes the traits and characteristic of Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet. It says that Mr. Bennet was odd a mixture of quick

February 27, 2014 SSO parts, sarcastic, humor and reserve, and caprice (page 5) while, Mrs. Bennet is a woman of mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper.(Page 5) The Bennets attends the ball that Mr. Bingley is holding. Mr. Bingley is automatically attracted as soon as he lays eyes on Jane. He spends great time dancing with Jane almost the whole evening. She is very happy about it but tries to hide her feelings, for Jane is a reserved woman. Mr. Bingley is with his best friend, named Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Mr. Darcy does not seem to enjoy the night. Even though, Mr. Bingley insisted on him dancing with Elizabeth, but he denies and said she was not that attractive. Elizabeth observes Mr. Darcy, and he has not dance with anyone in the room the entire evening. She begins to dislike him. The Bennet girls attended the ball for the chance of finding their prospective future husbands. It is a way of understanding the symbolism of the word Prejudice from the title itself, meaning an unfavorable opinion. The impression that plays a part on our characters, between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy: mutual dislike.

Afterwards, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are constantly meeting each other in different social events, where Mr. Darcy begins to feel attracted to Elizabeth charms and intelligence, which is very seldom at that time. Janes friendship with Mr. Bingley continues, and she is invited to visit the Bingley mansion. On her way to the mansion, Jane is caught in a massive rain and got sick. She was forced to stay longer at the Bingley mansion. Elizabeth learned the news about her sister Jane, and decided to attend to her sick sister at the Bingleys mansion. Elizabeth is worried about her. As she arrives, and stays with her sister, Miss Bingley sister of Charles Bingley notices, Darcys secret admiration to Elizabeth, whom she likes. It is obvious the jealousy of woman to another woman, because she easily notices Mr. Darcys behavior towards Elizabeth.

Jane turned well again, so they decided to go home. As they arrived home, they found Mr. Collins visiting their home. Mr. Collins is the one whos going to inherit their place, whenever Mr. Bennet dies. Mr. Collin thought the best idea is to marry one of the Bennet. He sat eyes on Elizabeth, though Elizabeth hates him and denies the request of marriage. On this part of the story, it shows how Elizabeth is towards marriage. She is unwilling to marry for the cause of money, even the loss of their home, when her father is gone. Mr. Collins is a good example of criticizing and knowing how the law works at that time, when it comes to inheritance and marriage.

February 27, 2014 SSO Meanwhile Lydia and Kitty are becoming friends with the soldiers in the militia officers stationed in a town nearby. They are trying to flirt and find them a prospective husband. This tells us how desperate even young ones at that time. One of the soldiers named Wickham, who is handsome as well, became friends with Elizabeth. Wickham and Mr. Darcy have a past. Wickham tells Elizabeth about their past about how Mr. Darcy took him out of inheritance from Darcys father. It affected Elizabeths impression of Mr. Darcy enormously and she almost hated him about it. Explains how women tend to believe after gossip, without concrete proof.

At the beginning of winter Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley went back to London, and this disappointed Jane. She thought she would marry Mr. Bingley and now she is left behind. Elizabeth can see on her that she is hurting. Not only that, the big news exploded about Charlotte Lucas, best friend to Elizabeth, engage-to-be-married to Mr. Collins. As Charlotte breaks the news to Elizabeth, and give reasons for her decision, she says: I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins character, connections, and situations in life. I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state. (Page 126) Elizabeth is in shock of the newly heard news about her best friend. She is in doubt of a good marriage when Mr. Collins offered two marriages in three days. Charlotte Lucas decision made proof of the economical dependence on men of women at this period, and the desperation of women desperation after her age. Charlotte is six years older than Elizabeth, which in that time 25 years old is already late for marriage, and leaves a woman with no future if she does not marry.

As spring comes, Elizabeth visits Charlotte as she promised when she got married. Charlotte now lives close to Mr. Collins patron, Lady Catherine de Borough, who is Darcys aunt. Lady Catherine is a rich wealthy woman in her modest years. Coincidentally Mr. Darcy made consecutive visits to his aunt, which made him and Elizabeth meet up even more. One day, Lady Catherine invited Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to her drawing room. Lady Catherine is curious about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeths conversation, so she asks what was it about. Mr. Darcy tells her, it is about music. Lady Catherine starts explaining how practice is necessary for perfection of playing instrument and criticizes Elizabeth lack of it. This part of the book points out the difference between the middle-class and upper class women. Lady Catherine is definitely from an upper class category,

February 27, 2014 SSO because of her knowing and non-consideration of the time and money for having to perfect on how to play an instrument. Regarding Elizabeth, who is from a middle-class category and who does not have enough time and she does not have enough money to pay for a tutor.

One day, Mr. Darcy made a shocking move of proposal of marriage to Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy expresses his affection love for Elizabeth. But she then refuses to accept his proposal. Elizabeth tells Mr. Darcy that she believes that he is an arrogant and unpleasant man, who took Mr. Bingley away from Jane. She blames him for the cause of Janes suffering and pain, and spilling the beans about Mr. Wickham misfortunes of the inheritance from his Darcys father. Mr. Darcy did not deny the accusation of him taking away Mr. Bingley from Jane, and he is disappointed to hear that Elizabeth chooses to believe Wickham, rather than him.

Afterwards, Mr. Darcy writes a letter to inform Elizabeth about why did he take Mr. Bingley away from her sister. He believes that what ever is going on between Jane and Mr. Bingley is not serious. As for Wickham, he discarded him from inheritance because of his dark intention of seducing and marrying the very young sister of Darcy, Georgiana Darcy. In this statement, it proves that not only women are after the money but also men like Wickham. This part made a huge turn for the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth begins to entertain another thought about Mr. Darcy, that she misjudged Wickham and Mr. Darcy.

As Elizabeth returns home, she did some re-thinking and her feelings towards Mr. Darcy changed and begins to be cold towards Wickham. The militia is about to leave town, these made Lydia and Kitty uneasy. Lydia asks permission from her Mr. Bennet to spend the whole summer with the old colonel in Brighton, where Wickham and army will be based. Lydia, as we know now by so far is a desperate young woman, who takes desperate measures. She wants to be close to the militia to catch a big fish, meaning to find a man to be her future husband.

Elizabeth travels North, just beside Pemberley, state of Mr. Darcy, with the Bennet relatives, the Gardiners. She only traveled to Pemberley, after confirming that Mr. Darcy is at the Pemberley State. On her way to North, she admires the view of nature, the buildings and landscapes. During their visit to Pemberley, Elizabeth hears the servant how generous, wonderful and kind master Mr. Darcy is. She looks around and admires the mansion where Mr. Darcy lives.

February 27, 2014 SSO Then she hears the sound of the piano, someone is playing it. She sneaks and finds a little girl playing it, and suddenly Mr. Darcy shows up. He sees her, she runs, and he runs after her. He caught her, and invites her to meet his younger sister, and then he entertains them. He invites Mr. Gardiner to fish the next day.

The appreciation for nature of Elizabeth shows realism of her character. The reason Mr. Darcy invited the Gardiners because its his idea of getting close to Elizabeth. He did not take the chance of asking her, due to the recent rejection of proposal and of his affected pride.

While Elizabeth is in Lambton, she received two letters from Jane. The letters brings some dreadful news that Lydia ran off with Wickham, and got married. First they thought they ran off to Scotland, but found out that they are staying at London. Mr. Darcy is very worried about Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is very worried about her younger sister. She knows Wickham very well by now. Wickham has no connection, no money and nothing that can tempt him. And that would set her sister in a really bad situation. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Gardiner are getting stressed about the situation, suggested that they would try and help their father to determine their location. The Bennets are worried because they did know, how much debt Wickham is. Elizabeth told them about Wickhams past with the family of Mr. Darcy. Apparently Mr. Gardiner helped him, just to get the family out of embarrassment, at least thats what they have thought. But Lydia tells them later on, that Darcy was on the wedding day. These made Elizabeth wonder and write a letter to Mrs. Gardiner asking for more detailed reason of him, being there. This kind of situation will put the familys reputation to embarrassment, if Lydia did not get married with Wickham. Luckily, they did and she is proud of her stubborn doing. Everyone in the family is quite against the marriage, aside from Mrs. Bennet. She felt like she achieved a triumph. Mrs. Bennet had always wanted that one of her daughters would be married as soon as they were sixteen. The reputation of being married sometimes builds a big ego for some women, like Lydia, where she says to Jane while standing at her mothers right hand: Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman. (Page 318) She obviously felt the majority over her elder sister, because she got married first.

10

February 27, 2014 SSO Elizabeth receives a letter from Mrs. Gardiner explaining why Mr. Darcy was at the wedding. Mrs. Gardiner tells Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy paid for the debts of Wickham. So Wickham and Lydia could get married, without the economical problems and without them feeling guilty of not telling the truth about Wickham.

After Wickham and Lydia depart to their new home, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy arrive in Netherfield Park once again. They passed by the Bennets and asked they could come to a dinner. Upon dinner, Mr. Bingley stares at Jane with full attention, though he still does not have the courage to propose. It happens again at one meal. The third time, he succeeds asking permission from Mr. Bennet to marry Jane. Then he finally proposed marriage to Jane. Jane is very happy, and shares her happiness to her sister, Elizabeth. With the engagement happening, Mr. Darcy is not standing in between Jane And Mr. Bingley anymore. Mr. Darcy accepts the fact that the Bennets are from low category, and did not stop his friend from proposing to Jane.

A week after Mr. Bingley and Jane become engaged, Lady Catherine de Borough pays a visit to the Bennets. Lady Catherine wants to speak with Elizabeth. She insisted on they should take a walk while they are talking. Lady Catherine, tells Elizabeth that she heard some rumors that her nephew, Mr. Darcy, is planning to propose a marriage her. Lady Catherine is so furious about it, and she insists that it should not happen. She believes Elizabeth and the Bennet are low class of people. She insisted as well, that Mr. Darcy is implied to be engaged to her own daughter. The snobbery of upper class woman like Lady Catherine proves once again that under this period, there was a big difference between categories of class. It is not only seen in the home making part. But as well, as how people look and treat other people. Lady Catherine does not appreciate the richness of the character of Elizabeth. Thus, Elizabeth cannot be tamed by this kind of treatment. Elizabeth is in big shock, and hides her feelings, and talk calmly with Lady Catherine. The latter tells her that she must to obey what is saying, that she should not marry or deny Mr. Darcys proposal, if ever. Because if ever Elizabeth will marry Mr. Darcy, she would destroy Mr. Darcys reputation to his friends and to the society. Elizabeth defends herself and her family towards Lady Catherine. She reason that she is a daughter of a good man, and so as Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth in condemned frustration reasons to Lady Catherine, she says:

11

February 27, 2014 SSO To act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me. (Page 359) This statement of Elizabeth determines her characteristic. She is unlike most of the women under this period. She lives after romance and love. The confrontation of both was a criticism to snobbery to people at that time, as mentioned before. Elizabeth plays the contrast to difference of the society under the eighteenth century. A typical woman under this period, would just bow to a Lady, and obey her commands, but not Elizabeth. After Lady Catherines visit, Mr. Darcy comes to stay with Mr. Bingley at Netherfield Park. The two friends visit the Bennet and ask them to go for a walk. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth walk behind the others. As soon as they were alone, Elizabeth give thanks him for helping Lydia at the wedding, him paying Wickhams debts. Mr. Darcy replies that he did not do it for the sake of her sister, it is because he still loves her and his feelings did not change. Elizabeth tells him her feeling has changed and she now ready to marry him. The unification of the two, and the fantasy about love is not part of the realistic world under the eighteenth century. Austen uses writing to live her imagination and her fantasies through the book. That night, Elizabeth tells her sister Jane about the engagement. But Jane had hard time believing her, though at the end she did. Like Jane, Elizabeth needs to convince her father about her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. She explains him how their relationship developed and she told him about Mr. Darcy covering for the debts of Wickham, at the wedding of the two.

After the wedding, MR. Bingley buys a place near Pemberley so the sisters can visit one another time to time. Kitty is kept away from Lydia, because she is a bad influence. Kitty got mature slowly, as she spends more time with her elder sisters. This is a good way of showing a good example of how is an immature woman, can be influenced by mature women by just spending time with them. Especially in a period where there is only a few opportunities for them from the low category of society.

Lydia and Wickham did not change. They always ask for money from Mr. Darcy and visit Mr. Bingley, whom at the end gets tired of them. An ironic partnership of immaturity and money obsessed people. Elizabeth got close with Georgiana Darcy. Apparently, Lady Catherine accepts the marriage as well. She visits them once and a while at Pemberley.

12

February 27, 2014 SSO

The Relationship of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy

We know now how it all ends, that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy got married. To think of all the struggles and differences they had from the start to the end. Elizabeth wrong judgements about Mr. Darcy, that she thought he was a snobbish and a very proud man. On the other hand, he is a real snob. Mr. Darcy did not like Elizabeth at first meeting, all because she is not a part of the upper class. A cultural belief of the society, that the upper class people are better than the lower ones. Although Elizabeth is right, she could not resist him and he cannot either. Mr. Darcy cannot resist Elizabeths charms and wit. Elizabeth had a huge dislike for him, especially when Wickham told her about Mr. Darcy taking away his inheritance. As if she almost disgusted Mr. Darcy. Then comes Mr. Collins, who is desperate to marry either Jane or Elizabeth. He ended up proposing to Elizabeth because Jane is waiting for Mr. Bingley to propose. The proposal did not go well, and Elizabeth rejected him. Mr. Collins is one symbol of how law works in the eighteenth century, that law and marriage are connected.

Elizabeth faced two females of upper class, as obstacles towards Mr. Darcy, Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine de Borough. Miss Bingley has a long crush for Mr. Darcy, she became jealous of Elizabeth. She witnessed how Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth, and it confirms how he feels about her. She tried being on their way, and tried proving to Mr. Darcy that she is way better than Elizabeth. How and why? By showing to Mr. Darcy that she is from the upper class, and she is way better. But it did not help. Mr. Darcys attention and eyes are only focused on Elizabeth.

Enters the second female who will stand in their way to marriage, Lady Catherine de Borough. She is a wealthy woman, meaning she is from the upper class as well. Lady Catherine is really against for both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy to get married. Instead she wants her daughter to be married to him. Lady Catherine really thinks they are way better than the Bennets. She even went to their house and spoke with Elizabeth to stop her from marrying Mr. Darcy. She did not succeeded, because the very next day Mr. Darcy proposed to her and Elizabeth accepted it.

13

February 27, 2014 SSO Mr. Darcy had hard time accepting that the Bennets are from the lower category. But he cannot resist Elizabeth, so he made ways. He even helped Lydia younger sister to Elizabeth when she was to marry Wickham. Wickham is in debt, which will make Lydia suffer when they are married. But because of Mr. Darcys feelings towards Elizabeth, he paid them all. Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth twice. The first one he was rejected. A man like Mr. Darcy has a big pride. For someone as snob as him and from an upper class society, a wealthy man like him, to be rejected from what he considers from the lower class, must hurt his pride a lot. But it did not stop him from pursuing Elizabeth. He simply made his ways to her heart.

The difference of the society brings to the main characters are the main themes for their relationship. The issues that the eighteenth century has are society, feminism and prejudice, those are just good examples. Their relationship is a good way of exhibiting the conquered society expectation to ones partnership. Although women from the middle class and lower class intends and tries to attract them from the upper class. Marriage is a financial dependence for women. The reason women are eager to marry at such an early age. The fathers to daughters treat them as their property as well, when it comes to marriage. They simply make a financial deal with the future husband. The reason a daughter must ask permission to marry first, and then if the daughter gets a yes, then they may get married.

V. DISCUSSION The women under this period are considered weak. The womens main role under the eighteenth century were homemakers, portrayed as a fathers property to be sold to marriage and uneducated. The women from this period were considered less of intelligence and capacity. The society is even divided into three categories the upper, the middle and lower class. If one is from the lower class, then one should not even think to consider even worthy of a glimpse from a wealthy man because they are not interested to someone who comes from a lower category. In comparison to the women of the twentieth century or of the present time, women are very different. Women of the present time are true independent women. An independent woman has the courage to go after what they want and what or whom they love. The freedom to decide what, which or who would make her happy. The freedom of an independent woman to not be owned or be a property of someone is already an enormously big change from the eighteenth

14

February 27, 2014 SSO century. Elizabeth may not be completely free from the manipulative society, but her characteristics as Austen describes her, is one ideal thinking to empower the change that has to be done. The change to believe one has all the right and free from the expectation of society. For what a woman really is is a human being, like a male gender.

VI. CONCLUSION This paper has dealt with the analysis of the novel book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, with the constant focus and analysation on the main characters and their characteristics and their relationship to each other. It discusses as well the impression and the condition of women at that time. The book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is like a time machine, which takes us back to the eighteenth century. It gives us a clearer picture and understanding on how womens role under this age. The influence and effect the society had for women under this period are tremendous. Especially, being married at such an early age and expected to be married before a certain age. The society believed that women are not deserving of better education. The women should be treated equally with men, and not to be considered as the weaker sex. It is something should be learned, reminisce --- if forgotten and must be passed to the next generations and should not be denied. Women deserve undivided appreciation and unbiased treatment. Women should have the right to decide for themselves and have the equal rights as everyone else. After all, women are the birth givers of the next generations, who make the society.

15

February 27, 2014 SSO

VII. REFERENCES Pride and Prejudice novel book, 1813

Austen, Jane

Erwin, Lynette

The 18th century: Women, May 2, 2010

http://sofaithfulaheart.blogspot.dk/2010/05/18th-century-women.html Used: February 16, 2014

Leconte, Ariel

Whats an Independent Woman in 2013? July 2, 2013

http://www.sheckys.com/2013/07/02/whats-an-independent-woman-in-2013/ Used: February 27, 2014

Womens Press

Womens life in the 18th century, Colonial times, April 30, 2012

http://www.womenspress-slo.org/?p=6446 Used: February 14, 2014

16