Critical Essay on the Theme of Gender Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical on the Theme of Gender - Essay Example Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice explores the theme of gender among other themes displayed through the storyline. The book is an expose of injustices that surrounded gender and had a basis on gender-based violence and conflicts in the XIX century society. The theme of gender is mainly related to that of women and marriage that is explicit in the novel. The demeaning of the female gender is a sure way that the theme comes out in the novel. Austen depicts the gender theme in the book through appreciated criticality and keenness in bringing out the sad states in the face of gender matters in the society. Charlotte Lucas is among the female characters in the novel. Her life is a complete depiction of the grim faces and opposite directions of marriages. She is a foil of other characters as Elizabeth.Mr. Benett has little regard for women in society. She has little appreciation for the role played by her daughters and views them with little consideration. Charlotte rarely made eff orts to get a husband whom she loves and appreciates. Her main source of interest in men emanates from the need and desire to exploit her partners financially. Her relationships with men include that with characters as Mr. Collins. Elizabeth remains doubtful of the happiness of Charlotte in life. The action by Charlotte in the novel reveals the theme of gender in marriages and women. Exploitation of men by women is evident in the novel; this forms a focus point in addressing gender as a theme in the novel. This shows the extent of little regard that one side of gender has for the other and the tendency to take advantage of the counterpart gender. Jane Bennet is a victim of betrayal by friends including Caroline Bingley. The two belong to the same sex. The instance of hurt of a friend of the same sex is a veritable tribulation involving gender violence. The essay depicts the manner in which people of similar gender offer little trust among themselves, in this case women. Caroline fai ls to trust humble, selfless Bennet. The trust and protection that Bennet offers to people, even of similar sex, despite Elizabeth’s claims over their faults, receives utmost disregard. A true picture of gender conflict comes out through such experiences, outlined in history. It is satirical from this point of view and Austen employs the satire to depict the extent to which women fail to play a leading role in eliminating such gender related conflicts in the society. Exploitation of women and the girl child in the society is evident in Austen’s novel. Instance as the entailment of the estate that belonged to the Benetts from the daughters is a clear demonstration of the society’s disregard for women and the girl child. The daughters remained vulnerable with little finances to support a living. This was a terrific injustice to the daughters. The situation dictated an undesirable lifestyle for the girls. Through her unveiling of such instances, Austen takes a stan d that renders women as equal to men in the society. In this view, women are intelligent and of high capability as men in the society. The inferior status of women in the society, according to Austen, is a form of injustice and, therefore, unprincipled. Elizabeth leads a happy life of contentment throughout the novel. She is bold and intelligent, and with lucid wittiness. She can embrace high abilities of perception. She