A Woman’s Role: or Silence is Golden?

Imagine a quaint little sun room. A small table sits by open French bay doors, curtains blowing in the warm morning breeze. A party that is fancily dressed – at least for today’s time – sits around the small table sipping tea and chatting happily. Well, the men are at least. The women sit silently, listening. It’s not because they have nothing to say. Oh, no – they could have a wealth to say; verily very smart opinions indeed! They are silent because it was what was expected of them. Women hundreds of years ago – and even at the turn of the 20^th century – were to be seen and not heard, which is something that many never have agreed with.

Jane Austen illustrates both ends of the spectrum concerning this matter remarkably well in her novel Pride and Prejudice. Austen’s novel could have helped the movement for woman by showing that they are not mute, deaf, and dumb. She shows her readers the “proper lady” and the “outspoken troublemaking hussy”. Most of the characters are the former and one – a woman I would have looked up to had she been real – the latter.

The “proper” ladies are more conniving than the single woman who was never scared to speak her mind. To the reader, they seem more childish, selfish, and narcissistic. They want only to marry into good fortune. Lizzy Bennet, the only one to truly speak her mind, wasn’t that worried about marriage. Of course she was taken with a man or two. But she was never so guy crazy that she would try to set others up to fail or make fun of them behind their backs.

She had a good heart and a wonderful mind and a pure soul. Her mouth would just move a little too much for the time period. This perhaps ostracized her from her fellow female kind. They shunned her as some sort of tramp because she was not afraid to say what she thought. She didn’t care about social bounds. She was not content to giggle in the corner when a bachelor would look at her. Perhaps she wanted more. Perhaps she wanted freedom.

Her “nemesis”, a man named Mr. Charles Darcy, would commonly bring out her forked tongue. Darcy was a very, very proud man – a little narcissistic perhaps. He is of good background, rich, and quite comely. He, much unlike women, was free to speak his mind. He was not worried about insulting anyone. He didn’t really care. He was blasé with most women he found, for they were all too much alike for his taste. They were just more pretty giggling faces. Or, in some cases, more plain giggling faces. The latter was the case for darling Lizzy. At least that’s what Austen would have the reader think.

Because Darcy insulted dear Lizzy, she made it her “mission” – albeit unintentional - to mirror him. Her wit would show itself quite well whenever the two were together. He sees her as unfit for a marriage possibility and refuses to dance with her at a ball where the two first met. But soon, because of sweet Lizzy’s wit and bravery, she monopolizes Darcy’s attention. This infuriates the other women who are after Darcy’s hand in marriage. But he ignores them all and, unbeknownst to him, is falling hard and fast for darling Lizzy. He is worried and feels threatened by this, but at the same time, is intrigued and fascinated by her.

  Is it really better to conform to what society says is right? Can any good come of it? Stop and think of darling Lizzy and Mr. Darcy. He shunned every other woman because she was so outspoken, and it enthralled him because it was so new and different. She captured a wealthy, respectable match. She should have been happy, but it was because she was a “new woman” that she didn’t seem satisfied. Atta girl!! Go Lizzy!!

 Women were expected to be raised as the perfect wife material. They were to be soft spoken, quiet most of the time, and giggle incessantly. They are to be pretty and quaint. They need to love their husbands without condition, and never ever question them. Men are always right. And that is the biggest load of crock I’ve ever heard. Thank you, Ms. Austen, for including a character that went against the grain of society and stirred things up. Thank you for including someone who wasn’t a mindless doll. It shows that women have a side to them that is intelligent and beautiful. It also shows that women can by mysterious by actually talking, and that they have a quick wit that can be funny or sarcastic. For women hundreds of years ago – and even at the turn of the 20^th century – were to be seen and not heard, which is something that many never have agreed with.