1 Shahzeb

2 Ibrahim
3 Saad ullah
4 Saqlain
5 Saad shah
6 Aftab
7 Zain

Assignment no # 2
Group no # 3
Novel 18th and 19th century
Q#Society and class play a significant role in Pride and Prejudice. Discuss how the novel portrays
social hierarchy and the expectations placed on individuals based on their social status. Examine the
impact of these societal norms on the characters and the choices they make.
Answer;
Class is the target of much of the novel's criticism of society in general. Austen makes it
clear that people like Lady Catherine, who are overly invested in their social position, are
guilty of mistreating other people. Other characters, like the suck-up Mr. Collins and the
scheming Caroline, are depicted as thoroughly empty, their opinions and motivations
completely defined by the dictates of the class system. To contrast them, Austen offers more
positive examples in Bingley and the Gardiners. Bingley is someone from the upper class
who wears his position lightly and gallantly. The Gardiners represent the honest, generous,
and industrious middle class and are examples of how to be wealthy without being
pretentious.

Austen does seem to respect the class system in a few ways, especially when it operates
not as a dividing power in society, but as a force for virtue and decency. Darcy is the primary
example of Austen's ideal high-class gentleman. Though originally he seems to be an
arrogant and selfish snob, as the novel progresses it becomes clear that he is capable of
change. Eventually, thanks to Elizabeth's influence and criticism, he combines his natural
generosity with the integrity that he considers a crucial attribute of all upper-class people. He
befriends the Gardiners and plays a key role in helping the ungrateful Lydia out of her crisis.
The marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth shows that class restrictions, while rigid, do not
determine one's character, and that love can overcome all obstacles, including class.

In “Pride and Prejudice”, Jane Austen established the impact of how social class and gender
roles are influenced by the expectations of the society. Jane Austen classified social class
and gender roles as a hierarchy group set by society, in order to limit the freedom of lower
class and women. Explaining how one class was favored than the other. Austen illustrates
how the lower and average class can’t possibly get rich because the society made a whole
barrier separating both the lower class and upper class. In the novel, social class and gender
roles are the major themes that influenced the decisions made by the characters. Austin
utilizes imagery in the novel to engage her audience and interest them on how women and
the lower class were being treated unfairly. Society only gives high-ranks choices on what
they want whether it’s a female or a male. In the novel, Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet are in
the middle class, they have five daughters and they are all unmarried, Mrs. Bennet fantasy is
to get her daughters married to higher classmen in order to ensure that they’re safe and
happy, which would be difficult in this case because her family isn’t classified as part of the
upper class. Women consider marriage to get rich rather than true happiness or true love.
The lower class women you have absolutely no role in society unless if you are married or
have a functioning male family member. Both females, average class and lower class had
difficulty making their decisions because their freedom is limited.

In this novel Austen demonstrated how Elizabeth’s intention about societal expectation
changed rather than marrying for power, she chose to wed for affection and find true love
which every Women lacks potentially because the society isn’t based on such instead, they
believe in power. “ I have said no such thing. I am only resolved 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.” ( Austen 338). However, Mrs. Bennet couldn’t see
Elizabeth’s point of view, and what she desires and focuses on was based on her getting her
daughters’ married, in order to ensure their protection because she won’t always be there to
help them neither is their father. Women are seen as powerless with less ability, they have
no access and depend on their spouses or father most especially if they’re rich. In this case,
Mrs. Bennet and her daughters rely on Mr. Bennet who is the head of the family, he is the
only one able to provide for the family. Elizabeth didn’t come from a rich family neither is she
poor, but the fact that she isn’t as privileged as the high class, getting married was difficult
for her. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good
fortune, must be in want of a wife.” (Austen 5). This quote explains however wealthy men
have the right to decide to marry anytime without being questioned, they may need a wife
just to have a companion while women who aren’t as rich as the upper class have to be
married in order to be protected. In this novel, marriage is being taken as negotiation in order
to protect females and to secure their pride, wealthy women have the right to choose what
they want based on their financial background but the low-class decision has been
determined even before they realize. Marriage is the only thing women rely on as their
future.

In this novel love isn’t viewed as a commitment before getting married. Marriage is seen as
an obligation that needed to be carried out, such agreement benefits lower-class women
such as Elizabeth and her sisters. There are three categories Austen described in the novel,
the lower class, middle class and the upper class. The lower and middle class are seen as a
disadvantage to society while the upper class is seen as the pillar of the society, they have
the ability to make their own decisions on whatsoever they want. In “Pride and Prejudice”,
not only the lower classmen are less privileged but also women that are from either lower
class or middle class. “Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr.
Bingley.” (Austen 8). Mr. Bennet visited Mr. Bingley to see if he was interested in one of his
daughters. Mr. Bingley is a man of honor who is well known for his richness along with his
friend Mr. Darcy. Since Mr. Bennet is an average man, he tried to take advantage of his
position associating with the rich for social benefits and for his daughter’s safety. Women
have absolutely no right to claim their father’s properties because only the heir has access to
it. Therefore they can’t possibly make their own decision on whom they want to marry,
except their parents are in agreement with it. In this case, Mrs. Bennet doesn’t want to marry
her daughter to whoever except they are capable of providing for themselves and also taking
care of their daughter’s needs. Women from the lower-class couldn’t make decisions unless
a male member of the family stands out. As the male of the house, Mr. Bennet had to take
further steps in getting his daughters married because when he dies only the next male of
the family gets to keep the property and females are always left with nothing other than
marriage. Without Mr. Bennet’s connections, he wouldn’t have come across Mr. Bingley and
Mr. Darcy, because Mr. Bennett is in the middle class, he had slightly more opportunity than
that of the lower class forgetting to meet with the high position individuals, even though the
chance of them negotiating is poor.
In Jane Austen's masterpiece, "Pride and Prejudice," the lives of the characters are
profoundly influenced by the societal norms and expectations of early 19th-century England.
This essay delves into how these norms shape their decisions, relationships, and personal
growth. It explores the tension between conforming to social expectations and pursuing
individual desires.
 I. The Pressure to Marry Well: One of the most prominent societal norms in the novel is the
expectation of securing advantageous marriages. The Bennet sisters, especially the elder
ones, face immense pressure due to their family's limited fortune. Mrs. Bennet embodies this
societal imperative as she relentlessly seeks suitable matches for her daughters.
Elizabeth Bennet: From the start, Elizabeth rejects marriage proposals that don't align with
her personal values, such as those from Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. Her refusal to conform
showcases her strong-willed character.
Jane Bennet: Jane's serene nature leads her to see the best in people, even in her
relationship with Mr. Bingley. Her acceptance aligns more closely with societal expectations.
II. Entailment and Inheritance: The concept of entailment plays a significant role in
showcasing unjust and restrictive societal norms within the novel. The entailment of Mr.
Bennet's estate, Longbourn, symbolizes the era's laws and norms.
Mr. Collins: He accepts Lady Catherine's proposal to marry Elizabeth primarily to secure the
estate and adhere to social expectations, despite lacking genuine affection for her.
Mr. Darcy: Initially driven by class-based prejudice and adherence to societal norms, Mr.
Darcy undergoes a transformation throughout the novel as he rejects these constraints in
pursuit of personal happiness.
III.Class-Based Prejudice and Expectations: The rigid class structure within "Pride and
Prejudice" breeds significant class-based prejudices and expectations that cloud characters'
perceptions of one another.
Elizabeth Bennet: Her initial prejudice against Mr. Darcy stems from his perceived
arrogance and class-based pride. It's only through personal growth and understanding that
she is able to see beyond these biases.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh: With her sense of class superiority, Lady Catherine attempts to
interfere in the lives of others based on her higher social status.
IV. Personal Growth and Defying Expectations: Throughout the novel, characters undergo
personal growth as they challenge societal norms and expectations. They learn to prioritize
their own happiness and values over social conformity.
Elizabeth Bennet: Her eventual marriage to Mr. Darcy symbolizes her defiance of societal
expectations and her commitment to marrying for love rather than wealth or social status.
Mr. Darcy: Perhaps the most profound transformation occurs within him. Initially bound by
class-based prejudices and societal norms, he ultimately chooses love over the constraints
of social hierarchies.

Work cited.
https://edubirdie.com/examples/social-class-and-gender-roles-in-pride-and-prejudice-by-
jane-austen/#:~:text=In%20%E2%80%9CPride%20and%20Prejudice%E2%80%9D%2C,of
%20lower%20class%20and%20women

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/pride-and-prejudice/themes/class