In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters are pushed into the 1800’s social world of suitable marriages. These marriages revolved around very little, urging women to marry for social standings or economical status and not for true love. As the four Bennet sisters search for a worthy husband, their characters are put to the test as they choose between what they want and what society wants them to become. By conforming, they give in to this corrupt society, similar to the actions of their own mother, Mrs. Bennet, who influences her daughters with materialistic morals and ideals; “A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” (Austen 1). Mrs. Bennet herself has become a model of society’s gossip and shallow principles, encouraging her family to marry “well.” When discussing her daughters’ futures, she focuses on money and how “fine” it will be for her children, and not how it affects their emotions. Unlike Mrs. Bennet, her daughter Elizabeth chooses to create her own path, denying the ideals of her own mother. As her sister Jane and even best friend Charlotte choose a path separate from hers, Elizabeth represents the “individual.” When asked by Mr. Collins to be married, she declines his offer, despite his economical status; “ I am perfectly serious in my refusal- You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you so” (Austen 74). Elizabeth’s stays true to her character, she chooses to focus on herself and her desires rather than marry the selfish Mr. Collins solely for his happiness and benefits. This decision is one that will change her life- unlike our world today- she must now face the consequences of possibly never being asked to marry again and living alone, a risk she is willing to take for happiness and individuality.
The story of Elizabeth Bennet is one that has been prominent since the 1800’s to present day. Even though we are not constantly being courted by men to marry into their social class, people today are faced with decisions that define who they are and who they will become. Although our consequences for not converting to one’s beliefs or ideals are not as severe as the Bennet’s, the pressure to be a part of the “in” group is equally as damaging. Teens are pressured into drugs, social groups, changing their clothes and even their beliefs to fit into a group. If they don’t, they are bullied and cast aside as an outsider, giving people more of an incentive to change themselves most likely for the worst. The media has been a relative influence of this idea, as movies and books have been created based on teens that struggle with this problem. In the movie “Odd Girl Out,” the lead character becomes a victim of her closest friends, bullied because of her looks and character. Because of this pressure to succeed in her social setting, the character goes crazy and looses herself to drugs and an obsession with her appearance all because she had become an outsider and lost her individuality. In a more modern movie, “Mean Girls” satirically portrays the secret life of girls and the story of one who changes her whole life to become one of the most popular girls in school. Her first year in school after being home-schooled in Africa her whole life, the lead finds herself caught up in the idea of high school and the glory of being popular and gorgeous. As she becomes a part of society, she looses not only individuality that made her special, but also her friends and dignity. The present world has used the media as a mirror of this competition between individuals and society and serves as our modern “Pride and Prejudice.” As the movies and books attempt to influence people to be themselves, the presence of this pressure is everlasting.
No comments:
Post a Comment