A Heroine of Change and Consolidation : Elizabeth Bennet: A Harbinger of Change in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

Abstract: Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular literary since it was published due to the concept of shifting social structure. Marriage is one of the most critiqued concepts by different scholars, giving their views on what would be the implication portrayed by Elizabeth Bennet and her influence on Mr. Darcy to marry for love. Marriage is considered the central theme of the novel as different characters engaged in various types of relationships. Among the female characters, Elizabeth proves that wealth and social standing are not mandatory advantages in the intricate state of marriage. Appropriately, I shall frame my discussion of Elizabeth’s situation in the context of Feminist Literary Criticism Theory. The theory advocates for a paradigm shift in women’s position in society. The research argues that Elizabeth is a forerunner of change. She survives the afflictions women faced in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in a male-dominated culture. Elizabeth contradicts other women characters in the novel who are more accustomed to social formalities. As a harbinger of change, she advocates for a feminist mindset and a transformation of the roles and positions of women in society. The multifaceted role that she plays in the novel normalizes the ideology that women deserve the same treatment as men and that they too can achieve their goals by deviating from gender norms imposed by traditions.