“One word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” 

- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen is a well-known female writer of the 18th century. She is recognized for her novels “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “Persuasion,” “Emma,” “Mansfield Park,” and “Northanger Abbey,” many of which are undeniable staples of canonical literature. Despite her fame, critics and readers alike falsely understand Ms. Austen. Although a bold statement to make, most—if not all of us—agree that Austen writes romance novels. For bizarre and illogical reasons, however, some readers believe romance novels cannot be strong, purposeful, or empowering. As an avid reader myself, I hold high standards for most authors. If the sole purpose of an author’s career is to write good books, then what is published better be worthwhile. Jane Austen is a brilliant mind because she offers quite a different story than your typical cheesy romance novel. When analyzing her works, it is apparent that Austen’s novels provide not only an outlook on what life was like for 18th-century women but also show how corrupt English society was during that time. Her romance novels challenged the traditional values of her time and, dare I say, the values of our modern world as well. Although Austen produced a variety of novels in her time, her most notable literary work is “Pride and Prejudice.” The English society of the 18th century may have had poor values, but at least they had taste. “Pride and Prejudice” is a tale about the young Elizabeth Bennet, a woman navigating her family's wild antics and life in 18th-century English society. Bennet is different from your stereotypical female lead. She has no powers nor beauty beyond all measure; she is simply a woman. What is most beautiful about Austen's works is that they appear to be so real. There is no falseness or unobtainable standards with her stories; rather, they are all reasonable encounters between men and women that members of the modern world can still experience.  Despite this, critics still continue to argue against Austen as a feminist, emphasizing that she holds no true power in literature. However, I argue that these critics haven’t looked hard enough.

As previously stated, Austen was a female in the 18th century. During this period, most women were not allowed to have a profession. Although there was no law forbidding this notion, it was highly looked down upon for a woman to do anything but marry for prospects and care for their family. With her love for writing, Austen chose to become exactly what she dreamed of being. She ignored the wishes of society and followed her ambitions. If that does not scream “feminism,” then what does? Most would say that the reason romance novels are not empowering is that they create unrealistic expectations for men and women alike. However, it can be argued that Austen does a fine job of providing sensible material in her books. For example, one of the biggest issues most have is the description of physical appearance. Typically, the female lead is described as the most beautiful woman, and no one can compare to her. However, Austen did not like this pattern and opted for reality. Elizabeth Bennet was considered to be pretty but not as stunning as her eldest sister, Jane Bennet. There are many times throughout “Pride and Prejudice” that this distinction between the two sisters is made, for example, when Mr. Bingley regards Jane as the “most beautiful creature [he] ever beheld.” In contrast to this, Elizabeth is described as intelligent, bold, and witty, and the opposite of most women during this time who were expected to be modest, polite, and respectable. Although Elizabeth possesses manners and a common knowledge of how a woman ought to be, she still dares to be herself. A woman can be very much like any man, and Elizabeth is a character that can testify to this. As if the novel could not be any more realistic, Austen takes it a step further by showing the faults in all characters. Elizabeth's most significant flaws were her “pride” and “prejudice,” hence the name of the novel. Her misunderstanding of Mr. Darcy, the male lead, forces her to hate a man who exceeds most women's standards and fantasies. Austen’s ability to present a different type of female lead while providing a realistic storyline proves how brilliant she was. 

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, to George and Cassandra Austen. Her family was not wealthy but had enough to sustain themselves. While Austen did receive an education at Reading Abbey Girls’ School, most of her schooling came from access to her father’s library and time spent with her father and brothers. From a very young age, Austen enjoyed writing poems and songs, and as she entered her twenties, she began writing novels. Despite her brilliance, Austen struggled fiercely throughout her career and life, but those struggles helped establish her as a feminist author. She also chose to defy the patriarchal society by staying a single woman and gaining her prospects without the use of a man. Austen lived a life of defiance to prove to others that there is more to women than just marriage and beauty. This notion was the inspiration for her novels and why most of the female leads seem to have a similar mindset. In the 18th century, there were many expectations placed on a woman from society. However, Austen thought it best to offer her understanding of how men should behave. Firstly, she consistently expressed how money should not be the sole motivator for being with a woman. In “Pride and Prejudice,” the brief love story between Georgiana Darcy, the male lead’s little sister, and Mr. George Wickman, considered one of the novel’s protagonists, poses as an example of why money should not affect any decision regarding marriage. Georgiana was a wealthy young female, and Mr. Wickham was a poor soldier with a plan to obtain her dowry. However, when he learned he would not even receive a dime of those coffers, he vanished, all the while breaking Georgiana’s heart. Austen proves that money truly cannot solve all the problems in the world and that it is more an issue in a marriage than a blessing. Furthermore, Austen offers readers a relationship of both conviction and love. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy hated each other and could not be in either’s presence. The behavior and words exchanged between the pair were cruel and far from charming. Yet somewhere, during their growth as individuals, they learned how they not only misunderstood each other but themselves as well. The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is one of love and honesty - one that many strive for. 

Austen was genuinely a feminist, as she defied the most crucial aspects of 18th-century society. Her prideful reputation comes not only from her life of defiance or the realism found in her books but rather from how she proved that feminism is not about being better than a man.  Since Elizabeth marries a man at the end of the novel, many critics argue that she defies the definition of feminism. However, Austen shows that Elizabeth's choice to marry was not only her own decision but one influenced by the love she had for Mr. Darcy -  a man who accepted the beautiful and ugly parts of her. Through her writing, Austen reveals that women are much more than beautiful decorations to be sold off to the next highest-paying bidder and that most women still desire to be loved. It is important to note that Elizabeth Bennet was not lacking in any way, and her decision to marry came from love and not some societal value. Elizabeth had no knowledge that could explain how she came to love Mr.Darcy; all she knew was that she had found someone who could understand and respect who she was. Feminism is not about women proving themselves to be better, but instead showing that they are capable of all things that men are. Elizabeth Bennet never lost sight of who she was and decided to marry a man who loved every part of her. It is safe to say that through her novels, Jane Austen is not only a brilliant writer but one hell of a feminist. 

Written by Chloe Golden, Design: Mia Still, Social Media: Ellianah Murcia