As typical of an Austen novel the main character, Anne Elliot, posses numerous excellent qualities such as a sharpness of mind, an even temper, and a mild nature. These qualities are surprising due to the fact that she hails from a rather stupid family. Austen was one of the leading feminists of her time and a ground breaker in the portrayal of a strong heroine.

During Austen’s period women were very seldom written about and almost never the main character in a story. Those who used females as the focal point of a novel molded them upon the model of how women should be. She was weak, not very bright, and incapable of supporting herself. Basically an object to be purchased; a woman’s value existed solely in her duty to her husband. The other heroines were created in the same vein as Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, a paragon of virtue. Pamela is honored not for her quick wit or strong will; she receives praise simply because she resists the

Jane Austen’s novels challenge the role in which society placed women. She treats women not as fragile creatures, but as competent human beings capable of making rational decisions. She introduces the radical idea that women are people too. Austen critiques the functioning of the society in which she lived. To so boldly and openly challenge the set institution of social order is courageous and should be commended. Austen’s novels are just excellent stories by the standards of today, but for her time they were radical opinions.

This is a folly depicted by women’s role in society during Austen’s time. A young woman in the aristocracy was expected to marry into wealth if not also into gentry. The marriage would always be approved by her family and if she happened to love the person she married it was simply a nice bonus. Anne plays the part of the quiet dutiful daughter and spends the next eight years miserable because of it.

The concept of women as means of bettering oneself in addition to money in general are prevalent themes in Austen’s writings. An eligible bachelor must also be a man of good means. Captain Wentworth could not possibly expect to marry Anne due to the fact that he was very poor. This sentiment reflects a hardness in the culture that is saddening. To not be able to marry the person you love simply because they have no money is depressing and ridiculous. Anne’s change demonstrates that love can be formed without regards to monetary or social position of the beloved. She is not unhappy living below her former position, she was only unhappy when not following her heart.

unseemly advances of her married employer.

“Austen criticizes the morally pernicious equation of female virtue with passivity, or masculinity with aggression…She rejects stories in which women simply defend their virtue against male sexual adva

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