... Austen to be in favour of the theories of such feminist thinkers of the time as Mary Wollstonecraft - a staunch opposer of the writings of Edmund Burke. What, then, is Austen's stance towards marriage as seen in "Pride and Prejudice"? Is she a romantic feminist or a rural traditionalist? My personal belief is that Austen is neither - I would suggest that she, in fact, manages ... prey to these mercenary desires, and engages in a marriage as a social contract, using romantic love as an excuse, not a reason, for unity with Darcy. I must disagree - I feel this argument has a critical flaw,...

• Word Count: 1833
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate