
Inferiority has been attributed to women for centuries and unfortunately still is today. Throughout history, plenty of cultures are guilty of valuing men over women, but a very evident example of this can be found in 18th century British societal norms. By looking at Karabi Hazarika’s article, “Social Status of Women in 18th Century English Society as Reflected In a Dictionary of the English Language of Dr. Johnson” and “The History and Development of the English Class System” by Hiroko Tomida, the reader can gain a better understanding of the cultural restrictions placed on women by society as seen in the first chapter of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Hazarika’s article explores the role of women in 18th century England. Women were considered lesser beings than men, so society and its rules made it impossible for a woman to be considered a man’s equal on all levels (Hazarika 352). They had no rights, and politics were off limits as it was no place for a woman’s concerns (Hazarika 352). Unmarried women were only viewed in regard to their potential to be a future bride. A wife’s job was to produce an heir and to be viewed as an accessory to her husband. Marriage was only seen as a means to a secure and hopefully comfortable life. Women were usually totally reliant on men because society gave them barely any means to provide for themselves (Hazarika 352). Wealth determined a person’s status in England, and women were usually not allowed to inherit or essentially control money; therefore, widows often found themselves at the mercy of their closest living male relative (Hazarika 353). They had to apply to this man’s generosity for food, shelter, clothing, and aid to marry off any single daughters. A son was usually desired rather than a daughter in order to keep the family name and fortune (Hazarika 354). This is a direct example of men being valued more than women. Many women were uneducated, but some received general education. A woman was admired if she could sing, play an instrument, or draw rather than the knowledge she possessed. This article uses a dictionary to show how 18th century sexism was embedded in the meanings of words. There are many words that possess derogatory definitions that were commonly used to refer to women in the 18th century. These views had been carried down from generation to generation, so the inherent meaning of these terms only confirms the views of British society in the 18th century.

The role of women in the 18th century is evident in the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice. The narrator states that “it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 3). This opening sentence gives the reader the main topic of the novel, which is marriage. It also allows the reader to understand the mindset of Mrs. Bennet, a dramatic woman who wants nothing more than to marry her daughters off. When a single and rich gentleman moves nearby, Mrs. Bennet begs her husband to visit him only because she “is thinking of his marrying one of them” (Austen 4). The social customs only allowed women to be introduced to new acquaintances through a man; Mrs. Bennet could not introduce herself to the new Mr. Bingley. Karabi’s article also indicates that women were just living in a man’s world, and they relied on men to even meet people. There were very few actions women could partake in without the help of a man. “The business of her life was to get her daughters married”; Mrs. Bennet is quite desperate to find marriages for all five of her daughters (Austen 5). Women generally did not work unless one was in the lowest class, so Austen is equating a job to finding marriages to show that women were ornamental. A woman’s fate was based solely on the husband she married. Mrs. Bennet is eager to marry her daughters so that in the event of Mr. Bennet’s death, she will have somewhere to stay because they would not get to keep their property. Women could not inherit property, so many women faced ruin when their husbands died. Mrs. Bennet’s view of her daughters could be compared to an auctioneer trying to get the highest bid for some horses. She was more concerned that they look pretty and marry rich husbands than she was concerned for their feelings or wellbeing. In the 18th century, marriage defined women and there was little concern for women’s feelings, opinions, or desires.

The class system determined one’s role in society and the means by which a person lives. Tomida suggests the three main classes were working class, middle class, and upper class or aristocracy (Tomida 273). According to Tomida, person’s class was usually determined by their money, job, the status of your relatives, and the lifestyle one lead (Tomida 273). The class one was born into was most likely the class they would be a part of for their entire life; one may move up the social ladder through marriage or money (Tomida 273-274). Tomida explains that the different classes also carried different accents. Accents of the lower class were considered undesirable and prevented people from moving up the class rank (Tomida 274). Education was also factored in to determine one’s class (Tomida 276). Clothes also represented status as wealthier upper class members could afford finer materials while lower and middle classes wore more plain clothing (Tomida 278). The upper class usually had the most well trained manners while the lower class didn’t see as much of a need for some of the civilities used by the upper class (Tomida 280). The working class did not have much leisure time because they were constantly working to earn a living; the upper class was able to hunt, fish, attend parties and balls, and live luxuriously (Tomida 282). These factors historically played a part in determining the members of each social class.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the reader can see Austen’s references to the different social classes. The first chapter shows that the Bennet’s are not members of the upper or aristocratic class. This is evident by Mrs. Bennet’s desperation to find rich husbands for her daughters. The Bennet family does not have a good deal of money nor do they possess any sort of titles. They are more or less viewed as country people. They are not members of the working class as the daughters and mother do not work and must rely on marriage to live. Women could only hope to make a fortunate marriage to move up to better class. Mr. Bingley is a member of the upper class due to his fortune; Mrs. Bennet hopes that he will marry one of her daughters, and the family will be able to have a place in aristocratic social circles. This would also help the rest of the Bennet daughters to meet other rich men as well. This shows an example of moving up into a better class, which was difficult to do because of the restrictions society placed on the acceptable intermingling of different classes.

Women played a very ornamental role in society and were trapped by the class system in the 18th century as seen in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Karabi’s “Social Status of Women in 18th Century English Society as Reflected In a Dictionary of the English Language of Dr. Johnson”, and “The History and Development of the English Class System” by Hiroko Tomida. The sole job of a woman was to marry and produce an heir. This type of oppression shows how a woman’s own society can be the most restrictive shackles that weigh her down.

