Is Elizabeth Bennet really a rebel?

Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet’s independent and rebellious spirit is the principle reason she is one of English literature’s most loved characters. She is unintimidated by Mr. Darcy; unmoved by Mr. Collins’ appeals to her financial security when he proposes; and refuses to be silenced even by the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Elizabeth’s attitude, which strikes modern readers as wonderfully forthright and forward-thinking, is however open to interpretation. There is certainly more than a hint of social conservatism in her disapproval of her sister Lydia’s flirtatious manner, which is evident long before the latter’s elopement. She also initially judges her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, harshly for accepting Mr. Collins’ proposal, while instantly forgiving Mr. Wickham for switching his attentions to Miss King for her inheritance of £10,000. Likewise, she has nothing to say about the injustices that threaten her family’s wellbeing in the event of her father’s death. Is Elizabeth, therefore, really a ‘rebel’ and a model for modern female independence, or is she a relic from a more socially unforgiving age?

Those who admire Elizabeth Bennet’s independent spirit have plenty of evidence in their favor. Elizabeth promises never to marry for money, despite the protestations of her mother when she refuses Mr. Collins’ proposal. She also refuses to be intimidated by Mr. Darcy, and in fact deliberately provokes him into arguments. Elizabeth gives her opinions forcefully to her father (who of course, often ignores them.) Again, strikingly, she addresses Lady Catherine de Bourgh politely but with assertion, giving her opinion ‘very decidedly for so young a person.’ Both of Elizabeth’s parents are in some way rebellious; Mr. Bennet, preferring to be alone, is largely uninterested in the conventions of polite society. Mrs. Bennet is simply oblivious to them. Elizabeth is acutely aware of her social surroundings and place in the world but, like her parents, remains somewhat detached. Her vehicle for dealing with society is neither the sarcasm of her father nor the vulgarity of her mother. She has her wit, which in its quickness, is the equal of anyone.

On the other hand, Elizabeth’s apolitical personality suggests she is not rebellious in the usual sense of the word. It should be said that all Jane Austen’s work has been criticized for ignoring the political context of her day. The Napoleonic Wars were killing people in unprecedented numbers and the modern world was rising rapidly, sweeping away all before it. Indeed, Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1811) is often considered the first modern novel. The Darcys would have in all likelihood lived to see 1848, the year the Communist Manifesto was published. Elizabeth herself appears to take no interest in the turbulent world around her. The one character with anything to say about the horrible injustice of entailing property away from the female line is, of course, Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth has nothing much to say on the subject, while Mrs. Bennet is dismissed for her ‘mean understanding’ and ‘illiberal mind.’

One of the reasons for uncertainty is that Elizabeth’s rebelliousness is never truly tested in the course of the novel. Mr. Collins is such a ridiculous character that Miss Bennet is shocked that ANYONE would consider accepting his proposal. Her reaction to Charlotte’s announcement that they will marry is to declare it ‘impossible.’ While she refuses to rule out marrying Wickham, who is without prospects, the choice never rises in reality. When Wickham transfers his affections to Miss King, Elizabeth is so gracious as to almost appear relieved! The ending is of course wonderfully convenient for Elizabeth. She promises to marry for love rather than money, and the story concludes with her finding the man she loves – who happens to be one of England’s richest men. Ultimately, her principles come at no cost.

Elizabeth appeals to our contrary desires to be well thought of by those around us, but also free from society’s restrictions and demands. She does not explicitly seek wealth, popularity or status, so cannot be accused of vanity, but nevertheless she is rewarded with all of these things. While Mrs. Bennet blames Elizabeth for putting off men with her forthright manners, we are blessed with a happy ending in which a woman finds love, fortune and happiness by being herself. I am not sure that Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s independence of mind runs as deeply as we’d like to think. Indeed, one of the reasons we love Pride and Prejudice is due to nostalgia for those wonderful manners that seem to belong to another world; we would be unlikely to warm to a character eager to tear it all down.

Please let us know your thoughts on this unforgivably provocative topic.

Your esteemed friend,

Fitzwilliam Darcy