Pride and Prejudice: Context

“Pride and Prejudice: Context”

Epoch: The Georgian Period

  • Pride and Prejudice is set in the Georgian period, during the reign of George III (1760-1820). This was a time of significant changes in society and culture.

Social Class and Status

  • Social class and status were pivotal aspects of this period. They determined marriage prospects, job opportunities, and general lifestyle.

  • An individual’s rank in society was often visibly displayed through manners, dress, and speech.

  • The book highlights the strict class hierarchy of the time and examines its influence on individual characters and their decisions.

Marriage and Women’s Rights

  • During the Georgian period, women were expected to marry and produce children. Their future and prospects largely depended on the man they married.

  • Women could not inherit property, making it vital for daughters without a male sibling to marry well for economic survival.

  • In Pride and Prejudice, the precarious position of women in society is portrayed through the Bennet sisters’ struggles to secure a good marriage.

Regency Era Morals and Manners

  • The supernatural elements and melodrama of the Gothic genre was giving way to the more grounded and sensible values of the Regency Era.

  • There was an increased emphasis on manners, elegance, and restraint, as seen in the rigid social etiquette depicted in the novel.

Literature and Novels of the Time

  • When Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, novels were a relatively new form of entertainment.

  • The style, themes, and character development seen in Pride and Prejudice helped to establish the novel as a respected literary form.

The Napoleonic Wars

  • The ongoing Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) are a significant backdrop to Pride and Prejudice. The military officers who visit Meryton are involved in Britain’s ongoing conflicts.

  • This historical context shapes many of the novel’s events, offering context to Wickham’s military career and why officers would have been attractive to young women.

Industrialisation

  • The industrial revolution was unfolding during this period, having an influence on social norms and values.

  • The changing economy affected the landed gentry - like Mr. Darcy, who had to adapt to survive.