We recognize that every single woman is waiting for the right partner who is secured by his fortune or heritage. But were the women really only neutral subjects with definite goals of becoming rich through a fortunate and suitable match or were they just suppressed by the power of money and the pressure of maintaining a right reputation? And how are women and their position in the 21st century society compared to the role and position of the women in the 19th century? Is it possible to compare these two kinds of positions at all? Those questions lead us to the main theme of the paper: being a single woman in the 19th and 21st century and the representation of this role in literature. An interesting illustration can be made at the example of the main character Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” and the main character Bridget Jones in Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones’ Diary”.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Single women in Jane Austen's times
- Pride and Prejudice
- Characterization and role of Elizabeth Bennet
- Single women in 21st century
- Bridget Jones' Diary
- Characterization of Bridget Jones
- Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones in the context of their times.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the role of single women in the 19th and 21st centuries, focusing on the representation of this role in literature. It uses the main characters Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and Bridget Jones from Helen Fielding's "Bridget Jones' Diary" as contrasting examples. By analyzing these characters' lives and relationships in their respective social contexts, the paper explores how societal expectations, economic constraints, and personal choices shape the experiences of single women across time.
- The role of women in 19th and 21st century society
- The representation of single women in literature
- The impact of societal expectations on women's choices
- The influence of economic factors on women's lives
- The comparison of Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones as representations of single women in different eras
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the main topic and provides background information about the societal context of single women in the 19th century, particularly focusing on Jane Austen's time and her social position as a woman. The second chapter delves into Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", analyzing the portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet as a single woman in her time, highlighting the influence of economic factors and social expectations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores the themes of single women, societal expectations, economic constraints, literary representation, and social context, focusing on the contrasting characters of Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones, and their lives in the 19th and 21st centuries.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2009, Single women in the late 18th and late 20th centuries. The female role of Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/949590
