FEMINIST CRITICISM: FEMALE REPRESENTATIONS IN JANE AUSTEN’S NOVELS (ELIZABETH BENNET & EMMA WOODHOUSE).
Keywords:
Keywords: Jane Austen, feminism, Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, gender roles, women’s agency, patriarchy, literary criticism, autonomy, marriage normsAbstract
Abstract: This article explores feminist criticism in Jane Austen’s novels
through an analysis of two central female characters: Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and
Prejudice and Emma Woodhouse from Emma. It examines how Austen presents
intelligent, independent-minded women who challenge the restrictive gender norms of
the 19th century. The study highlights how Elizabeth defies patriarchal expectations
through wit, moral agency, and refusal to marry without affection, while Emma
represents a woman with social power who learns self-awareness and autonomy. The
article concludes that Austen’s heroines reflect early feminist perspectives by asserting
women’s emotional, intellectual, and moral independence within the constraints of
their social environment.
References
References
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