If you are a professional in an emerging industry, like gaming, data science, cloud computing, digital marketing etc., that has promising career opportunities, this is your chance to be featured in #CareerKiPaathshaala. Fill up this form today!
Author of only six major English novels set in 18th century British middle-class society; lived more than 200 years ago. Isn’t it intriguing why Jane Austen still attracts young women?
Known to be one of the first English women novelists who started writing and publishing, at a time when women were hardly allowed to enter the domain of public writing, Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) vehemently critiqued in her novels the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic prosperity.
At that time in England women only had two options open in front of them – either marry someone rich or become a teacher. That’s where the term ‘Miss’ for a teacher has come from, which is prevalent in most schools in India.
Matrimony has been the prime focus of her novels. Her widely read novels such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Emma deal with issues regarding marriage, property rights of women and their education. These issues still pose as a matter of grave concern for Indian women. What we are facing for centuries was once faced by the women of England too.
Marriage is considered sacred. One can say that it truly is. But, marriages are not made in heaven as people often say. Mrs.Bennet’s obsession with getting her daughters married to some rich gentlemen only reminds us how our parents become desperate to find a suitable groom as soon as we reach the ‘ideal age’ for marriage. In those days in England 15 – 19 was considered to be the ideal age to be up for the marriage market as we see Marianne and Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility and Fanny price in Mansfield Park all become engaged while still in teens. Similarly, we all know the ‘ideal age’ for marriage in India.
Here’s a small list on why Jane Austen’s books still attract us today:-
From Elizabeth to Emma the female protagonists of Austen’s novels show exemplary strength in character. Austen’s women are independent, witty as well as self-sufficient. Similarly, we modern day women also perform our duties towards our parents but also don’t mind in getting pampered by them.
Austen’s novels revolve around women protagonists, exploring their quest for love, social security and prosperity. Absolutely nothing wrong if you are a woman looking for a soul mate. After all, we all need love and attention.
Austen throughout her novels has assessed the line between greed and practicality when it comes to chosing a husband. Yes, you should be cautious while choosing your life-partner, especially if you’re living in a country like India where text books provide us with ‘advantages of dowry’.
Once Jane Austen had said, “Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.” Our best friends are indeed the real soulmates one could ask for.
If you are reading any of Austen’s novels one thing that will be common are the issues related to marriage. While living through the pages of Pride and Prejudice all of us wanted to be the Elizabeth who emerges as fulfilled individual, not dependent on any man for recognition or identity.
In England having a son as the heir to the family property was crucial. Women had no right over their father’s property post marriage. Here comes Elizabeth who refuses Mr. Collins marriage proposal, holds the legal rights to the family residence and the refusal might cost the family their home.
Back in the 18th century on one hand Austen showcased the fragile conditions of women prevalent in the British middle-class society yet turned up with high-spirited confident women as protagonists who dared to differ. Her works have been adapted into cinema in both Hollywood as well as Bollywood.
In Austen’s novels, even when the women character decide to marry, they exercise their choice and marry only for love. The message that she tries to convey is that marriage is not a shackle. A strong, independent woman also requires affection and care. But, take the vow ‘in sickness and in health’ only when you’re sure about your man with whom you would be spending the rest of your lifetime.
Image source: is a screen grab from the 1995 movie Pride And Prejudice
I'm a Political Science student from St.Xavier's College, Kolkata. Biryani and F.R.I.E.N.D.S are the best possible ways to uplift my mood. A dreamer at night,a read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Shows like Indian Matchmaking only further the argument that women must adhere to social norms without being allowed to follow their hearts.
When Netflix announced that Indian Matchmaking (2020-present) would be renewed for a second season, many of us hoped for the makers of the show to take all the criticism they faced seriously. That is definitely not the case because the show still continues to celebrate regressive patriarchal values.
Here are a few of the gendered notions that the show propagates.
A mediocre man can give himself a 9.5/10 and call himself ‘the world’s most eligible bachelor’, but an independent and successful woman must be happy with receiving just 60-70% of what she feels she deserves.
Darlings makes some excellent points about domestic violence . For such a movie to not follow through with a resolution that won't be problematic, is disappointing.
I watched Darlings last weekend, staying on top of its release on Netflix. It was a long-awaited respite from the recent flicks. I wanted badly to jump into its praise and will praise it, for something has to be said for the powerhouse performances it is packed with. But I will not be able to in a way that I really had wanted to.
I wanted to say that this is a must-watch on domestic violence that I stand behind and a needed and nuanced social portrayal. But unfortunately, I can’t. For I found Darlings to be deeply problematic when it comes to the portrayal of domestic violence and how that should be dealt with.
Before we rush to the ‘you must be having a problem because a man was hit’ or ‘much worse happens to women’ conclusions, that is not what my issue is. I have seen the praises and criticisms, and the criticisms of criticisms. I know, from having had close associations with non-profits and activists who fight domestic violence not just in India but globally, that much worse happens to women. I have written a book with case studies and statistics on that. Neither do I have any moral qualms around violence getting tackled with violence (that will be another post some day).