The ongoing conflict of conformity versus one’s true self has always never been easy for me to understand. Is it the decisions we make in life that dictate who we are as a person, or the other way around? Similarly, how can we never conform to society’s norms when we are surrounded by people who change and influence our decisions starting the moment we are born? For this reason and many others, I seem to always look confused when a person tells me to be “true to myself,” mostly because I’m not sure who that may be. When Elizabeth is portrayed as a non-conformist in the novel Pride and Prejudice, I can only assume it is due to her black and white characterization by Jane Austen. We already know that Elizabeth will reject Mr. Collins offer because she is painted as an unconventional individual in the society in which she lives. However, in reality, one’s true character traits are not so apparent and therefore, one’s answers are not so predictable. Although I believe there is no such thing as “conforming” in a realistic society with realistic people who change and evolve regularly, Elizabeth is a constant character in a novel and is an evident contrast to the similarly consistent yet flawed society.
England in the 17th century was male-dominated and most individuals exercised different customs than are popular today. The most influential aspect of life in that time was the subsidiary role women played to men and how attention from such men- especially with a large fortune- was a privilege women must “win” from others. This is first evident when the reader is introduced to Mrs. Bingley and finds out of her intentions for her daughters. “The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news” (Austen 3). Within this quote, the reader gets a view of both how a young woman is treated within society as well as how she will grow into nothing more than a gossip and wife. Austen strategically uses Mrs. Bennet as a symbol of the wrongs in 17th century England customs; therefore, Elizabeth is a symbol of the complete opposite, a symbol of rebellion- a feminist hero in a male dominated society. Of course she does change her mind and end up marrying the once perceived scoundrel in her eyes- Darcy, further proving my point. Does Elizabeth conform when she chooses to marry the wealthy, persistent, rude male? Or is it simply human nature to transform and reform ideas and values?
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