British Literature

Explore character identity through gender and social conflicts. Jane Austen and Charles Dickens both wrote novels that showcased the tensions their characters endured while trying to find their place amongst society, family, and friends. Their novels poked fun at societal norms such as marriage, loyalty, and class. By juxtaposing Jane Austen’s female protagonist, Anne Elliot, in Persuasion to Charles Dickens’ male protagonist, Pip, in Great Expectations we can see how society frowned up those who did not conform to their norms. Charles Dickens was a Victorian era poet who used witty commentary while Jane Austen was a Georgian era poet with satirical phrases. Both compliment each other by developing “oddball” characters of their time periods. Within the writing process of my research paper I would like to answer why society marginalized characters by gender and class, what effect class had on personal relationships (both friendly and romantically), and how characters thrived and developed within these conditions. I believe this topic is important enough to research and discuss because it gives the reader a glimpse into the time period the writers lived through. An author’s work can reflect their inner conflicts, point of views, and the social norms of their time periods. I want to learn why Jane Austen felt Persuasion was such a powerful emotion. Why did she constantly reference the word? Anne Elliot’s inner conflict revolves around being “persuaded” not to marry Captain Wentworth. Captain Wentworth, a navy soldier was not of high class. Anne’s family were descendants of baronets. An example of how Anne Elliot’s character identity was affected through gender and social conflict is on Chapter 4, pages 31-32 where Lady Russell advises her not to throw away her “class and beauty at nineteen” by marrying a commoner. Lady Russell, “whom she [Anne] had always loved and relied on, could not, with such steadiness of opinion, and such tenderness of manner, be continually advising her in vain. She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing: indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it”(32). I want to learn why Charles Dickens felt Pip needed to live up to Great Expectations. Pip’s character was faced with several gender and social conflicts including becoming a man and winning love. I’d also like to learn why Pip held loyalty in high regards? How did his social class affect his personal interactions? Social class affects Pip on chapter 8, page 39 when Estella and him play cards. He recalls how his jargon did not amuse the beautiful Estella, “He calls the knaves Jacks, this boy!" said Estella with disdain, before our first game was out." His appearance also didn’t help, “And what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots!". References Austen, Jane. Persuasion. Flip, 2018. Dickens, Charles. Charles Dickens- Great Expectations. Phi Learning, 2009.                                                                                                                                        

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