What character does Jane Austen mostly portray herself as in Pride and Prejudice?
I think there’s a bit of Jane Austen in all of her characters, though obviously there would be elements of herself in her lead heroine, Elizabeth, though they are certainly not the same person! If you’re interested in the character of Jane Austen, I’d recommend reading some of her letters- she can be very very mean at times! In Pride and Prejudice, Austen examines the class system and also also what can be referred to as the “marriage market” – women were completely dependant, and were expected to make good marriages. Therefore, Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr Collins is incredibly shocking – she had no money, and once her father died, unmarried she would be reliant on charity. So to reject Mr Collins without a better offer was like throwing yourself onto the streets, literally, and not just herself, but her mother and sisters too. There’s also the issue of class – Lady Catherine de Bourgh, representative of the aristocracy, is very vilely represented, whereas the Gardiners, Elizabeth’s au
