#6

             Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice takes place during a time where women were completely oppressed.  Females were constrained both socially and economically during the Victorian era.  Incumbent laws and regulations such as the law of entailment often induced women to destitution and helplessness.  During this time women often accepted such treatment no matter the asperity that might be seen in it.  Women were expected to be accepting of such fates because they were of a lower class on the social pyramid of Victorian society.  Though many women chose this attitude Austen portrays the attitude of another more subtly independent woman.  She displays this attitude through the character Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  In the midst of asking Elizabeth impertinent questions, Lady Catherine remarks on the law of entailment saying, " Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think...but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line" (Austen 140).  Lady Catherine essentially states that she believes that an estate should not only be given to the closest male relative, rather women should have rights in inheriting an estate if they are closest in line for it.  lady Catherine herself experienced this as she holds the entire de Bourgh estate.  She is a rare woman for Victorian times.  Although impertinent she is modern.  She sees the injustice in disallowing a female to inherit an estate as its true and rightful heir.  This insight is rare seems rare in a Victorian woman.  It shows that females of the time were beginning to perceive injustice and awakening to what was rightfully theirs.