A Comparative Study of the Position of Women in Europe throughout Daisy Miller and Pride and Prejudice

Abstract

Henry James‟ and Jane Austen‟s portrayal of women throughout their literary works; Daisy Miller and Pride and Prejudice respectively presents the woman‟s situation in the nineteenth century as inferior and victim of social expectations. From Daisy Miller, James describes these practices from the eyes of his protagonist Daisy Miller, her behaviors and manners. Accordingly, in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen established herself as a distinguished feminist novelist in her treatment of women status, especially, the matter of marriage. The theoretical part involves an overview about the Victorian Age in England and American society, the emergence of feminism through its three waves in addition to the development of feminine novel in the nineteenth century by its well known writers. For example; Mary Wollstonecraft, Elizabeth Gaskell, and charlotte Bronte. Whereas, the Analytical chapter, centers on the study and description of the female characters particularly the American and European female protagonists Daisy Miller and Elizabeth Bennet, their behaviors and manners to fight obstacles and struggles which faced them. Prejudice is one of the barriers from which women suffered. Which end, each writer presents his/ her manners defending women‟s rights and duties. The study concludes with the assertion that Henry James is a feminist writer after his depiction of his female character