Jane Austen’s Novels: A Narrative of Ethical, Social, and Sexual Power Politics
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Date
2012
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Departmentof English & Applied Linguistics, University of Peshawar
Abstract
Jane Austen’s Novels: The Narrative of Ethical, Social, and Sexual Power Politics
February 2012
MA, University of Peshawar
PhD, University of Peshawar
Directed by: Nasir Jamal Khattak, PhD (Amherst)
Most of Jane Austen’s novels, especially Pride and Prejudice, make readers conscious of
the realities of life in an entertaining way. We relate to the experiences of the characters and
laugh with them in their moments of absurdities and weaknesses. Their follies and hypocrisies,
their worries and sorrows, their limitations and compromises with society and others reflect us
and our traits. We see these characters move around us even today. In struggle for survival and
living a desirable life, some succumb to the pressures of the social, ethical, and sexual politics.
Such people choose on the standards of what the society considers “appropriate,” “desirable,”
and “practical.” While others deviate from the social norm. And while they apparently make
life difficult for themselves, they end up having a better and productive life. Such is the irony of
life. All live it; some with pain and misery in it; others with peace of mind and happiness in it.
Pride and Prejudice shows how with the passage of time societies and their denizens
undergo a change, but that there are some who are too rigid to keep pace with the changing
times. This behaviour on part of these characters makes them the butt of the laughter of others.
However, there are others, who through their intelligence and consciousness adjust themselves to
the changing times. The problems that her characters confront are our problems and so we live
in the novel with them. Like her characters we too are self-centered, proud, and conscious of our
persona with such extremity that we forget the existence of others. Wrapped up in the pursuit of
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our desires we trespass the rights of others without any regard for them. In the struggle for
“desirable” survival, the characters indulge themselves in social, ethical and sexual dilemmas
which are part and parcel of human existence irrespective of time and place. Instead of looking
at their partners as their extension, most of the Austen’s characters “otherize” their relatives,
friends, and partners.