Women were also now able to speak their minds and not be persecuted for their opinions. It is a combination of their education and the fact that they are such outspoken young ladies that makes Jane and Elizabeth such good examples of early feminists (Dabundo 40-44). Austen not only makes these characters feminist but also shows them from first and third person views which allows for the reader to know the characters' thoughts as well as how others think of them (Wang 3). The changing world of the early 19th century although male dependent is a way Austen was able to highlight the feminism in "Pride and Prejudice.".
Another argument presented by those who believe the novel is not feminist is that since the novel is based entirely upon marriage it is oppressing the women in the novel. Leading up to the 19th century there was a drastic decline in arranged marriages due to rising "affective individualism"." Women, who now have a say in their marriage, can marry for love or for status allowing for them to move between social classes and increase their personal mobility (Fraiman 243-248). The eldest of the Bennet children, Jane, shows this new affective individualism by marrying Bingley. Jane and Bingley marrying each other is feminist because the marriage was not arranged and not for economic purposes, they get married for true love which before this time period was very uncommon. Elizabeth, the second born of the Bennet's, at one point exerts her independence by rejecting Darcy's marriage proposal despite the possibility of elevated social class (Austen 144-145); therefore, the second time when she accepts Darcy's proposal we know she accepted it for love not money or status. She continues her independence even after she is married to Darcy, Dabundo describes this best when she said, "In Pride and Prejudice," Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy will share this new future from a position in which each knows his or her own mind and is able to act in accordance with what appears best for both, in a marriage of equals.
