LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND SOCIAL NORMS: THEMES IN JANE AUSTEN’S NOVELS

Abstract

Jane Austen’s novels are marked by a strong female perspective and a distinctly early
feminist voice. Set within social strata quite different from Austen’s own precarious uppermiddle-class background, her stories often depict characters on the cusp of gentility, threatened
by economic decline, or striving to ascend the social ladder through marriage or wealth. Despite
this, Austen’s works place a clear emphasis on everyday life, exploring routines such as church
affairs, social etiquette, and the perennial themes of love and marriage.
Crucially, her protagonists are women who increasingly assert their voices, thinking and speaking independently. These female characters are remarkable for their intellectual and emotional agency, as well as their keen sensitivity to women’s specific social challenges. Through them, Austen articulates a form of evolving feminism that engages critically with men, societal expectations, and women’s roles within the domestic and social spheres. Her heroines’ ability to navigate the rigid norms of their time while expressing self-awareness and autonomy highlights Austen’s subtle yet significant contribution to feminist discourse in literature.