Austen's View on Sisters in Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen portrays a generally positive view of sisters in her novel 'Pride and Prejudice'. The book centers around the Bennet family who have five daughters. We get to see all the various relationships between these five sisters as well as the interactions between the Bingly sisters and Mrs. Bennet and her sister.
The main sister relationship in 'Pride and Prejudice' is that between the two eldest Bennet sisters, Elizabeth and Jane. If we were to judge Austen's view of sisters solely from this relationship we would say it is overwhelmingly positive. The two sisters are very supporting and caring to each other. Elizabeth constantly worries about Jane and does everything she can to defend and reassure her. She even risks her own happiness with Mr. Darcy for Jane's sake. " ..do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?" Jane likewise is always there for Lizzy and is her most trusted confidante "Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no longer be overcome..". Elizabeth depends on Jane for advice and often checks with her to see if her actions were justified "You do not blame me.. for refusing him?"
Austen views these two as ideal sisters in the text. They are both inexplicably good to each other and, while having extremely different characters, never say or do anything that would belittle the other.
The relationship between Mrs. Bennet and her sister Mrs. Phillips is a very interesting one in 'Pride and Prejudice'. We know that these two are sisters from the beginning of the novel but we only get to see them together towards the end of the book (when Lydia is in trouble). The view on these sisters is more negative. We know that Mrs .Bennet is silly but (well perhaps he's not the best judge) Mr. Collins does praise Mrs.Phillips on her good manners and kindness when he meets her. However it's when the two sisters are together we see the worst of them. Mrs.Phillips is then described as taxing and vulgar. The two women gossip together and only speak to praise themselves or chide the other.
I think Austen's view of sisters here is two fold. Firstly she is commenting on how, when family members only come together in great happiness or distress, the reunion is often marked with bitterness and jealousy. Secondly, these two are a direct contrast to Elizabeth and Jane. Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips are remarkably similar while Lizzy and Jane are so different. Austen is showing here how relationships were those involved have differences yet are willing to accept them (e.g. also, Elizabeth and Darcy) often yield more felicity than those where they're excruciatingly similar (Lydia and Wickham).
The third example of sisters in the novel is Caroline Bingly and Louisa Hurst.These two sisters do not have much of a relationship. Mrs. Hurst is married and therefore should have more authority yet she has almost no lines in the novel. All the focus is drawn to her -technically socially inferior- sister Caroline. Austen is showing here how, even though it is important to be in a relationship where you can challenge the other person, differences so vast that one person completely overshadows the other are not really relationships at all (e.g. If Darcy had married Lady Anne).
In spite of these two negative examples and one positive one I do think that Austen's general view of sisters is an optimistic one. Jane and Elizabeth are key characters in the book and they are the ones who end with the greatest happiness. Throughout the text Austen is showing sisters who have a good relationship with each other in the most positive lights. She is trying to show how encouraging a nurturing family relationship is while also showing how detrimental a negative one can be.
The relationship between Mrs. Bennet and her sister Mrs. Phillips is a very interesting one in 'Pride and Prejudice'. We know that these two are sisters from the beginning of the novel but we only get to see them together towards the end of the book (when Lydia is in trouble). The view on these sisters is more negative. We know that Mrs .Bennet is silly but (well perhaps he's not the best judge) Mr. Collins does praise Mrs.Phillips on her good manners and kindness when he meets her. However it's when the two sisters are together we see the worst of them. Mrs.Phillips is then described as taxing and vulgar. The two women gossip together and only speak to praise themselves or chide the other.
I think Austen's view of sisters here is two fold. Firstly she is commenting on how, when family members only come together in great happiness or distress, the reunion is often marked with bitterness and jealousy. Secondly, these two are a direct contrast to Elizabeth and Jane. Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips are remarkably similar while Lizzy and Jane are so different. Austen is showing here how relationships were those involved have differences yet are willing to accept them (e.g. also, Elizabeth and Darcy) often yield more felicity than those where they're excruciatingly similar (Lydia and Wickham).
The third example of sisters in the novel is Caroline Bingly and Louisa Hurst.These two sisters do not have much of a relationship. Mrs. Hurst is married and therefore should have more authority yet she has almost no lines in the novel. All the focus is drawn to her -technically socially inferior- sister Caroline. Austen is showing here how, even though it is important to be in a relationship where you can challenge the other person, differences so vast that one person completely overshadows the other are not really relationships at all (e.g. If Darcy had married Lady Anne).
In spite of these two negative examples and one positive one I do think that Austen's general view of sisters is an optimistic one. Jane and Elizabeth are key characters in the book and they are the ones who end with the greatest happiness. Throughout the text Austen is showing sisters who have a good relationship with each other in the most positive lights. She is trying to show how encouraging a nurturing family relationship is while also showing how detrimental a negative one can be.
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