‘A deeper understanding of relationships and identity emerges from pursuing the connections between Pride and Prejudice and Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen.’
Compare how these texts explore relationships identity.
Through the contextualisation of texts, connections can be made which reinforce or challenge responder’s perspectives on universal values. Universal truths carry meaning which are able to transcend changes in social, cultural and historical context in order to continue influencing responders of today. The importance of relationships within the lives of individuals within society has been both supported and challenged as a social landscape has developed into a more independent one. Identity and what constitutes an …show more content…

While she admits that “marriage was a great pride, it was a women’s name,” in Austen’s society she does not acknowledge any connection between its importance then and its importance for women of today. This is demonstrated through the options she discussed regarding Alice’s future. Aunt fay asked Alice excitedly, “will you settle down to be a writer, or will you go to UCLA as planned. It is possible to do both.” Aunt Fay’s questions revolved around education and not marriage suggested Weldon has effectively devalued the institution of marriage within her modern context. Furthermore Weldon has presented marriage within her modern context as a relationship where “any women who waits upon her husband has a servant upon her master.” This resulted dependence on men is portrayed with a negative and almost bitter tone which reflects the diminished importance of the institution in Fays society and therefore within Aunt Fay’s context. Aunt Fay strongly values “strong women, women who work, think, earn, have independent habits,” as opposed to those like her sister Enid, who forfeit their independence through marriage. This negative portrayal of marriage Weldon conveys her belief that marital relationships no longer hold as much importance for woman of the 21st century thus effectively conveys how that convention has been challenged