Jane Austen's protagonists, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice
and Emma Woodhouse in Emma, have three distinct similarities. Both the
girls come from the same types of families with similar societal status.
They have similar personality traits that are good. The protagonists also
have comparable flaws that threaten their happiness. By both novels' ends,
the protagonists reconcile with their flaws and discover their true loves,
thus overcoming obstacles to marriage.
Jane Austen's characters Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and
Emma Woodhouse in Emma have similar familial and social status. Elizabeth
is the second daughter in the Bennet family. Similarly, Emma is the second
daughter in the in the Woodhouse family. Elizabeth Bennet's father admires
his daughter as seen in an early exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. ". .
. they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something
more of quickness than her sisters'' (2). In a like manner, Mr. Woodhouse
admires Emma. In the opening paragraphs of Emma the narrator states: "She
was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent
father . . ." (3). In society, Austen informs the reader of the social
status of her protagonists. Elizabeth comes from a rich family. This is
obvious from Pride and Prejudice's first sentence. "It is a truth
universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune
must be in want of a wife" (1)." The social status is further established
in the following paragraph. "However little known the feelings or views of
such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so
well fixed in the minds of surrounding families that he is considered as
the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters" (1). Emma's
family is rich as well. Austen is more upfront in informing the readers of
Emma's familial situation. In the ...