Society requires us to have certain requisites to do just about everything in our daily lives. The characters of Pride and Prejudice are no different: “A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, all the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved” (Austen, 29). What everything comes down to in getting a job, entering college or being in a team is if you meet the requirements. Why are we obsessed with such things? Because there are too many of us? Because we haven’t found another way to compare different individuals? But is this for the better? I don’t really think so. Just that definition of what a woman should be able to do seems quite limiting to her desires. The idea that we are not perfect may imply that we aren’t supposed to meet up to complex requisites but rather find our unique passions that are born within.
Later on in the novel we are presented with a case in which Miss Bingley offers advice to Darcy as he writes a letter: “The perpetual commendations of the lady on his handwriting, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was exactly in unison with her opinion of each” (Austen, 34). These lists of things that a writer must do or the way a woman should be are pretty established. We must play the game and try to meet these requirements in order to succeed. But aren’t we supposed to make a future of our own, to discover the endless possibilities available, to enrich our souls with new different things and to understand our world’s complexities from different points of view including our own?
As I thought about how language may be responsible for such a thing I remembered a sentence from Rayuela which states that language “al igual que el pensamiento, procede del funcionamiento aritmético binario de nuestro cerebro. Clasificamos en sí y no, en positivo y negativo” (Cortázar, 436). We need to make a checklist out of everything. It isn’t enough to be able to describe something but to be able to say what it isn’t. Suddenly tables and graphs start to make sense, we are one thing or another. Meet the requisites or not.
This generalization lies true only with exceptions. Elizabeth demonstrates how a lady might challenge the requirements for she walks to Netherfield above muddy grounds. As she arrives she is very untidy and criticism is quick to come. Wether we choose to follow these requirements or not determines our character. I must agree with you upon the pressures we all experience but differ upon your conclusion. There are not only two categories in life, only a level to which we meet said requirements.
ReplyDeleteThis entry summarizes one of the main themes in Pride and Prejudice. I agree with your conclusions about the requirements and believe that one must choose to follow these rules set by society or become an outcast. Those who follow the requirements will live without the pressure that they set on the ones that don’t. The connection with Rayuela is a very good idea and makes your argument more concrete.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that a person must follow the requirements and meet them is true. These rules are imposed by society but why do people follow them. People always say that they are free and are never controlled by society or what it imposes. But that is not true because they end up trying to meet these standards and afraid of not being able to meet them. People are afraid not to follow the rules set by society because vulnerability to criticism will open up. Elizabeth didn't follow the requirements of a lady by walking to Netherfield and that was why she was criticized by Mr. Bingley's friends and family.
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ReplyDelete[EDIT] I agree with your thesis. I myself is trapped in a similar situation, because my parents pressure me a lot in terms of academic, sports, music, and just about everything that a person should be good at. Believe it or not, I consider myself to be above average in all these areas, I do not thing this a good thing at all. Thats because there were some aspects that I hated doing, which have limited some of my desires.
ReplyDeleteI consider your opinion to be well supported with the text. I agree, people should compete in order to prove others or themselves what they are capable of doing. Yet, I consider your opinion to be naive, the world is unfortunately based on results, the survival of the fittest. I do consider that people should be well rounded and should try to learn as much as possible. In terms of mechanics you should re write this run-on sentence “ but aren’t we supposed to make...”
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ReplyDeleteI agree that in life we all have requisites that we must meet. As a girl I do have to follow certain rules and meet the standards that other people ask for. As for me I've had to face these challenges in meeting what the "ideal student" a certain college asks for, if not then I might as well not apply. Another time I've had to face these challenges was when trying to get into modeling, but as they ask for a certain type of "look" most of the times, many girls are pressured to be that girl. As for me, when I faced them I tried to succeed but proving other requisites and that not everything has to be perfect. Nothing is perfect so people can't ask for the perfect person.
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ReplyDeleteThis generalization has exceptions. Elizabeth and her walk through the muddy grounds is a perfect example. When she arrives to Netherfield, criticism come quickly. What we decide about this requirements make us who we are. I agree with the pressure experience but not with the conclusion. We are not in categories, but in certain levels that reach certain requirements.
This generalization lies true only with exceptions. Elizabeth demonstrates how a lady might challenge the requirements: she walks to Netherfield above muddy grounds. Criticism comes upon arrival immediately. Whether we choose to follow these requirements or not, it determines our character. I agree with you upon these pressures we all experience, but differ with your conclusion. There are not only two categories in life. We search for a higher level: requirements.
ReplyDeleteThe author is indeed trying to show a world full of the requirements we have to follow just to fit in. High School is just the same, we are divided since we put our feet inside this institute. Society itself creates differences between men, women, black and white. This requirements are the ones that divide the world. I think you are right about everything and your opinion is the kind this world needs.
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