Ambivalence of Selfhood in Austen’sPride and Prejudice

Abstract

The position of Elizabeth is that of unsuccessful revolutionary which makes her the character ofambivalent personality. For she was educated differently and was frequently encouraged by her father to get involved in intellectual debates, she grew in an environment that detached her from being a hypocrite. Due to the impact of education, Elizabeth’sstruggle to seek autonomy in the society under patriarchal discourse was a good initiation. Being a genuine woman, her refusal to be an educated slave leads her to refuse marrying a man wealthier and more intelligent than herself. Her endurance to revolt against her mother’s interference in her private life is because she respected her individuality and freedom. But she can not completely accept or deny the social discourse. Along with the impact of education, the ideological conflict between her parents makes her change from one opinion and mood to another. She is situated in such a position in which it is difficult for her to make choice between two distinct opinions of her parents. She lives the life of mixed feelings and thoughts. Her ambivalence is not rude or negative that results in difficulty caused due to the choice of one between undesirable two; but she swings between mixed feelings so that can’t locate herself in a fixed position expected by herself or the society.