Parental Influence and Noble Aspirations: Exploring the Roles of Parenting and Heroism of Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse

Abstract

Parenting plays one of the most significant roles in children’s upbringing, shaping their future trajectories and contributions to society. While real-life parenting is often built on complexity and inherent unpredictability, parenting in novels often unfolds in idealised or exaggerated situations, serving as a source for character development and growth. It reflects on the complexities of family dynamics and intergenerational relationships between parents and their children. In the literary world, Jane Austen is widely regarded as one of the most skilled authors when it comes to portraying parenting, whose works won the hearts of many readers around the world and continue to be celebrated today. Austen’s six novels primarily focus on the intricacies of social hierarchy, courtship, and the pursuit of personal happiness within the boundaries set by societal expectations,particularly during the Regency-era England.The aim of this paper is to explore and discuss the main heroines, Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse, in the two most popular works written by Austen, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, and compare and contrast their characters. The paper predominantly focuses on the elements of Baumrind’s and Maccoby and Martin’s parenting styles theories which highlights the four different ways in which parents communicate and interact with their children. The paper further examines the upbringing of the characters and the relationship Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse have had with their parents as well as how their parents’ flaws, weaknesses and opinions have affected their decisions and interaction with society throughout their entire lives. The paper subsequently examines the definition of heroism and antiheroism, in the context of Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse’s traits and behaviour to explore whether they can be classified as heroines or antiheroines of the Regency era and whether their heroism or antiheroism was an outcome of the parenting they have received.