'Women have no freedom; they are imprisoned by social convention.’ With close reference to Pride and Prejudice and wider reference to Wuthering Heights, consider how far you agree with this statement?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë both serve to articulate the theme of female imprisonment in a patriarchal society through the rigid restrictions placed upon women’s ability to live independently. Though Austen wrote in the Romantic era and Brontë in the Victorian period, both authors use their protagonists, Elizabeth and Catherine to show how marriages during these periods not only confined women, but were also the only method of security which women had since they were unable to own property through succession due to entailments. Austen utilises Elizabeth to reject the stereotype of women as the Romantic movement provided an opportunity for women to express feeling and desire in a male dominated society, with far happier endings than those in reality. Brontë uses Cathy to explore a more realistic representation of society’s punishment of those who conform for the wrong reasons. Even women who were defiant during the Victorian period were entrapped by their gender as female inferiority was indoctrinated in the minds of both men and women so women could not liberate themselves. Patriarchal power is present in both novels, and how social structure in these periods restricted their freedom. The novels are similar in their presentation of female defiance and pragmatism in a male dominated society. Austen’s Pride and Prejudice explores the theme of female entrapment through the dependence of women on men and the necessity of marriage for economic survival. After first proposing to Elizabeth and being unexpectedly declined, Collins then proposes to Charlotte, who immediately agrees, considering her own interests. When discussing her recent engagement to Collins with Elizabeth, Charlotte’s declarative statements “I am not romantic” and “I ask only a comfortable home” contrast entirely with Elizabeth’s desires in marriage. The attributive adjective “romantic” presents Charlotte as the embodiment of society’s ideals as she rejects romanticism, thus conforming to society's expectations where women were expected to only exhibit behaviour which was considered normal at this time, like not expressing desire. Romanticism would have led on to desire and in rejecting this Charlotte conforms to the stereotype of women in the Romantic era. She could, however, be considered pragmatic since she is seeking economic security, especially as she has no other choice due to her being a woman. The noun phrase “comfortable home” emphasises Charlotte’s role as a stereotypical woman of the Romantic era since as she values a need for financial security, rather than love. Until 1870 women could not own property so Charlotte’s sole option is to marry for security or face societal rejection. This is shown through the verb phrase “ask only” implying her one desire is security which is enhanced through the pre-modifier “comfortable”. Charlotte appears to have control here as she makes her own choice but even in marriage women were imprisoned as once married they were unrecognised legally, dehumanising them and highlighting their role as a man’s possession. Austen utilises Charlotte to emphasise the impact of society’s ruling on women, illustrating the idea that marriage was a necessity for women in the Romantic period. Therefore Austen illustrates how social convention clearly entraps women, indoctrinating characters like Charlotte with the view that they are inferior to men and incapable of surviving independently of them.   Likewise, Brontë uses her protagonist, Catherine Earnshaw, to illustrate the stereotypical woman at this time through her need to conform. Brontë does this, despite Cathy failing to conform emotionally to societal convention. The noun phrase “the greatest woman in the neighbourhood” outlines the expectations of women during this period as the desire of many women revolved around gaining power through marriage. During the late 18th century conceptions of family and the role of women changed with marriage becoming centred on the accumulation of wealth. In one respect, Catherine is conformal; her main priority is to gain wealth or societal advancement which she can only do through marriage, emphasising how society greatly influences her decisions. The emphatic tone on the superlative “greatest” expresses Catherine’s choice to marry according to society's expectations as it suits her desires. This contrasts entirely with Elizabeth's views as to her marriage concerns love and not social power, an unstereotypical attitude in the Victorian period. Catherine advocates the stereotypical woman at this time by marrying Edgar to enhance her social position, despite loving Heathcliff. The noun “neighbourhood” enhances this impression as it appears Catherine wants to marry to accumulate some power within a male dominated society. This gives Catherine a superior appearance in the eyes of society which was only attainable through marriage during this period. However, much alike Charlotte Lucas, Cathy may be deemed pragmatic as she chooses social acceptance rather than societal rejection so she can survive in a patriarchal society. This highlights the theme of female inferiority since Cathy feels obliged to marry according to the views of society just so she can subsist. Female inferiority can also be seen through Brontë, who being entrapped by her gender was forced to write under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, facing major criticism and controversy due to her portrayal of love and cruelty. Additionally, Cathy is unstereotypical due to the desire she feels for Heathcliff since as a woman she was not expected to express desire towards a man, particularly one of a lower class than herself. However, regardless of social status women were oppressed by society, never being able to accumulate as much power as a man of equal class. Elizabeth and Cathy’s morals completely oppose each other as Elizabeth is rebellious and Cathy accommodates the stereotypical ideals in marrying Edgar. So, in this way, Cathy is entrapped by the indoctrinated views of society whereas Elizabeth rejects these ideals