How do Jane Austen and E.M Forster portray their heroines...

The independence of the heroines in â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† and â€Å"A Room With a View† can be defined by their unconventional views and the fearlessness that they display. In â€Å"Pride and Prejudice†, Austen presents her heroine Elizabeth as having unconventional views on marriage and society. It is clear that in Austen’s choice of Elizabeth she is presenting an alternative role model for the women of Regency society. Similarly, in â€Å"A Room With a View†, E.M Forster’s heroine Lucy demonstrates an independence and fearlessness in her choices which challenges society’s expectations. Elizabeth’s views are of crucial importance to her independence; both in her personal life and views of wider society. Elizabeth’s view of supporting her sister after†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, irony is evident in this statement, in the verb â€Å"dreadful† which suggests that there is an underling problem in Regency England, where women are the oppressed victims of a patriarchal society and matrimony was the only alternative, this is reinforced in Regency law where women did not legally own any money or property unless they were widowed or heiresses, accompanied by the accepted belief that â€Å"Men have a larger share of reason bestowed on them† (Dr Gregory). Moreover, this irony suggests that Austen did not agree with this approach on marriage. In â€Å"A Room With A View† Lucy exhibits confidence in her independent views, when purchasing Botticelli’s â€Å"Birth of Venus†, where Venus is nude, â€Å"Miss Bartlett h ad persuaded her to do without it†, however; Lucy trusts her own unconventional opinion and taste consequently, displaying independence. Elizabeth’s independent views are evident in her actions; a prime example is her rejection of the marriage proposals of Mr Collins and Mr Darcy despite the obvious financial gain and stability that it would provide her family; Elizabeth believes Mr Collins to be â€Å"a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man† and most importantly that â€Å"[he] could not make [her] happy†. Elizabeth also rejects Darcy, a wealthy aristocrat, on the grounds of his pride and moreover, for potentially