Discuss Representations of one of the Following Social Identities in the Work of Austen; Sisters.

Discuss representations of one of the following social identities in the work of Austen; sisters.

Jane Austen was one of eight children born to Rev. George Austen and his wife Cassandra. As one of two girls in a large and boisterous family, an intimate bond formed between Jane and her elder sister Cassandra. Their shared experiences of boarding school and education cemented the firm relationship as they helped one another to deal with the disillusions of life as a woman in the eighteenth century. During the occasional times of separation, numerous letters of affectionate correspondence demonstrate the closeness between the two sisters. In order to appreciate the role of sisterhood in the works of Austen we must take into account Jane's own relationship with her sister and to decide whether her own experiences mimic those of the pairs of sisters that flood her books.

Social expectations in the eighteenth century were exceptionally prominent; young women having recently left education would be expected to be highly accomplished and charming with perfect manners. Marriage was the most important decision concerning the welfare of their future and as divorce was considered scandalous, it was paramount to the family's reputation that any potential husband should be of good fortune and circumstance. All Jane Austen's novels end with the protagonist achieving a state of unadulterated fulfillment through the successful alliance of marriage. Austen helps most of her heroines through this pivotal and dominating period of their lives by providing them with a sisterly figure who will bestow careful advice and guidance and with whom they can tell their innermost thoughts. Most of the characters in Jane Austen's novels look to their sisters for counsel and support throughout the process of finding a husband.

Elizabeth, the protagonist of Pride and Prejudice and her elder sister Jane have been "out" in society for several years since finishing their education several years previously. To the reader, it is intelligibly clear from the beginning of the novel that the elder Bennett sisters have a durable closeness. They have a distant father and an inconceivably obtuse mother as well as two embarrassing younger sisters whose crazed and frenzied behaviour starts might start to bring a reputation upon the family honour. Their position in life makes it essential that they procure a successful marriage and therefore they subconsciously begin to rely on each other to endorse their kindred to potential suitors as together they have wit, charm, charisma, kindness, intelligence and beauty. Their awareness of their own family's - as Mr. Darcy describes - "obstacles" continues to strengthen their relationship as their acquaintance with the Bingleys' abruptly and dismally ends.

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the female protagonists of Sense and Sensibility have a similarly close relationship. They are been brought closer together by the dissolution of their family unit as a result of the death of their father. Following the disloyal actions of their half-brother, they are made to move out of Norland Park to