A representação da mulher e o bildungsroman feminino em orgulho e preconceito.

Abstract

This paper analyses the gender relations in Pride and Prejudice (1813), by the English writer Jane Austen (1775-1817) from a feminist perspective, considering them by the lenses of the Feminist Bildungsroman/Novel of Formation. In order to better support the analysis, the theoretical basis will be taken from Gilbert & Gubar (1984; 1984), Beauvoir (2009), Woof (2014), Moers (1976), Pinto (1990), Maas (2000) and Summerfield & Downward (2012), among others. Firstly, it will be discussed the issue of female oppression during some historical periods, discussing types of societies, and changing of profile in them that resulted in a shift from mother-centered to male-centered societies and the implications of this in the gender relations. The analysis will deal also with a fundamental point in history concerning female representation, that is, the usage of myths of negative connotation by patriarchal societies about women and also their sources. The focus also will be on female voices inside and outside the literary universe, in the English scenario, and male voices that also fought for women’s cause. Both voices ignited what will be in the XIX century, in a systematic way, the fight for women’s rights, that resulted in a literary tradition of female authorship, in the opening of doors in the literary market or not form women from different social classes. Secondly, it will be analyzed in the novel the situation and position of women in the society of the end of XVIII century and beginning of XIX century, mainly aspects that the writer highlights, such as education, morality and marriage, all these in the gender relations. Finally, it will be presented the Female Bildungsroman theory, which is a literary review of the traditional male term Bildungsroman by the feminist criticism, when will be presented the characteristics of this subgenre that has as a protagonist and woman, who from her confront with the social and cultural realities of her time and also personal search reaches a certain degree of development. This analysis will show how Austen uses the model of typical male formation novel to adapt it to the female cause.