Women characters in Jane Austen's novels

Abstract

The thesis focuses on an analysis of women characters of Jane Austen's novels Emma, Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. In the first part it briefly deals with historical background of the turn of 18th and 19th century, and Jane Austen's life and work. In the main part of the thesis themes of social class, marriage, a position of women in society, and reputation that are widely reflected in Austen's novels, are analyzed with a focus on the female characters. Another chapter is aimed at an in-depth analysis of major heroines of the novels, and further at a brief analysis and comparison of minor characters that are divided into groups according to the social roles they perform, and characteristic features they share together.