Alessia Hughes

My thesis discusses a woman's power of refusal in the early nineteenth century through Jane Austen's novels, particularly through the lens of Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth Bennet's refusal of a typical woman's role and expectations in the game of marriage shines throughout the novel, as well as through modern retellings, including Bridget Jones' Diary, Eligible, and Ayesha at Last. My thesis explores how the power of refusal changes throughout time in these novels, but also how it has not changed and remains a large part of women's power in marriage and beyond.