Pride, prejudice, and proposals: Jane Austen’s world lives on in Bangladesh
Jane Austen’s Regency-era novels may seem worlds apart from present-day Bangladesh, but her insights into class, gender, and the marriage market remain startlingly relevant in a Bangladeshi society
The British literary giant Jane Austen's keen observations of 19th-century English society, with its intricate social hierarchies, the paramount importance of marriage for women and the subtle interplay of reputation and wealth, might seem too distant from contemporary Bangladesh.
However, a closer look into her works reveals an enduring relevance, particularly concerning social structures, gender roles, and the pursuit of security and status within a rapidly evolving nation. This piece explores how Jane Austen's world continues to resonate in Bangladesh, drawing on insights into current societal dynamics.
Social class and the pursuit of good connections
Jane Austen's novels are a masterclass in depicting the different layers of society, where family lineage, inherited wealth, and advantageous marriages determine one's social standing.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In Bangladesh, while traditional feudal structures have largely diminished, a robust class system persists. We clearly see that Bangladeshi society is broadly divided into an upper class who hold significant wealth; a growing middle class, who are categorised into two subclasses with comparatively less wealth, upper-middle and lower-middle, and working and lower classes with the least amount of wealth.
These class-based nuances also existed in the Regency, but the consequences were more rigid. For instance, in Persuasion, Mrs Smith was Anne Elliot's childhood friend, but due to her social standing going down after the death of Mr Smith, everybody, including her loved ones in higher classes, hardly visited her.
This shows the rigidity of the class system that was pervasive in society at the time and stands as a testament to how women's social status has historically been tied to their fathers before marriage and their husbands after marriage.
The importance of "good connections" also remains a powerful driver in our society. In Pride and Prejudice, Mrs Bennet would do anything to secure a suitable match for her daughters. After Jane found a good match in Mr Bingley, Mrs Bennet heaved a sigh of relief, but she knew it wouldn't be enough for her other daughters as their financial and social security relied on their future husbands.
Similarly, many Bangladeshi families, regardless of their current economic standing, aspire to climb up the social ladder through education, career advancement, business and strategic alliances, including marriage.
The idea of "marrying up" or securing a partner from a reputable family with a strong social network is still a realistic ambition, echoing the societal pressures faced by Austen's heroines.
The visibility of wealth, often exhibited through lavish weddings and displays of material comfort, serves as a marker of social status. The present wedding status of Bangladesh is similar to Regency England, where carriages and country estates signified prosperity.
Enduring importance of women's marriage
While Bangladesh has made significant development in women's education and workforce participation, the institution of marriage still continues to hold immense social and economic significance, particularly for women. For many, marriage remains a primary pathway to social security, respectability, and even upward mobility.
This resonates deeply with Austen's narratives, where marriage was often the only viable profession for women, dictating their financial stability and social stature. Traditional marriage customs in Bangladesh, often involving elaborate multi-day ceremonies and significant family involvement, underscore the societal weight placed on this union.
While love marriages are increasingly common, arranged marriages or "love-cum-arranged" marriages, where families play a significant role in screening partners, still exist. This echoes the intricate courtship rituals and familial negotiations so central to Austen's plots, where parental approval and financial considerations were immense.
Moreover, women after a certain age get out of the marriage market and are left feeling a social stigma of being "undesirable", which draws a parallel to Pride and Prejudice's Charlotte Lucas. The idea that a woman must get married at a certain age still exists today, as many women face sighs and concerned stares from relatives if they are not married by the 'right' age.
Furthermore, despite advancements, women in Bangladesh often face societal expectations to prioritise family and domestic roles after marriage, even if they have pursued higher education or careers. This subtle yet pervasive pressure to conform to traditional gender norms, while different in manifestation, shares a thematic link with the limited choices and societal expectations placed upon women in Austen's era.
Education as a modern avenue for mobility
One significant departure from Austen's world, and a crucial element in contemporary Bangladesh, is the role of education as a driver of social mobility. While Austen's heroines were educated in "accomplishments" suitable for marriage, modern Bangladeshi women are increasingly pursuing higher education as a means to achieve financial independence and personal agency.
More men are also looking for educated wives to boost their social standings, but if the woman is more qualified than the man, people might not perceive it as a marriage among equals, even if it would be okay for the wife to be less qualified. Her education might get weaponised against her in the marriage market despite the fact that she only claimed financial independence and agency. But fortunately, education is highly encouraged for our girls now.
Various research and studies show a notable upward intergenerational educational mobility in Bangladesh, with a significant proportion of respondents achieving higher education than their parents. This has contributed to a growing cohort of educated women who are challenging traditional norms and seeking opportunities beyond marriage. However, educational inequality persists, particularly between urban and rural areas, mirroring some of the class-based disparities in access to resources depicted by Austen.
Beyond marriage and class
In the 2012 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries reimagines the character of Mr Collins, but he gives Elizabeth Bennet a job offer instead of a marriage. He does it for the same self-serving reasons reimagined from the original book and thinks that he is doing Elizabeth a favour. But he gets upset when she rejects his offer.
He does not acknowledge her independence. The fact that it is a reimagined story set in America still echoes the harsh truth of women's independence being overlooked the way it was in the Regency era.
Many women in Bangladesh and around the world suffer from prejudice in professional settings despite having the same or more qualifications than their male counterparts. According to a 2023 study done by the UN Gender Social Norms Index, 99% of Bangladeshis have at least one bias against women, with 88% thinking that men are more deserving of greater job opportunities.
Moreover, 99% of women hold biases against their own gender, slumping their progress in favour of social norms and mirroring the way women in the Regency era dared not to dream bigger, even if they also worked.
Women's achievements, therefore, sometimes get downplayed in favour of their male counterparts, just as how Austen's works were never acknowledged in her lifetime, but her stories became the defining literary pieces for that era.
Globalisation and the clash of values
The impact of globalisation on traditional values in Bangladesh adds another layer of complexity. While globalisation has brought economic growth and increased exposure to diverse cultures, it has also created a dynamic interplay with long-held social norms.
The influence of Western media and ideas, including modern interpretations of relationships and individual autonomy, can be seen in urban centres. This can lead to a fascinating tension between traditional expectations and evolving aspirations, not unlike the subtle societal shifts and challenges to convention that Austen so deftly explored. The pressure to balance familial obligations with individual desires, a recurring theme in Austen, finds new resonance in a globalised Bangladesh.
Mirroring human realities
While the specificities of 19th-century English country life and 21st-century urban Bangladesh are vastly different, Jane Austen's enduring appeal lies in her insightful portrayal of universal human experiences: the quest for love and companionship, the desire for security and status, the complexities of family dynamics, and the subtle yet powerful influence of societal expectations.
In Bangladesh, as families navigate modern opportunities alongside deeply rooted traditions, Austen's themes of social commentary, the importance of character over superficial appearances, and navigating a hierarchical world continue to offer a powerful, albeit often unspoken, reflection of contemporary realities. We are, indeed, still living in a Jane Austen world, albeit one with a vibrant Bangladeshi overlay.
Rezina Sultana heads the Department of English at the Canadian University of Bangladesh.
Onira Raisa Chowdhury is an Anthropology undergraduate student with a minor in English at a leading private university.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
