"Gender"

Gender roles were something that Jane Austen was highly against, as explained in the "Gender" chapter of The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen. In Austen's books, she tends to make fun of the typical feminine role; the proper, always agreeable mask that a woman was to always wear was challenged by Austen. Austen likes to go against readers expectations of what a love story means. In other words, when readers crave an ending kiss, and high romance throughout the book, she writes were the characters have no contact, and still a romantic relationship. There is no question that Austen questions the gender roles that her society has placed upon her, and in my opinion, I believe that is something that has made her books for famous; the fact that she challenges her society. It is clear that Austen uses Elizabeth's "anti-sex" role to manipulate Mr. Darcy. She attracts him by her demeanor that is completely different than the typical female of the 1800's.