The Regency period in England was an extravagant era often associated with major social, political, economic, and artistic advances. It took place in the early 1800s and was a period of great elegance and aristocracy. Films and books set in this period all seem to highlight the elegance and romanticism prevalent at the time. Famous literary works from the Regency era, such as Pride and Prejudice, portray young English women getting their happy endings with their true loves. Unfortunately, such endings didn't actually happen to real women of the time because they lived very austere and vapid lives. They hardly had a choice in many of their life decisions and had little or no career options. These women were raised from birth to be ladylike, obedient and pleasant in order to attract respectable men to marry, as they were completely dependent on men. Women were essentially treated as property passed down from fathers to husbands. They had many restrictions and were often not even allowed to go out without proper accompaniment. Because the expectations placed on women were so rigid and absurd, some feminist authors of the time ridiculed these social standards in their writings. The famous writer Jane Austen was known for satirizing many social mores of the Regency period in her romantic fiction novels, placing particular emphasis on women's rights. Pride and Prejudice in particular depicted protagonist Elizabeth Bennet as an intelligent, stubborn, free-thinking individual who did not let negative external forces influence her beliefs. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen challenges social decorum and creates her own ideals for women through Elizabeth Bennet's independence, intelligence, and strength... middle of paper... constantly trying to be agreeable, passive and authorized. let her express her opinion and act based on her values. Elizabeth was very active in her life and expressed her thoughts when she was unhappy about something. This is in stark contrast to the nice, passive women idealized by society in the regency period. Because Elizabeth was so independent and free-thinking, Austen gave her an ideal ending and in the process began rewriting social norms for women. Austen was known for her subtle but powerful social commentary in her books, particularly on women's rights and equality. Her ideas about how women should live and be treated were well ahead of their time and she helped pave the way for other feminists. Her character, Elizabeth Bennet, will always be iconic in the history of feminism for being one of the first to promote female independence and individuality.