Gender and family affect the life of every individual in society, reflecting and enforcing the power structures present in society both at a macro and micro level. This dissertation will examine how fictional representations of dysfunctional family dynamics can be used to examine gender roles within the domestic sphere in Regency Britain, using Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as a case study. It will begin by focusing on fatherhood in the novel through a thorough investigation of the representation of Mr Bennet, before moving onto how the theme of dysfunctional motherhood is represented through the character of Mrs Bennet. The final chapter will analyse Austen’s representation of dysfunctional gender roles in courtship and marriage through the study of three different couples within the novel. This project will fill multiple gaps in the existing scholarship: firstly, it will prove the viability of fiction novels, an underutilised source by historians, as a method by which the past can be examined. Secondly, it will investigate dysfunctional family dynamics, a topic often neglected by a historiography that focuses primarily on the ideal. Finally, it will focus on pre-1830s families, which tend to be ignored in favour of Victorian families. This project will analyse character descriptions, the plot, the relationships between characters, and the judgement and sympathy of the narrative voice to gain insight into gender and the family, as well as the feared consequences of incorrectly performed gender roles. This will be supplemented by an evaluation of pamphlets, letters, sermons, poems, and books to provide a comprehensive approach when analysing how far Austen’s representation of a dysfunctional family compares with representations of the ideal. It will demonstrate the viability of fiction and establish that many people struggled to negotiate transitioning gender roles at the turn of the century, something that is key to an understanding of the Regency era. In addition, this study enables future researchers to build on this study’s close examination of one fiction novel to better investigate the past using other fiction novels, which allows a more thorough understanding of a variety of topics and themes.
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