Comparing and Contrasting Literature

Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë are two of the most famous women writers ever born. Their two masterpieces, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, are equally famous. Both these authors and their works have been the subjects of much praise, but criticism has also arisen. This criticism commonly focuses on the society that is portrayed in these novels; many modern readers take umbrage with this society. It is full of unfamiliar rules, customs, and prejudices that, thankfully, no longer exist in our current world. While both these novels do indeed deal with this society, there are some differences between the two. Pride and Prejudice is more of a social commentary than Jane Eyre, while the latter has more religious tones than the former. However, both authors seem to view this society in a negative light and, therefore, create strong, memorable characters that serve as inspiration for women of all generations and societies. HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Comparing and Contrasting Literature