Constructing the Status of Ghanaian Women in Austene’s Writings: Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey

Abstract

The role of women in society is so crucial and inevitable to the extent that they should be given recognition and appreciation to a greater extent. This paper attempts to critically examine the position of women in Jane Austen’s novels: Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey and juxtapose with the position of Ghanaian women. In a recent study, Elleker Boehmer (2005) underlines the usefulness of comparing literary texts by women from postcolonial countries as a way towards greater awareness of the conditions of women in other countries of the world, making possible solutions to problems of women across frontiers while also respecting the differences of the specific circumstances of each woman, and using these women’s texts. The study begins with a brief introduction of how women are perceived generally as inferior to men. The historical background of women writers is also traced to buttress the fact that the role of women is so crucial and cannot be down played. Also the views of some feminist writers have also been recorded. The conclusion will explore the role of women in recent times and its impact on the society.