Despite her popularity, critics have argued that Jane Austen's works remain apart from the political, intellectual, and artistic revolutions of her era. Her Pride and Prejudice does not, in fact, make any direct reference to political events. The development of the novel, however, does reflect changes in English society. Rewritten over a period of years from 1797 to 1813, Austen's story begins with strict observance of the social codes that dominated her society. Its conclusion, however, inspired perhaps by the French Revolution and its aftereffects (1789- 1815), shows some defiance of these codes.
The French Revolution. The French Revolution began in 1789, a number of years prior to the publication of Austen's work, but its social impact was felt long after its inception. Before the Revolution, social boundaries in England, as in the rest of Europe, were rigidly drawn and not easily crossed. The Revolution, which began with the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, changed all of that.
Toward the end of the 1700s, population growth in France had led to a shortage of food supplies.
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