Gender Roles

Throughout Death Comes to Pemberley, gender roles are examined. From the opening of the novel, the reader is reminded of the plight to marry off the Bennet daughters as is witnessed in Pride and Prejudice. In the prologue, the reader learns that of the five daughters, four have found themselves a husband. This assignation of man to a woman reinforces the woman’s need for a partner to have a place in society.

It is easy to recognize women as second-class citizens, and this is indicative of the time period in which the novel is set. Col. Fitzwilliam makes a point of discussing Georgiana’s hand in marriage with Darcy, dismissing her obvious preference for Alveston. Martha Piggot’s testimony isn’t given during the inquest because she wasn’t asked. While Darcy tends to the matters at hand regarding Captain Denny’s death, Elizabeth...