Throughout the novel, Austen constructs the protagonist in defiance of the codified behaviors regarding women's social decorum that characterize Regency England in order to 'illustrate the forging of a female identity in an environment of changing values ​​such as the disintegration of class structure, new social mobility and increasing personal autonomy. Elizabeth Bennet's insurgency in matters of free will is visible throughout the novel and can be particularly visible in Chapter 8 through her walk in Netherfield, an act against the social decorum of the time. Through the characters' responses to Elizabeth's decision to walk to Netherfield Park, we can see that Austen is defying societal expectations by asking Elizabeth to behave this way. This action is first commented on by Elizabeth's mother, a woman ironically characterized by her concern for social affairs, she says: "How can you be so stupid... to think of such a thing, in all this filth! You won't be worth seeing once you get there. Both responses from Elizabeth's parents suggest that it is rare to walk a distance of three miles; her mother's response suggests that this is frowned upon, particularly in how it will affect her appearance, and her father's assumption suggests that walking is considered out of the question and therefore she must want the car. Stating that she does not wish to avoid the walk. Distance is nothing when you have a motive; only three miles.” However, Elizabeth expresses a more practical view of walking than her mother. By describing Elizabeth "jumping over stiles and puddles with impatient activity", Austen shows a penchant in Elizabeth for exercise and the outdoors and creates a positive reading of Elizabeth's experience that contrasts with the negative responses his march receives, just one of many non-conformities. Elizabeth engages in her separation from the norms of women in the English Regency. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayMrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley's contempt is deepened by Austen when she writes that the two discuss Elizabeth's arrival critically. Miss Bingley states that Elizabeth "has nothing, in short, to recommend her, except that she is an excellent walker." I will never forget his appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild. Caroline's specific speech regarding Elizabeth being an "excellent walker" - a term that is not necessarily complimentary on Caroline's part, suggests the same kind of low opinion of walking that we found in the Mrs. Bennet's reaction. Caroline's comments specifically criticize the effects of walking on Elizabeth's hair, petticoats, and stockings. In a society where appearances are everything, it was distasteful and inappropriate for a woman to fall into disarray – a point emphasized by Caroline and Elizabeth's mother. Caroline further exclaims: “Walking three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above your ankles in the earth, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by that? This seems to me to demonstrate an abominable sort of pretentious independence, a very rustic indifference to decorum. By critiquing Elizabeth's independence through Caroline, a character who has high expectations of appropriate behavior, Austen criticizes society's view of an independent woman. Not only is it considered inappropriate to engage in activities where the appearance of a.