Pride and Prejudice and The Edible Woman: Negative Effects of the Society's Influence Throughout history, society has played an important role in forming the value and attitudes of the population. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Margaret Atwood's The Edible Woman are two novels which exemplify the negative effects of society's influence. Both Elizabeth Bennet and Marian McAlpin are strong women who rebel against society's influences in their lives. They refuse to accept the pre-set …showed first 75 words of 1444 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1444 total…near ready for marriage, yet due to her underlying need to be “normal” she tries desperately to mold herself into a role which proves to be very destructive. She, too, takes the control of her life away from society and puts it back where it belongs, in her own hands. Thus rebellion is necessary in both situations in order to fulfill the needs of the characters and restore them to their previously healthy, happy lives.