Throughout the novel, Austen constructs the protagonist by challenging the codified behaviors regarding the social decorum of women that characterize Regency England in order to illustrate the forging of a female identity in an environment of changing values ​​such as disintegrating class structure, new social mobility and growing personal autonomy. The onset of Elizabeth Bennet's action is seen throughout the novel and can be seen particularly in chapter 8 during her walk in Netherfield, an act against the social decorum of the time. Through the characters' responses to Elizabeth's decision to travel to Netherfield Park, we can see that Austen challenges society's expectations by making Elizabeth behave this way. This gesture is commented for the first time by Elizabeth's mother, a woman who is ironically characterized by her attention to social life, she says: "How can you be so foolish... to think of such a thing, in all this filth !" You won't be worthy to be seen when you get there.' Both of Elizabeth's parents' responses suggest that walking a distance of three miles is rare; his mother's response suggests that it is disapproved of, particularly how it will affect his appearance, and his father's assumption suggests that walking is considered out of the question, so he must want the carriage. Stating that he "does not wish to avoid the walk". Distance is nothing when you have a reason; only three miles.” However, Elizabeth expresses a more practical opinion on walking than her mother. Describing Elizabeth "skipping up steps and jumping over puddles with eager activity," Austen shows a passion in Elizabeth for exercise and the outdoors and creates a positive reading of Elizabeth's experience that contrasts with the negative responses that gets his walk, just one of many non-conformities. Elizabeth is committed to her separation from the norms of women in Regency England. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayMrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley's contempt is explored further by Austen when she writes of the two critically discussing Elizabeth's arrival. Miss Bingley says that Elizabeth "has, in short, nothing to recommend her, except that she is an excellent walker." I will never forget his appearance this morning. It really looked almost wild.' Caroline's specific talk of Elizabeth being an "excellent walker" - a term not necessarily intended in a complimentary sense on Caroline's part, suggests the same kind of low opinion of walking that we found in Mrs Bennet's reaction. Caroline's comments specifically criticize the effect that walking had on Elizabeth's hair, petticoats, and stockings. In a society where appearances mean everything, it was distasteful and inappropriate for a woman to fall into disarray, a point made salient by both Caroline and Elizabeth's mother. Caroline further exclaims, "Walking three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in the dirt, and alone, completely alone!" What could he mean by that? It seems to me that it demonstrates a sort of abominable presumptuous independence, a very urban indifference to decorum." In critiquing Elizabeth's independence through Caroline, a character with high expectations for appropriate behavior, Austen criticizes society's view of an independent woman. Not only is it considered inappropriate to engage in activities where one's appearance may fall into disarray, but it is inappropriate to exude.