The Transformative Power of Walking in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

With the rise of 18th century novels, readers saw an increase of women reading, having discussions, and taking on more social and economic power. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet not only does all three, but she also walks. Many readers most likely relate to walking being a force of liberation; one that is heavily relied upon to take us away from the constraints of the indoors. For Elizabeth Bennet, this was true to an even greater extent.

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Why is there an emphasis on walking outdoors in Pride and Prejudice? How does this serve Elizabeth, and how does it separate her from the rest of society? What is it about the simple act of walking in the English countryside that is so liberating for her?

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From the outset, Elizabeth is introduced as a lively, independent, opinionated individual with quite a contrarian outlook towards society as a whole. There are several aspects to taking daily, solitary walks in nature that seem to provide her with an escape from societal pressures. One such aspect is the space and autonomy that walking provides. When we walk, we do it for ourselves, not for any external obligation. This individualistic space allows Elizabeth to ponder different topics and generally utilize her imagination, intellect, and feelings in any way she chooses. All these acts imply a sense of not only freedom, but also free will. While freedom is the absence of external limitations on an individual’s choices and actions, free will is the fundamental ability to make decisions based on one’s own desires and values without considering any external influences.

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This free will influences Elizabeth’s rebellious tendencies early on in the novel. When her elder sister, Jane, becomes ill and cannot travel, she walks three miles through a storm to visit her at Netherfield Park, thus demonstrating her contrarian, stubborn vigor. She would rather endure the harshness of nature than conform to the societal norm of taking a carriage, and is scorned for doing so and for dirtying her dress. This does not dissuade Elizabeth; she seems to find a certain appeal about contending with nature to get to her loved one, and going against societal norms by doing so.

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We also see this sense of freedom arise later on, in the intimate moments between her and her future love interest, Fitzwilliam Darcy, that only occur outside amidst nature. Here, they are not confined to conducting themselves with a high level of decorum and are free to express themselves authentically. The culmination of the book occurs on a walk through the verdant grounds of Pemberley, where Darcy confesses that his feelings for Elizabeth have remained unchanged since his last unsuccessful proposal. This also supports the contrast between ballroom dancing and outdoor walks. While dancing allows for men and women to be intimate and form relationships, with the hope of a future marriage, it is still quite regimented and structured — they can only touch each other in certain places, dance in a certain arrangement, and only dance one time if they are not considering a marriage proposal. This contrasts starkly with walking outdoors, which provides an opportunity for engaging conversation and expressions of passionate feeling between two people.

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What, then, is it about nature that grants this kind of autonomy and free will? Perhaps we can observe within our own lives that the closer we are to our natural roots, such as hiking, swimming, or just being outdoors in general, the more our minds are opened and the more in touch with ourselves we become. Elizabeth distinguishes herself from the rest of society in this way — nature is clearly an arena that strengthens her, while for the rest of society, nature is the burden that they must escape from, using carriages or ballroom dancing. While others created society as a way to escape the discomfort and fear that the outdoors evoke, Elizabeth is freed by nature and instead views society as something that evokes discomfort and a sense of confinement.

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Her innate tendency towards reading books and valuing intellectual discourse may imply a connection between her love of nature and her knowledge or wisdom. It cannot be a coincidence that the only character in this novel who seems freed by the outdoors also has a love of knowledge and a desire to know more about the world around her. By escaping the artificial constraints of society and immersing herself in the beauty of the natural world, Elizabeth gains clarity on her own desires and priorities. William Wordsowrth writes of this tendency in his Prelude, speaking of nature as an eye-opening source of creative power: “I retained my first creative sensibility, that by the regular action of the world my soul was unsubdued”. Although Wordsworth and Austen were writing in wildly different contexts, they seemed to be influenced by the same Romantic notions that imagination, emotionality and individuality are crucial elements in measuring how humans respond to their external world.

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Through walking in nature, Elizabeth learns to trust her own judgment and assert her independence, ultimately attaining the freedom to chart her own course in life. Austen's expressive emphasis of the natural world serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of connecting with nature and finding solace in the simplicity and beauty of the natural world.

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