PENGARUH NORMA SOSIAL DAN ETIKET DALAM KARYA JANE AUSTEN, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1993): STUDI SOSIOLOGI SASTRA = THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NORMS AND ETIQUETTE IN JANE AUSTEN’S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1993): A SOCIOLOGY OF LITERATURE STUDY

BREZKY SIMARE MARE. The Influence of Social Norms and Etiquette in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1993): A Sociology of Literature Study (supervised by Burhanuddin Arafah and Herawaty Abbas). This thesis explores the influence of social norms and etiquette in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1993) through a sociology of literature approach. The study aims to analyze how societal expectations during the Regency era shaped the behavior, decisions, and interactions of the main characters in the novel, particularly Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. By applying Hyppolite Taine’s triadic theory of race, milieu, and moment, alongside selected concepts from Lucien Goldmann’s genetic structuralism, the research situates the literary text within its historical and social context to uncover deeper sociological meanings embedded in the narrative. This qualitative study uses descriptive-analytical methods by closely reading the novel and examining key dialogues, events, and character developments. The two primary research questions guiding this study are: (1) How did Jane Austen portray the influence of social norms and etiquette on the behaviors and decisions of the main characters in Pride and Prejudice (1993)? and (2) How did this influence of social norms and etiquette reflect the societal impact of adhering to or challenging established norms? The findings reveal that Austen not only portrayed the constraints of social class, gender expectations, and decorum through her characters’ actions and inner conflicts but also highlighted the subtle acts of resistance and self-determination that defied these norms. For instance, Mr. Darcy’s initial remark “She’s tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” reflects the rigid aesthetic and class-based judgments prevalent at the time, which later evolve as his character confronts and redefines his values. Ultimately, the study concludes that Pride and Prejudice (1993) offers critical insight into the tension between societal expectations and individual agency, illustrating how social norms and etiquette both shape and are reshaped by the characters who navigate them. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersection between literature and society in the early 19th century.

Keywords: Jane Austen, social norms, etiquette, sociology of literature, character analysis.