In the 19th century, the luxury of having to do nothing was one that rested with the eldest son. The younger ones had to fend for themselves with extremely limited professions accepted as respectable enough for them. […]
In the Austenian era, military positions could not only be bought but even exchanged. Lady Denham, in ‘Sanditon’, is more offended not by this but by the fact that some take pay cuts in order to escape active duty. […]
In the 19th century, there were several professions that a gentleman could adopt. Clergy was one of the most lucrative one. However, the challenging part was not in becoming one, but rather in successfully securing a living. […]
In Austen’s world, the rich were imagined to be more honorable, better people. And yet, her fiction showed the exact opposite: the laboring middle classes, or even, the poor as perfectly virtuous. […]
When it comes to the tradition of primogeniture, Jane Austen’s female protagonists stood no chance. Even though they were educated, they faced constant financial insecurity. Unable to inherit, marriage was their only way out. […]
Understanding the value of British currency, such as a pound, helps the readers know that it was an amount which could potentially be the entire salary of a servant and wasn’t a small sum in the Austenian world. Therefore, a character in the novel, spending a few on a whim would definitely be declaring his status and wealth. […]
After marriage in the 18th century, women and men were seen as a single identity, that of a man’s. Women could not buy property and filing for divorce was next to impossible. […]
Jane Austen’s female characters saw matrimony as a means to secure their and their family’s future. And yet, the laws remained unfair to them. Financially, they were dependent on their husbands, as their property legally belonged to their husband. […]
Marriage, in Jane Austen’s world, wasn’t just for love. It was seen as a family duty: a chance to climb the social ladder an ease family’s financial obligation, and secure social advancement. […]
In Jane Austen’s world, the characters had a set of rules to follow when it came to romance and courtship. Men could be manipulative or immoral but woman transgressing had to pay a long-term price for it. […]
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