What were Elizabeth Bennett’s prospects in the real world?

[Anonymous]

We know in the fictional and fantasy world of Jane Austen a girl like Lizzie Bennett can catch the eye of an extremely wealthy and handsome gentleman. In real life though, how well would’ve someone like Lizzie done in the marriage market at the time?

[Anonymous]

Probably would have married random guy who is nice enough.

Probably older, not likely to be her exact age.

Someone in their village who wanted an educated wife, who could handle ordering dinners, managing a French tutor for their children, live economically.

[Anonymous]

Mr Collins or equivalent.

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere that fathers of that class would work their connections to find spouses for their daughters if there was no one available locally. She might not have had someone nice or even her age, but she'd have a husband of her social class who could provide a place to live. She wouldn't have to work.

Given the dire straits they'd be in once Mr Bennet died, I always thought it was weird he didn't seem to care about them getting married. Mrs Bennet was uncharitably written but she wasn't wrong to worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere that fathers of that class would work their connections to find spouses for their daughters if there was no one available locally. She might not have had someone nice or even her age, but she'd have a husband of her social class who could provide a place to live. She wouldn't have to work.

Given the dire straits they'd be in once Mr Bennet died, I always thought it was weird he didn't seem to care about them getting married. Mrs Bennet was uncharitably written but she wasn't wrong to worry.

Indeed! Poor Mrs. Bennett was very astute to realize the dire situation they’d all be in once Mr. Bennett died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere that fathers of that class would work their connections to find spouses for their daughters if there was no one available locally. She might not have had someone nice or even her age, but she'd have a husband of her social class who could provide a place to live. She wouldn't have to work.

Given the dire straits they'd be in once Mr Bennet died, I always thought it was weird he didn't seem to care about them getting married. Mrs Bennet was uncharitably written but she wasn't wrong to worry.

Indeed! Poor Mrs. Bennett was very astute to realize the dire situation they’d all be in once Mr. Bennett died.

Charlotte Lucas was also a very wise woman!

Lizzie was pretty, amiable, and well-liked. Take Mr. Darcy from the equation and she would’ve married a landed gentleman, but almost certainly not one with a large fortune, a soldier who made his own fortune in war, or perhaps a clergyman, just not someone ridiculous, of course. I don’t see her ending up with a tradesman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mr Collins or equivalent.

+1

[Anonymous]

Sense and Sensibility presents somewhat of the scenario for after Mr. Bennett's death -- mom and daughters stuffed into a cottage. Or, Lizzie might have become a governess.

[Anonymous]

She would have lost her edginess and settled, lest she end up like Lily Bart

[Anonymous]

She might also have refused to marry someone she didn’t like and lived with Jane as a sort of unpaid companion/governess. (Jane would surely have married, because she’s very pretty and also felt a duty to settle for her sisters’ sake.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sense and Sensibility presents somewhat of the scenario for after Mr. Bennett's death -- mom and daughters stuffed into a cottage. Or, Lizzie might have become a governess.

Or, she might have ended up like Anne in Persuasion, who caught Captain Wentworth's eye, but then tossed away her chance of happiness on her godmother's advice because he didn't seem like a good enough prospect. Luckily for Anne, he went off to war, survived, and made a fortune, before they were ultimately reunited.

Or, couldn't Lizzie have ended up like her aunt Gardiner -- married to a barister -- and happily ensconced in what DCUM might consider the life of the working wealthy?

OP -- thanks for starting such an entertaining thread on this rainy morning.

[Anonymous]

In real life she did accept someone then changed her mind and refused him the next day.

https://www.biography.com/.amp/news/jane-austen-biography-facts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere that fathers of that class would work their connections to find spouses for their daughters if there was no one available locally. She might not have had someone nice or even her age, but she'd have a husband of her social class who could provide a place to live. She wouldn't have to work.

Given the dire straits they'd be in once Mr Bennet died, I always thought it was weird he didn't seem to care about them getting married. Mrs Bennet was uncharitably written but she wasn't wrong to worry.

I thought:
Mr Bennett cared.
He saw no point in becoming hysterical about it regularly.
Like my dh calmly putting sunscreen on the kids, getting the job done, while I’m going into another lecture about how important sunscreen is. (I don’t do this, I was just trying to think of an example from life now.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In real life she did accept someone then changed her mind and refused him the next day.

https://www.biography.com/.amp/news/jane-austen-biography-facts

I meant Jane Austen herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mr Collins or equivalent.

+1

+2