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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Governess would have been the answer for her - [/quote]

+1 Yup. Governess. Most likely to the kids of a sibling who had married well. She says as much in P&P. Her expectation was that she would live with Jane and Mr. Bingley and teach their "ten children." This would have been a very realistic outcome for a woman in Lizzy's position.[/quote]

But for a pretty, young, vivacious woman there was huge societal pressure and expectation to marry. She more than likely not would’ve married anyone rather than be a spinster aunt/governess. A marriage to a tradesman or soldier (officer-rank soldiers were often younger sons of gentlemen or “gentry” as were clergymen, so those marriages wouldn’t have been crossing class lines as much as a gentleman’s daughter marrying a tradesman) would’ve been far preferable to being the spinster aunt. [/quote]

ha. you've obviously not bothered to read the book.[/quote]

I’ve read it many times. And I maintain what I said. Elizabeth Bennet is not Jane Austen. Jane Austen had an unusual family and definitely isn’t writing herself into the Bennet family. For the average young woman in regency England, any marriage would’ve been considered preferable to a single life. Jane Austen is the exception. [/quote]

Austen never hid nor pretended anything otherwise in her books. Charlotte Lucas is a perfect example of realism Austen incorporated into the story. The readers of early 19th century would have thought Lizzie silly to turn down Mr. Collins and the stability of a good income and rank he promised. Charlotte Lucas made clear she does not love Mr. Collins but she will get a house of her own, children, and be the mistress of an estate someday. Had Mr.. Collins not come along, her future was an old maid dependent on her brothers. She knew she was as lucky in her own way as Lizzie later was to marry Darcy. It's all very clearly spelled out in the story. It's the modern reader who doesn't fully understand the implications of Lizzie turning down Collins. [/quote]

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