British society in the early British society in the early 1800’s1800’s

What are all these places?What are all these places?►Hertfordshire—where Hertfordshire—where

Bennetts live in Bennetts live in Longbourne estateLongbourne estate

►Derbyshire—where Derbyshire—where Darcy lives in Pemberly Darcy lives in Pemberly estateestate

► Brighton—where Lydia Brighton—where Lydia goes with Colonel goes with Colonel Forster and his wifeForster and his wife

► Kent—where Rosings Kent—where Rosings estate is and Mr. Collins estate is and Mr. Collins residence (Hunsford)residence (Hunsford)

How men made moneyHow men made money► Rich landowners still held large Rich landowners still held large

amounts of land (sometimes amounts of land (sometimes whole towns) from which the whole towns) from which the lower class workedlower class worked

► Darcy owns land and farmers Darcy owns land and farmers rent from him (thus he has rent from him (thus he has other income in addition to his other income in addition to his inherited wealth)inherited wealth)

► The most “gentlemanly” way of The most “gentlemanly” way of making money was renting landmaking money was renting land

► Mr. Bennet has land, but not Mr. Bennet has land, but not enough to produce a huge enough to produce a huge incomeincome

Other jobs men heldOther jobs men held► The only respectable job was The only respectable job was

that of lawyer, navy, army, that of lawyer, navy, army, or the churchor the church

► You had to have money to You had to have money to study law, so it was reserved study law, so it was reserved for the wealthyfor the wealthy

► You had to purchase a You had to purchase a commission for the military commission for the military (through a patronage)(through a patronage)

► You needed a wealthy patron You needed a wealthy patron to work in the church (as Mr. to work in the church (as Mr. Collins did)Collins did)

The militiaThe militia► Kind of like a “volunteer” Kind of like a “volunteer”

branch of the army, no branch of the army, no commission requiredcommission required

► Wickham was at first in the Wickham was at first in the militia militia

► To join the army, he would To join the army, he would need a rich person to pay his need a rich person to pay his commission (he has no one commission (he has no one to do that)to do that)

► Army pay was enough to live Army pay was enough to live on, but most men who joined on, but most men who joined had an extra “allowance” had an extra “allowance” from their wealthy parents from their wealthy parents (Colonel Fitzwilliam)(Colonel Fitzwilliam)

What did these rich guys do all What did these rich guys do all day?day?

► Several times a year he would Several times a year he would “attend to the business of his “attend to the business of his estate” (even though he has estate” (even though he has an estate manager—an estate manager—Wickham’s dad was the Wickham’s dad was the manager of the Darcy’s manager of the Darcy’s estate)estate)

► Consult with your business Consult with your business manager about your manager about your investmentsinvestments

► He may have sat in the House He may have sat in the House of Lords or the House of of Lords or the House of Commons (only available to Commons (only available to rich landowners)rich landowners)

► Parliament met at various Parliament met at various times from Jan. to mid times from Jan. to mid summersummer

► The fall and early winter were The fall and early winter were devoted to huntingdevoted to hunting

GamblingGambling► ““Gentlemen’s clubs” at this Gentlemen’s clubs” at this

time were basically places time were basically places of gambling (poker, cards, of gambling (poker, cards, etc)etc)

► Many men lost a great deal Many men lost a great deal of money at these clubsof money at these clubs

► Jane was clearly worried Jane was clearly worried about Wickham’s gambling about Wickham’s gambling ways for good reasonways for good reason

► Gambling debt was a “debt Gambling debt was a “debt of honor” and had to be paid of honor” and had to be paid first…not paying it resulted first…not paying it resulted in a loss of reputationin a loss of reputation

Daily life for the upper classDaily life for the upper class► Breakfast at 10 a.m. (it took Breakfast at 10 a.m. (it took

awhile for the servants to fetch awhile for the servants to fetch water, cook, start fire)water, cook, start fire)

► No regular lunch…the afternoon No regular lunch…the afternoon was spent shopping, attending to was spent shopping, attending to the servants, visiting neighbors or the servants, visiting neighbors or receiving visitors in your home.receiving visitors in your home.

► Ladies would sew, paint, practice Ladies would sew, paint, practice musicmusic

► From 3-4 you dressed for dinnerFrom 3-4 you dressed for dinner► Dinner was from 4-7 depending Dinner was from 4-7 depending

on the time of yearon the time of year► After dinner the ladies would After dinner the ladies would

leave so the men could “pass the leave so the men could “pass the port” a.k.a. drink and tell dirty port” a.k.a. drink and tell dirty jokesjokes

► The ladies waited in the parlor The ladies waited in the parlor until the men joined them to play until the men joined them to play cards, read, write letters or play cards, read, write letters or play musicmusic

““Coming Out”Coming Out”►Girls were introduced to Girls were introduced to

society around age 16 or society around age 16 or 1717

► It meant a girl had left It meant a girl had left the schoolroom and was the schoolroom and was now introduced to society now introduced to society and on the marriage and on the marriage marketmarket

► A party was thrown and A party was thrown and then she accompanied then she accompanied her mother to townher mother to town

► She was also then invited She was also then invited to adult dinners and ballsto adult dinners and balls

► Traditionally, girls didn’t Traditionally, girls didn’t “come out” until their older “come out” until their older sisters were married or had sisters were married or had been out long enough to be been out long enough to be old maids.old maids.

► Think of how Elizabeth Think of how Elizabeth responds when Lady Catherine responds when Lady Catherine asks, “All 5 out a once?”asks, “All 5 out a once?”

►Girls were not to spend long Girls were not to spend long amounts of time with a man amounts of time with a man until they were marrieduntil they were married

► They attended balls and even They attended balls and even when engaged, only family when engaged, only family activities were allowed (walks activities were allowed (walks were okay)were okay)

LondonLondon► Considered the most Considered the most

stylish place to live, stylish place to live, particularly in the winter particularly in the winter monthsmonths

► Successful lawyers Successful lawyers practiced herepracticed here

► Country lawyers did not, Country lawyers did not, therefore were not as therefore were not as respected/wealthyrespected/wealthy

► People had “summer People had “summer homes” in the country homes” in the country because London was quite because London was quite disgusting in the summer disgusting in the summer (sewage, humidity)(sewage, humidity)

The Church of EnglandThe Church of England► The established church, The established church,

therefore was funded by therefore was funded by the state.the state.

► Local landowners Local landowners appointed the clergymen appointed the clergymen and provided a parsonage and provided a parsonage (house) and income to (house) and income to themthem

► Think about why Lady Think about why Lady Catherine chose Mr. Catherine chose Mr. Collins for the Hunsford Collins for the Hunsford parish….parish….

EntailsEntails► Women could not inherit Women could not inherit

land or estates when land or estates when there was a male in the there was a male in the family.family.

► Mr. Bennett has no sons, Mr. Bennett has no sons, therefore, when he dies, therefore, when he dies, his estate will go to the his estate will go to the next male heir, Mr. next male heir, Mr. Collins.Collins.

► Clearly, you can see why Clearly, you can see why Mrs. Bennett constantly Mrs. Bennett constantly talks of when Mr. Bennett talks of when Mr. Bennett dies how Mr. Collins will dies how Mr. Collins will turn them all outturn them all out——he he would have every right to would have every right to do so.do so.

Role of women…Role of women…► The only acceptable and The only acceptable and

honorable provision for honorable provision for women at this time was women at this time was marriagemarriage

► You remained in your father’s You remained in your father’s house until you marriedhouse until you married

► If your father died, you were If your father died, you were the responsibility of your the responsibility of your brothers (a financial burden brothers (a financial burden on them obviously)on them obviously)

► Charlotte Lucas’s brothers Charlotte Lucas’s brothers were so “relieved from their were so “relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an old maid”?dying an old maid”?

What jobs could women What jobs could women have?have?

►The only employment for upper middle The only employment for upper middle class women (like the Bennets) was:class women (like the Bennets) was: SeamstressSeamstress Governess (on duty 24 hours a day, live in Governess (on duty 24 hours a day, live in

the home)the home)

►Lower class women worked as maids, Lower class women worked as maids, servants, and farmhandsservants, and farmhands

Rights of womenRights of women

►Once married, women were the legal Once married, women were the legal property of their husbandsproperty of their husbands

►Not allowed to divorce a husbandNot allowed to divorce a husband► If a woman cheated, the “other man” If a woman cheated, the “other man”

owed her husband money (the husband owed her husband money (the husband could sue) for “ruining his property”could sue) for “ruining his property”

►Wickham, therefore, only flirts with rich Wickham, therefore, only flirts with rich singlesingle women women

Marriage settlementsMarriage settlements

►When a woman was married, a When a woman was married, a marriage settlement was drawn upmarriage settlement was drawn up

►This settlement is a legal document that This settlement is a legal document that states the interest from the “marriage states the interest from the “marriage money” given to her is hers and can be money” given to her is hers and can be willed to her childrenwilled to her children

►Thus, if widowed, she has some moneyThus, if widowed, she has some money► If a girl married a rich man, he If a girl married a rich man, he

contributed money to this settlement contributed money to this settlement (to provide for his wife in case of his (to provide for his wife in case of his death)death)

The danger of not getting The danger of not getting one…one…

► If a girl eloped and did not get a If a girl eloped and did not get a marriage settlement, any money marriage settlement, any money she had was the property of her she had was the property of her husband.husband.

►Her husband could disappear the Her husband could disappear the next day, leaving her penniless.next day, leaving her penniless.

► Remember this when you discover Remember this when you discover why Darcy is so angry at Wickham . why Darcy is so angry at Wickham . . . . .

ElopementElopement

► Looked down upon in Looked down upon in society (for obvious society (for obvious reasons mentioned)reasons mentioned)

► Any man who eloped was Any man who eloped was not considered a not considered a “gentleman” by society’s “gentleman” by society’s standardsstandards

► The girl’s reputation was The girl’s reputation was generally damaged as generally damaged as wellwell