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Mr. Bennet's negligence
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I'm impressed! I admit I only scanned the blog, having little interest and no brain for math, but I'm impressed that you got prices from those days and salaries and figured this all out. Good work.Another aspect of the subject: Is it generally considered negligent if a parent fails to leave his or her children any money? Or is it just a father from this time period, and only to daughters?
That was very interesting, J! As far as fathers not leaving money to their children, Marcy, I think that when those children are not equipped (by their fathers) to earn a decent living, the fathers should be responsible for their futures. I think society as a whole, at that time, did think it was a father's responsibility to provide for his children (both sons and daughters) and their futures. I don't see that as a priority now, though, do you? I just thought of that bumper sticker you see on expensive motor homes that says, "I'm spending my children's inheritance". Funny now, but not what would have been funny in years past!
One way now that parents seem to be held responsible is in the matter of paying for college for their children. That's become a sort of new obligation that society is imposing. And, of course, there is the argument that paying for college will make their futures more monetarily independent! Same end, different means?
Marcy wrote: "I'm impressed! I admit I only scanned the blog, having little interest and no brain for math, but I'm impressed that you got prices from those days and salaries and figured this all out. Good work...."In Austen's day, a gentlewoman really had no means of earning an income (unless she did happen to become a popular novelist), so it was expected that male relations would step up. One reason that Charlotte Lucas' brothers were happy about her marriage, and that she would not die an old maid was because they would be expected to provide for her support. There was no legal obligation, of course, but there was a social and moral one. You even see that Sir Thomas Betram, after Maria disgraces the family, provides for her maintenance.
Yes I suppose that's all common sense, that since women couldn't earn their own living--weren't taught or equipped and it was at least frowned upon--then it should be expected that their fathers would provide. It isn't true anymore, but some parents do feel some responsibility I think. I don't consider the bumper sticker funny, about spending childrens' inheritance, but that's mostly bc I have personal issues around this--as is probably apparent.
Edward Ferrars is a good case-in-point of a man not being trained for anything, too. And because of that, he is completely dependant on the whims of his wealthy relatives.
Probably a bit of all that, Parinita! And personality, too? Some people just seem to be naturally movers and shakers! And some, like Edward, are what? too sweet and diffident to buck the system?
Still chuckling! Maybe Edward did have just a bit of the piglet in him, because he didn't think about his actions until it was too late!
Another question about money in their time: When she says someone "has 5 thousand," or whatever number, does it mean they have that much per year, or they have that amount buried in their sock drawer?
The money was usually invested in "the funds" and they lived on the interest. Well, if they were prudent and lived within their means, that is!
I've been thinking about jobs and the differences between today and Austen's day, and I think one of the biggest is that today we are a job-oriented society. We go out to work in order to provide for ourselves what we want and need. And there are gazillions of jobs in our society for us to go into. It's not just a social taboo that stopped women (and men) from getting out there and earning money, but also the fact that jobs weren't there! I wonder how many new jobs have been created in the last 200 years... Or even in the last 50 years!
I might just have to do a bit of research on this (in my spare time, hardeharhar!). It would make a great dissertation, wouldn't it???
Just the jobs in "health care" alone are amazing. And schools. And government. And gas stations!
One of the things that is interesting is how the attitudes towards work and idleness are developed through Austen's books. Poverty is a burden, but many characters suffer from excessive idleness, too.
And without TVs and electronics to encourage their idleness! How did they cope?!?
Well, but reading and painting and making their own music did take up a lot of time for an accomplished woman. And, of course, there were households to manage. If they were affluent enough to afford servants, they even had to have management skills! And things like laundry - which we sigh over - were much more time-consuming than now. Oh, and another thing that they did was... walk! Walking and riding were very important for health and were indulged in at every opportunity. Of course, we're not talking about the lazy here, but about those who did keep themselves occupied! If you want to be lazy, you'll always find a way, no matter when you live!
Does anyone know of any continuations/rewrites of P&P that feature Mr. Bennet's negligence? I don't just mean him dying and Elizabeth becoming a governess, because I've read that before, but something occuring during his lifetime?
Parinita wrote: "what baffles me is how did the women spend their time? the men I imagine went out and about, but the women didn't have anything to do other than sow, read, write, play music and gossip! they did go..."Parinita, I just read a little blurb about women inventors, so there's another thing to add to their to-do lists!
Scarlett wrote: "Does anyone know of any continuations/rewrites of P&P that feature Mr. Bennet's negligence? I don't just mean him dying and Elizabeth becoming a governess, because I've read that before, but someth..."I don't, Scarlett, but I'll bet this group could come up with some pretty funny scenarios for you!
That idea of jobs then versus now would make a great study! I was noticing esp. with S&S how few occupations there seemed to be, even for men. Clergy, law, and...? not that much else. IMO women had more to do, as usual, with all the writing, reading painting and household management. And not just in bonnie England, but America too. Read Edith Wharton for the rich and their servants in America around that time or a little bit later.
Scarlett, I just finished Jo Baker's Longbourn. Now there is a new look at Mr. Bennet. Check it out!
Katherine wrote: "Scarlett, I just finished Jo Baker's Longbourn. Now there is a new look at Mr. Bennet. Check it out!"Thanks!! I will check it out when I can :)
Scarlett wrote: "Does anyone know of any continuations/rewrites of P&P that feature Mr. Bennet's negligence?"There is a subplot about this in "By Force of Instinct" by Abigail Reynolds. EB still lives with her dad, he's alive, but his neglect is a real problem.
Mimi wrote: "Scarlett wrote: "Does anyone know of any continuations/rewrites of P&P that feature Mr. Bennet's negligence?"There is a subplot about this in "By Force of Instinct" by Abigail Reynolds. EB still ..."
Thank you Mimi - I'd looked at this before, but I'll put it at the top of my wishlist then!
There is a book titled something like "Life in the English Country House" and another one called "Wives and Daughters" that describes what gentlewomen did.Women often supervised the education of their daughters - Lady Catherine, when she hears that Lizzy hasn't had a governess, assumes that Mrs. Bennet had been a slave to her education. Women were also supposed to improve their minds - read, draw, learn French or Italian, learn a musical instrument, gardening, dancing; certain branches of science, especially botany, became acceptable fields of study. Women had to supervise the household food orders and menus, keep up an active correspondence with family members. If there were tenants on the estate, the lady of the house was supposed to visit them if they were ill, provide charitable assistance, often pass down clothing. Women were also amateur apothecaries, often growing herbs in kitchen gardens that were used for basic cures and poultices. They might make their own clothing; if not, they at least altered and trimmed their dresses, shawls, bonnets.
Depending upon the household staff, women might also learn the rudiments of cooking - remember that while the Bennet girls had nothing to do in the kitchen, Charlotte Lucas was "wanted about the mince pies".
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