A modern day love story: Prince William and Kate Middleton

Why has this match fascinated the public?

• Society is still interested in many of the same things, the same universal themes :

Interest in royalty, people with status A rich eligible bachelor Marriage Evaluating the worth of others

“Kate Middleton’s mother may have been a cause of the split with Prince William….various newspapers reported that multiple social faux pas committed by Middleton’s mother…did nothing to endear her to the future king’s friends and family…reports suggest that William’s inner circle did not believe her to be sufficiently upper class” (peopledaily.com)

Austen began writing First Impressions in 1796 P & P is published in 1813 Transitional period, straddles two centuries

Setting: rural county in Southern England Character variety: social, educational and

economic statuses Satire, comedy of manners, comedy of

errors

1789: Fall of Bastille: uprising of lower class against societal institutions

1792: Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman “to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength,

both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of the heart, delicacy of sentiment and refinement of taste are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness”

1793: Reign of Terror begins 1794: Austen’s cousin in law beheaded 1813: Pride and Prejudice published

The Industrial Revolution: opportunities resulted in a more influential middle class Revolutionary for individual rights Rise of the novel, larger middle class, increase in literacy

among women, servants and middle class

18TH AND 19TH CENTURY TODAY

Aristocracy: nobility

Gentry: upper middle class

Trade: middle class

Royalty Upper Middle Lower /Working

The novelist, and especially Jane Austen, always cares [about social class] because it is the business of the novel to represent people - not exclusively, but prominently - in their social roles, and to be precise about the differences between them….Austen… goes in for fine distinctions, whether between degrees of quality of mind in her characters or the fine shades of difference in their social standing. But to say so much is not to contend that she approved of the bastions of privilege in her very hierarchical society, or resisted the changes towards freer movement between the classes that she saw happening around her….Austen was no snob, though she knew all about snobbery.

- Scholar Juliet McMaster

Social etiquette: rude behavior is unacceptable, scrutinized People who ignore or misinterpret social

expectations are viewed as ridiculous, ignorant

Those who observe social protocol are sensible, well-bred, and classy

Look for Austen’s suggestions of social laws that need revising

Especially important for an 18th century woman

There was an emphasis on men and women to marry well and to marry a reputable partner, thus there are requirements for eligible marriage partners for upper classes. Requirements included…? Marital Expectations included…?

How are Austen’s view towards marriage revealed? Satirical vs. hopeful?

Challenges? Opportunities? Limitations? Legal rights?

Economic dependence: women don’t inherit anything from their families

Limited employment opportunities

What happens to an unmarried women whose father dies?

To what degree is obsession with wealthy suitors understandable and acceptable in this society?

Consider a feminist reading of this book

To limit the passage of an estate to a specified line of heirs, preferably male relatives

A predetermined order of succession where one’s (a man’s) property goes to next male relative

Think of the succession to the throne in the British Monarchy: men inherit over women

Mr. Bingley, Bennet family, Mr. Darcy Who has an estate?

Great Grandpa BennettI I

Grandpa Bennet Great Aunt Bennet

I I

Our Mr. Bennet Mr. Collins II

------------------------------------------------------- I I I I I Jane Elizabeth Mary Kitty Lydia

1. Prince Charles of Wales 2. Prince William of Wales 3. Prince Harry of Wales4. Andrew Windsor: The Duke of York

5. - Princess Beatrice of York* 6. - Princess Eugenie of York*

7. Edward Windsor: The Earl of Wessex8. Anne Laurence: The Princess Royal

9. Peter Phillips10. Zara Phillips

* Eligible is their fathers inherit, but if not…? Virtually impossible