Why Do Jane Austen's Characters Have Specific Incomes?

In Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", Austen explores themes of wealth and class. In this video we'll discuss why Jane Austen had specific income tickets attached to her characters. Thanks for watching!

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:58 Pride and Prejudice Summary
22:29 Inflation and Wealth
26:14 The Bingleys are New Money
29:34 Colonel Fitzwilliam and Younger Sons
33:53 Mr Darcy's Privilege
40:34 Charlotte Lucas Marries for Money
44:27 Mrs Bennet's Redemption
48:34 Trapped by Mr Wickham
53:37 Conclusion

Twitter: @bethhaymond
Instagram: @bethhaymondreads

Reading by Heather Beaman @beacharacter

WORKS CITED

Edward Copeland, "Women Writing About Money"
Daisy Grewal "How Wealth Reduces Compassion"
Ivor Morris, "Elizabeth And Mr. Bennet"
Christopher Ryan, "Why Are Rich People So Mean?"
John McAleer, "The Comedy of Social Distinctions in Pride and Prejudice"
Robert D. Gume, "Money in Jane Austen"
Barclay Palmer, "Why Is the Consumer Price Index Controversial?"
Philip Drew, "A Significant Incident in 'Pride and Prejudice'"
Jennifer Kloester, "Georgette Heyer's Regency World"
Roy & Lesley Adkins, "Jane Austen's England"
Claire Tomalin, "Jane Austen: A Life"
Janet Todd, "The Cambridge Introduction to Jane Austen"
Katherine Toran, "The Economics of Jane Austen's World"
John Mullan, "What Matters in Jane Austen? Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved"
Linda Slothouber, "Bingley’s Four or Five Thousand, and Other Fortunes from the North"
Elaine Bander, "Neither Sex, Money, nor Power: Why Elizabeth Finally Says 'Yes!'"
Cecilia Salber, "'Excuse my interference': Meddling in Pride and Prejudice"

[hollygolightly]

Clearly you haven't read enough Shakespeare.

[redfive]

Sorry but you just drop this immaculate piece of media completely for free online and its your only post? What a masterpiece of a video thank you so much!

[ctranks]

This is the best Austen discussion series. She has the best voice, is very thorough and has none of the egocentric ticks of so many YouTubers. Very well done

[KPT]

I know this video is 2 years old but I wish more people see it. It’s a good analysis of pride and Prejudice: a book that opens with the most famous line about money! Thank you for making this video and I hope you’ll return to YouTube in the near future with more Austen discussions.

[elsalaiho]

I recall seeing someone once point out that the reason (or at least one of the reasons) Elizabeth feels she can afford to be picky and marry for love, is that she 1) trusts Jane to marry well, and 2) trusts Jane to provide for her, should she herself not marry anyone

[KJ-jqpq]

Some trivia: Anna Chancellor who played Caroline Bingley in the adaptation is related to Jane Austen.

[emmahardesty]

Very good, really enjoyed this. Reminder: Austen herself felt the sting of money prejudice when the family of her first love demanded that he not see Jane anymore.

[fascination]

One last compliment -- @ 47:58 Thank you for taking up for Mrs. Bennet. She was the only one concerned with how her daughters would survive after Mr. Bennet died. I've got little respect for Mr.B, always hiding in his library and neglecting the future of his family. He'd be more universally vilified if people weren't blinded by his obvious preference for Lizzie.

[ecarron]

Brilliant analysis. I'd never thought about why the Bingley sisters were snobbish, but now you've pointed it out it makes sense. They have a similar social anxiety as Mrs Bennett, all are worried about sinking in status and financial position. You could definitely do a video about the Bingley sisters and whether they're misunderstood or if they're genuinely horrid.

[kjova]

I found myself wondering if Elizabeth would have felt differently in 7 years time, the same age as Charlotte, if she hadn't married Darcy. Sometime our ideals seem so important and perfect when we are young but later with the benefit of more experience we realize we might be wrong. When I first read P&P in highschool I of course idolized Lizzie but as I approached 40 as a single woman it was like "oh Charlotte you are so right". Yes I have the ability to make money and do well but even today two incomes are better than one when trying to buy a house etc vs renting an old basement suite with little light.
However, I don't think Lizzie would have felt the hardships as much as the rest of the family once her father passed because her character seems able to socialize and fit in with anyone - except for the fact that she would see her friend in their old house with Mr. Collins and that might be a big (unintentional) "I told you so" in her face.

Also I never thought of the part about the Gardiners before. Everyone always places the "change" in Darcy solely at the feet of Elizabeth refusing him but then it seems the Gardners played a huge role in this beyond taking her to Pemberly in the first place but rather in just being a symbol of goodness. I have always loved them as a couple

[marianlayug]

I've always been fascinated by the economic aspect that motivated Mrs Bennet but that, with your brilliant analysis, shines a light too on the atrocious snobberyand downright meanness of the Bingley sisters, Lady de Burgh, and even Darcy himself. Your incisive analysis of how money and how it drives our choices brings a freshness and modern outlook to P&P. I hugely enjoyed your video. Thank you and long live Jane Austen!

[judithfenley]

I have to wonder if Wickham knew Mr Darcy was in love with Lizzie, and thus assumed Mr Darcy would come to Lydia's rescue in order to save Lizzie from the shame that would come upon her had Lydia been debased to the level of a streetwalker. This could destroy Mr Darcy's chances of marrying Lizzie. In some way, Mr Darcy was also protecting his own interests. He told Lizzie he did it for her. (For her reputation and his?)

[dsr]

This was extraordinarily well done, and I thank you. I am disappointed to see that this is your only YT video on any subject.

[AlamoDame]

Thank you. You're a kindred spirit, and I enjoyed your discussion very much and recommending you're video to others attracted to Austen and life during Regency times!

[DavidBrowningBYD]

I’ve read the book and seen the 1995 miniseries many times, as well as seeing quite a few other commentaries here on YouTube, but you make quite a few points here that I had never considered. Well done!

[gtb]

Beth, great video. It’s obvious how much work, research and thought you put into the project. On a different topic, your soft delicate voice put me right to sleep last night and the two times I woke up overnight. Thank you for that. Sad to see that this is your only video. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

[daniellekazemzadeh]

"And she doesn't die in childbirth"
That is alternatively the funniest thing you said in your essay and the most horrible, so very well done indeed

[Theres-doek]

fantastic video! I would love to watch many more of your in-depth videos about Austen's work!

[joekerr]

Darcy was not only rich he was actually a member of the so-called "old money". While he and his family did not have an actual noble title (were not part of the nobility, they were an actual old landed gentry. Meaning his family most likely owned land since probably the middle ages and/or for at least for a couple of centuries. This meant that he had far "superior breeding" to use Jane Austen's words, his connections would thus surely go far beyond any of the other character...besides ofc Catherine de Bourgh and their cousin Col. FitzWilliam who in fact came from even more "distinguished families" at least in the most immediate family.

In fact the use of the surnames by Jane Austen, while her characters are purely fictitious, refer to actual noble families of that time. For example Darcy of rather D'Arcy as it would be spelled originally were an old family from north England which had numerous branches, of which at least four managed to gain nobility being created Barons and Earls. So in my understanding Darcy would probably be an offshoot of a much richer and powerful family, most likely a descendant himself from one of the younger sons of a noble...not much unlike as Col. FitzWilliam as he is portrayed in the book. The actual FitzWilliam family itself was also an old family of which at least two branches were raised to nobility, not to mention De Burgh of which the actual family featured heavily in English history and even more in Ireland (where they are known as Burke/Bourke) since they held some of the highest offices and noble titles since the times of William the Conqueror.

Bingley's and in smaller part Bennet's represent the so-called middle class of that time. A class which started emerging from the upcoming industrialization and trade. This puts things even more in the perspective...it wasn't only just about the money but rather it was in essence a clash and joining of two different social classes. In essence it was a love story and in smaller part a social commentary of the British (or rather English) society of the time...with the new upcoming families climbing up the social ladder and mixing up with the old landed gentry.

[madisonap]

i was so sad to see you dont have more videos up! Loves all the detail and context in this video that many videos on the subject cant fit. Keep it up!!