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Sheila Markey
The main people obtain their money in Sense and Sensibility severals ways. First, multiple people like Mr. Dashwood, Colonel Brandon, Mr. Willoughby, own property which provides them with money from rents. They may also farm the land directly. They can also obtain money from their land by selling the natural resources like trees. Specific types of trees were often intentionally planted so that there would could be sold it the future. Mr. Dashwood discusses selling trees in the book and Sir John Middleton is mentioned owning a plantation. The second way we see to earn money was through a job, but it should be noted that there were only a few careers considered acceptable for genteel society to take up. These were the church, the army, and law. These tended to be the domain of younger sons because the bulk of the estate was always passed down to the heir to keep it intact. Colonel Brandon was a second son and he joined the army and travelled to India because of it. The law is an option that Edward Farrars� family ( although he is an heir) would like him to join. This specifically would mean to become a barrister who trys cases in court. Third is to join the clergy. This required going to the universities at Oxford or Cambridge and then being ordained. If one managed to obtain at least one church living, whether by being given it or though purchase, one could get money from both tithing the locals who belonged to the parish and farming one’s own land. Edward Farrars� living ends up being over £200 which is the same amount that Jane Austen’s father first made when he married. This would be on the low level for gentility income. One needed around £1000 a year to be able to afford to buy and maintain a carriage. Another way we see people obtaining their money is through trade. This is not genteel and lowered one’s social status. People who obtained their money would include the Jennings family. Families in trade often provided very large doweries to their daughters in order to marry into the more socially desireable gentry and aristocratic class which is what the Jennings have done with their daughters. Doweries were also generally provided with daughter’s of the gentry and aristocracy as well. Money could also be made through investments. Mrs. Ferrars seems to have investments which she would be willing to give to Edward Farrars (on top of an estate) if he would marry the rich Miss Morton. They money that the Dashwood women have is also in investments. Investments, or bonds, had an interest of either 3% or 5%. All together they have £10000 which gives them £500 a year to live on. To put in perspective how miserly there half-brother is being by not giving them additional money he has, combining inheritances, estate income, and money from his wife’s dowery, at least £5000 a year.
Sources: The Annoted Sense and Sensibility edited by David M. shapard
Jane Austen: the World of Her Novels by Deirdre Le Faye
Sources: The Annoted Sense and Sensibility edited by David M. shapard
Jane Austen: the World of Her Novels by Deirdre Le Faye
IvanOpinion
Sheila is right about how inherited assets would generate income. But that just raises a new question: how did the families first gain these assets?
I suspect that if you trace right back several centuries, the answer is that their ancestors were what we would today call warlords, who seized land by force. Or, they were granted the land by kings or lords who had themselves seized the land.
I love Austen's books, but I am always staggered by the sense of entitlement of the section of society about which she writes. That's not a criticism of her writing; just an observation about how she and her peers took something for granted.
I suspect that if you trace right back several centuries, the answer is that their ancestors were what we would today call warlords, who seized land by force. Or, they were granted the land by kings or lords who had themselves seized the land.
I love Austen's books, but I am always staggered by the sense of entitlement of the section of society about which she writes. That's not a criticism of her writing; just an observation about how she and her peers took something for granted.
Kitti Tobin Steiner
well, having watched Downton Abbey I know all about this. (please note the sarcasm). however, there would probably be rental properties and small farms on the general estate that would bring in income. also, interest on the already large cash estate. also, it makes more sense to give annuities than a whole bag of cash to basically lazy people with very little education and not much ambition. just saying. also, back then, a rich person was either a pastor or (seems like) went to Parliament. and then lived off of the income from their properties. the ladies, well, they just got married off to either a pastor or a member of Parliament. please understand this in the spirit it was intended. also, i feel like i caught a little of Jane Austen's take on life for the wealthy
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