1. A modern day love story: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Why has this match fascinated the public?

2. 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)

3. Pride and Prejudice A Brief Introduction
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

4. Historical Context
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

5. Focal Point 1: British Class System
18th and 19th Century
Today
Aristocracy: nobility
Gentry: upper middle class
Trade: middle class
Royalty
Upper
Middle
Lower /Working

6. 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

8. Focal Point 2: Societal Decorum and Improprieties
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

9. Especially important for an 18th century woman
Focal Point 3: Marriage
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?

10. Focal Point 4: Women 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

11. Estate Entailment
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?

12. Bennet Order of Succession
Great Grandpa Bennett
I I
Grandpa Bennet Great Aunt Bennet
Our Mr. Bennet Mr. Collins I
I I I I I
Jane Elizabeth Mary Kitty Lydia

13. Current Order of Succession The British Monarch
1. Prince Charles of Wales
2. Prince William of Wales
3. Prince Harry of Wales
4. Andrew Windsor: The Duke of York
5. - Princess Beatrice of York*
6. - Princess Eugenie of York*
7. Edward Windsor: The Earl of Wessex
8. Anne Laurence: The Princess Royal
9. Peter Phillips
10. Zara Phillips
* Virtually impossible