The

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The Marriage Market and Jane Austen A look at
marital social class structure in Regency England

• By
• Kristi Cagle

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Persuasions Analysis of Marriage

• Persuasion shows us a glimpse into the lives of a
  few families living in a small town, and love
  trying to find a route between Anne and
  Wentworth, at first quashed by her friends and
  family due to his lack of fortune and position in
  society. Ten years later, after made a captain
  in the Navy, those thoughts about his eligibility
  were completely changed.

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Persuasions Analysis of Marriage continued

• Annes cousin, Mr. is another example of the
  politics of marriage. He saw the change of
  losing the baronetage to a future son if Mrs. was
  allowed to stay close to the family for much
  longer.
• It seems that only when Anne married Captain
  Wentworth was there any marriage that beheld
  romantic love in it throughout the book.

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Bad Marriages in Persuasion

• The worst arrangement is that of Annes sister,
  Mary, who is married to Charles Musgrove.
• Neither of these two love each other and are more
  interested in selfish pursuits.
• Mary is a hypochondriac who loves having an
  affliction.
• Charles loves to hunt and be with the guys
  rather than taking care of his household.

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What is the Marriage Market?

• The Marriage Market is the amount and quality of
  young men and women in ones surroundings that
  are eligible to be married.
• As the name suggests, one must shop around for
  the ideal partner, out of the select few that are
  available (Though, traveling to London and Bath
  did present quite a few more acquaintances in
  which to chose from).

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Marriage Market in London

• London was great to meet new people.
• The season brought all the gentry and
  aristocracy into town.
• Parliament opening was start of the season.

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Marriage Market in Bath

• The Pump Room was famous as a place to see and be
  seen, and make new acquaintances through people
  one would have already known.
• People were introduced into the Bath society by
  signing their name in the Pump Room, letting
  others know they were in town.

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Inheriting Diagram

• M(dead)
• -------------------
  ---------
• 
  
• M(dead) F(12)
  M(7) M(9)
• 
  
• --------------------------------
  M(8)
• X M(1) F(11) M(5) F(11)
• ------ ----- M(6)
• F(10) F(10) M(2) M(4)
• M(3)

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What To Do With Second Sons?

• Send them to the Army with a paid commission.
• Send them into the Navy.
• Have them join the Church.

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Was Romantic Love As To Capture as Jane Austen
Portrayed?

• As difficult as Anne had it finally recapturing
  her Captain Wentworth, it is easy to accept that
  due to his rise in class his acceptability as
  Annes husband completely turned around. But it
  could be argued that due to his fairly easy rise
  to favor, her endeavor in loving him isnt as
  difficult as if he were a field hand.