Lydia ~ Family Rivalry

“‘Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman.’” (Page 300)

This quote serves multiple purposes. The first is to give some insight into women’s status during the 19th century. Unlike today, women had very few rights. Unable to truly establish themselves in society, they had little to do but get married and have children. Once married, women practically belonged to their husbands. Looking back on this time period, it seems odd that a girl would willingly let her life be controlled by her husband. Perhaps this is why Jane Austen chose never to marry. Another purpose of this quote is to show directly what type of character Lydia is; she is an immature and selfish girl who doesn’t think before she acts. In addition to this, Jane Austen includes this quote to show the commonality of family rivalry. During the 1800s, families were usually large and children were often close in age. As a result, it was ordinary for there to be frivolous bouts between siblings.

"Women's Status in mid 19th-century England." Lycos Tripod - Multimania. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. http://members.multimania.co.uk/HastingsHistory/19/overview.htm.