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Rank and social class

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Social class plays a large part in Jane Austen's novels. This is reflective of the time period, as rank meant everything during the Late Georgian Era, when all of Austen's novels were written and set.

Few aristocratic characters in Austen's novels are portrayed in a positive light, except for Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of an earl, who is pleasant and polite in bearing. Lady Catherine, although impressive in her rank, is depicted as rude and uncouth, which during the Georgian Era was a mark of ill-breeding. This may be considered a critique of the aristocracy, as many contemporary novels would feature at least one positive aristocratic character. Some common characters are portrayed as being "truly noble" without nobility, such as Austen's description of Mrs. Annesley.[1]

Land and Inheritance[]

Rank was inherently tied to land, and estates themselves play a prominent role in the books. A man had no social nor political power unless he had some measure of land. The landed gentry, particularly the untitled landed gentry, feature prominently throughout the novels.

Entails[]

Most of the novels feature male-preference primogeniture, as well as the effects of primogeniture on female dependents. It is important to note that this played a large part in Jane Austen's own life, as she was left with nothing and forced to live on her relations' charity for the rest of her life. Male-preference primogeniture means that the eldest son, above all siblings, inherits all land and assets previously owned by his predecessor. Many families used a complicated legal document called an entail in order to ensure primogeniture. As land was so important for social class, it was largely believed that the head of the family should retain all wealth above all siblings so that the land did not get broken up into pieces, which would then degrade the family as a whole. Who counted among heirs was stipulated in the entail, and could even extend to males of the female-line. An entail also protected the estate against any neglectful or bad owners, as often the estate would be tied with a stipulated sum of money that would be held in trust.

Women could inherit land if there was no entail, and if they were mentioned to be the beneficiary in any wills and documents drawn up by the predecessor. Wives were very rarely beneficiaries of land, as that would leave the estate unprotected if the widow remarried, as the land would legally become her husband's unless some very ironclad agreements were written before the marriage. This means that Anne de Bourgh is likely the owner of Rosings Park and not Lady Catherine.

When there was no son, people sometimes adopted more distant relatives who would take their name. Frank Churchill was adopted by his uncle Mr. Churchill and changed his name from "Weston" to "Churchill," and it is probable that William Collins or his father was adopted and changed their name from "Bennet" to "Collins." This was not a requirement placed upon Emma Watson, but she was only informally adopted by her aunt and uncle.

Entails cannot go into perpetuity, and must be renewed every couple of generations. This differs greatly from heritable titles, which depends on the terms set by the Sovereign who created the title, and will go on into perpetuity as long as the inheritance requirements are met each generation. Peers cannot change inheritance of their title with a will, nor decide who would inherit their title (as the inheritance requirements were set by the original Sovereign.) They can pass other assets on to their children if those children are not able to inherit the peerage itself, but are not required to do so. (e.g. Colonel Fitzwilliam's father was unwilling to settle more money on him, so he must marry a woman with money.)

Wealth[]

Although some of the pages on this Wiki have inflation rates, those are conjecture to give readers a small idea. Calculating inflation is incredibly difficult pre-1900, and although one could come up with a figure, it is very unlikely to be a perfect equivalence. Darcy's rumored 10,000 a year could be anywhere from just short of a million to 16 million in today's money.[2]

That cash amount per year for any member of the landed gentry was off of investments or yields from the land, assets that were already owned and not occupations. Henry Crawford's estate brought in 4,000 a year. Darcy's yearly could be a mix of both, or one or the other, as it's not stated. A mark of a gentleman was that he would not work and instead solely live off of the land or investments. If a man worked, he was not considered a gentleman (exceptions would be high-ranking military, clergy, and some occupations in the legal field -- judges and barristers were considered gentlemen, while lawyers were not.[3])

Within the framework of the landed gentry was more stratification, as stated very bluntly by Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Although Elizabeth was a gentlewoman, and thus technically the same class as Darcy, Lady Catherine believed her a social climber due to her parentage and familial connections (her maternal uncle was a lawyer, and therefore not a gentleman.)

Characters[]

The novels feature plenty characters of rank, and characters who transcend rank, like Eleanor Tilney (a gentlewoman who became a peeress through her marriage). The highest ranking Jane Austen heroine at the beginning of a book is Anne Elliot, who was born the daughter of a baronet, but she falls in rank when she marries the naval officer Frederick Wentworth.

The highest ranking character to appear (rather than be mentioned) in Jane Austen's finished novels is Lady Dalrymple, the widow of Viscount Dalrymple. Because the wives of viscounts took precedence over the daughters of earls, Lady Dalrymple outranks Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Peers, or those who have an aristocratic title, are few and far between in Austen's novels, which reflects that Austen recognized that her characters would not be likely to meet many peers in their social circles. Mostly, the reader is exposed to landowners, some very wealthy, but most are average.

Peers[]

Dukes[]

Dukes are styled "The Most Noble", "His Grace", or simply "Duke" in conversation. Any male descendants in the direct line of succession to the dukedom are entitled to use the duke's subsidiary titles as courtesy titles.[4] The courtesy title "Lord" precedes the first name of a duke's son if they are not entitled to a courtesy title (not the duke's heir apparent). The courtesy title "Lady" precedes the first name of a duke's daughter, and if she marries someone who is not a peer, she retains the courtesy title.

Marquesses/Marquises[]

Marquises are styled "the Most Honourable." The courtesy title "lord" precedes the first name of a marquis's son, unless there is a subsidiary title for the heir apparent to use, and the wife of his son is addressed by the feminine form of her husband's title. The courtesy title "lady" precedes the first name of a marquis's daughter, and if she marries someone who is not a peer, she retains the courtesy title.

Earls[]

Earls are styled "the Right Honourable." An earl's son is styled "the Honourable," unless there is a subsidiary title for the heir apparent to use, and the wife of his son is styled likewise. The courtesy title "lady" precedes the first name of an earl's daughter, and if she marries someone who is not a peer, she retains the courtesy title.

Viscounts[]

Viscounts are styled "the Right Honourable." A viscount's son is styled "the Honourable," unless there is a subsidiary title for the heir apparent to use, and the wife of his son is styled likewise. A viscount's daughter is styled "the Honourable," whether married or unmarried, unless she marries a man with a higher title.

Barons[]

Barons are styled "the Right Honourable." A baron's son is styled "the Honourable," and the wife of his son is styled likewise. As a barony is the lowest peerage, a baron cannot hold a subsidiary title for his heir apparent to use. A baron's daughter is styled "the Honourable," whether married or unmarried, unless she marries a man with a higher title.

  • No known barons appear.

Unspecified[]

Gentry[]

Baronets and knights are not peers; in fact, baronetcies are the only hereditary honors that are not peerages. Knighthoods are not hereditary at all, and the honor dies with its holder. Both baronets and knights are addressed as Sir Firstname in conversation, and their wives are addressed as Lady Lastname.

Baronets[]

Knights[]

Unspecified[]

Unspecified[]

These characters could belong to the peerage or the gentry; there is not enough information to say.

Notes and References[]

  1. ↑ Jane Austen: The Secret Radical, Ch. 4 (pp. 134-35; Random House hardcover)
  2. ↑ [1]
  3. ↑ [2]
  4. ↑ Note: This does not entitle them to sit in parliament, or hold any other privileges of the rank, unless they are summoned to the House of Lords by a writ of acceleration.
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