Monday, March 30, 2009

Inheritance

"It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out on this house as soon as he please." (pg. 62)


Another important plot point in Pride and Prejudice is the fact that none of the Bennet daughters can inherit Longbourn when Mr. Bennet dies. The only reason they cannot inherit the home is because they are women, and under English law of the 19th century, only men could inherit things like houses. Austen chose to include this law firstly because it was a law that were inact while she was alive and because it drives the goal of Mrs. Bennet to marry off her daughters, which furthers the main plot of marriage in Pride and Prejudice.

1 comment:

  1. It is not the case that only men could inherit houses in 19th century England. Anne de Bourgh, for example, is the heir to Rosings. The reason that the Bennet daughters could not inherit Netherfield is that the property is entailed, so it can only be inherited through the male line.

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