In 19 th century society, money and social status controlled people. The rich clique has a high social status and, therefore, marry the people with the same ranking. The lower class people are rarely given a chance to advance socially. Jane Austen’s novel, “Sense and Sensibility,” explores the personal, social, and economic difficulties of human relationships during these times.
These difficulties can be seen in the sister’s, Elinor and Marianne’s relationships with (a) family and friends, (b) potential suitors and (c) each other. Following the death of Mr. John Dashwood, Elinor and Marianne’s father, the girls notice a change in how they are treated by family and friends. In the 1800’s it is traditional for the son to inherit the majority of the money after the death of a parent.
When Mr. Dashwood died, his money was left to his son, Mr. John Dashwood. With the inheritance also came an obligation to make certain his step-mother and three half-sisters are well taken care of financially. Although the Miss Dashwood were not directly given any money, they trusted their brother would fulfill his obligation to his father.
The girls soon realized that Mr. John Dashwood was not going to keep his promise and that they were left with nothing. “[Mr. John Dashwood]…
finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow of his father, than such kind neighborly acts as his own wife pointed out” (Austen 10).
The Essay on Why People Join Social Movements
Why do people join social movements? Why do people join political, professional, or social movements, of whatever size, and surrender so completely, giving up, in the extreme, everything; their fortunes, their critical thinking, their political freedom, their friends, families, even their own lives? What causes people to create a system or perhaps follow a system that creates such things as ethnic ...
Mrs. John Dashwood is a very greedy, self-centered woman who was excellent at getting her way. So the inheritance money looked really good to her, and even better if she didn’t have to share it. Since the Dashwood’s are now left.
