Social Class In Jane Austen's Sense And Sensibility

Jane Austen often uses personal experiences of growing up in the Regency Period as the main sources for her writing. This especially shows in her portrayal of social class in Sense and Sensibility, in particular the Upper echelon of classes. Through this novel about eighteenth century women, Austen portrays the upper gentry class of the time as an extravagant society, defined by pretension and greed. Thus, one could consider Sense and Sensibility a sharp critique of the gentry class of the Regency Period, one promoting social awareness and change.

Sense and Sensibility gives a glimpse into the illustrious lives of the gentry class in England. While not royalty or aristocracy, the gentry form an elite, land owning, wealthy, and powerful …show more content…
He lives at Barton with his wife, Lady Middleton, and their children. Lady Middleton’s mother, Mrs. Jennings, also lives at the estate. Further into the story Mrs. Jennings other daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte and Mr. Palmer, come visit Barton. Sir John possesses immense kindness and a heart of gold, it seems as if he made a career of throwing parties and entertaining. He exemplifies a prime gentry man, one who sits at home without working and shows off his wealth at every point. Though one would not consider Sir John a “show-off” in modern terms, Austen uses him as example for the gentry people who live life seeking social connections and being “flashy” with your wealth. All while falling into a pit of pretension and building up thoughts of greed. Lady Middleton, Charlotte Palmer, and Mrs. Jennings all represent the quintessential gentry woman in certain ways. Lady Middleton, while not social, focuses everything on her children, the heirs of their vast fortune and cycle of “gentry ways.” A gentry couple placed great importance upon having children, as they provided a legacy and allowed the family to continue with gaining power and wealth. On the other hand, Mrs. Jennings and Charlotte are both sociable, even vulgar and brash at some points. However, their main focus always seems climbing the societal ladder or helping someone else do it. Charlotte clearly married Mr. Palmer out of convenience and for …show more content…
The way out of lower class and into the financial security of the gentry involves the elder Dashwood sisters marrying a “gentlemen.” This consumes most of Austen’s focus in Sense and Sensibility, as it brings out everything morally wrong with the gentry class. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood show worth, graciousness, and love. However, their good qualities count for little in finding them good husbands, because gentry families primarily interest themselves in money, which the Dashwood sisters have very little. At the time, greed, pretension, and the lack or excess of money prevented and enabled many marriages. People often dealt with the fight between individual wants and family expectations. Practicality also played a large role. True gentlemen restricted themselves to a few respectable professions like the church and respectable women did not work at all. Austen often portrays the need for money and practicality over individual desire through Elinor. Who says when discussing success in the future, “with no inclination for expense, no affection for strangers, no profession, and no assurance, you may find it a difficult matter.” Elinor believes money should supersede all personal wants and desires. Marianne however, hates this outlook. Saying in response to Elinor, “money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.” Despite all