Elopement occurred often to occur in the world of Jane Austen, where women would be pressured to go above their rank, while men would marry down. Elopement was very common in the Regency era, and was very dishonorable for one’s family.
Elopement all began with the English law forbidding people under the age of 21 to be married. This law in 1754 forbade young adults under the age of 21 to marry without their parents’ consent. Even though England did this, Scotland did not. Scotland let girls 12 years of age and older, and boys 14 years of age and older get married without parents’ consent. Basically saying that younger children could get married by, “declaration,” of saying that they are married (“Gretna”). This began the trend of young
Elopement all began with the English law forbidding people under the age of 21 to be married. This law in 1754 forbade young adults under the age of 21 to marry without their parents’ consent. Even though England did this, Scotland did not. Scotland let girls 12 years of age and older, and boys 14 years of age and older get married without parents’ consent. Basically saying that younger children could get married by, “declaration,” of saying that they are married (“Gretna”). This began the trend of young