Chapter 9 Cambridge Companion 2/2

The subject of money seems as if it should be clear cut and defined. Within Jane Austen's novels that is not the case. She makes it very apparent that money is a huge defining factor of rank, class, marriage, friendship, and more. All of the heroines within her novels are chasing after males that have a large amount of money, which to them makes the men more marketable and marriage material. The amount of money that a person has is always mentioned when love interests arise and can stop certain people from being accepted. For example, Elizabeth is not accepted by Miss Bingley or Lady Catherine because she does not have the same type or amounts of money as they do. I do not believe this fair, but the times when this was written was also very diverse from what we experience now. I also was enlightened to learn what 100 pounds and 200 pounds and so far was equivalent to. Whenever it was mentioned in the book I was not exactly sure what they meant or what it entailed; however the explanation this chapter offered clarity.  Money is the main factor within all of the books and with all of the character, it can become overwhelming.