Chapter 9 Cambridge Companion

 I learned that nearly all of Austen's novel evolved around one thing, money. In Chapter 9, money in Jane Austen's novels was discussed in various levels from how much pounds were worth to the extent of romance and money. The author, Edward Copeland, explains how in Austen's novels money is discussed openly with each character. Although at times she openly says how much one would make a year (ex. Mr. Darcy made 10,000 pounds a year) she would also drop subtle hints about one's wealth by using how many servants one had or whether they had "the house in town." Austen uses money in her novels to set restrictions to romance by having characters only being "together" because of income. Austen herself was a single female of low status and this part of her is shown in all her novels.