Chapter 9 of The Cambridge Companion

How did chapter nine contribute to your understanding of how you might talk about money in relation to Jane Austen’s novels?

This chapter helped me to better understand what money was worth during this time period. Through learning what the money was worth it made it easier to understand what it would take, money wise, to live a certain way. For instance if you had 100 pounds then you would only be able to have a young maid servant, who have a very minimal wage, while if had over 4,000 pounds and above like Mr. Darcy then you would be able to live a much more extravagant life style with horse, a carriage, servants, as well as leisure money to bet on horse races. The chapter also helped me to better understand how money during the time period was not only a means of living, but also a social status. The amount of money you had was your status in society, therefore if you had a lower income or fortune then you were thought less of, then if you were well endowed. Also money meant marriage potential; the more you had the more likely you were to be married. Over all money meant power.