Système de classe Britannique (document en anglais)

British class system

The upper class, or aristocracy, was born into their station and usually with nobility. They inherited money and all the wealth and political power that went with it. They educated and had the right to vote. They had expansive lifestyles, and longer life expectancy. They socialized only within their own class.

The middle class was a class that gained prominence because of the Industrial Revolution. This class could be attained with an increase in wealth. Money could also be inherited, but it was not necessary. Unlike the aristocrats, this was a class of merchants and businessmen who made their money in trade. Before the Industrial Revolution they had very little political power. However, with the increase in size of this class, as well as the increase in their wealth, they gained power.

The working class developed out of the peasants who had come to the city to work. This class rarely, if ever, inherited any money. They had little wealth and no political power. With the increase in wealth of these social classes, especially that of the middle class merchants, social interaction between the classes began to occur. For many of the old aristocracy, the social prejudices of the past were difficult to overcome.

The social prejudices of the upper classes are exhibited in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The Bingleys are a family of higher social standing than that of the Bennets.

Laws regarding inheritance/entails, law affecting women

The Bennet sisters of Pride and Prejudice were considered gentlewomen because their father, having inherited money, did not have to work for a living. In Jane Austen’s era, families with inherited money were considered to have a higher class and social standing than a family that lived on an income gained through hard work and labor.

Marriages

In the early nineteenth century (and in most parts of most centuries in most parts of the world), marriage was the only option for respectable young women. There was no such thing as moving out of your parents' house, no such thing as building a career in your twenties and worrying about marriage later, and (importantly) no such thing as divorce, except in really extreme, unusual circumstances. (How extreme? Divorce required an act of Parliament—like having the Senate vote on whether or not you could break up.) Marriage was literally the most important decision a woman could make. It could ruin you (Lydia, Mrs. Bennet); set you up for life (Jane, Lizzy); or condemn you to a mediocre but independent existence (Charlotte). It's like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, except you might accidentally end up with Mr. Collins instead of falling into a pit full of venomous vipers.

Autonomy

Personal autonomy is defined as a capacity for self-determination and self-direction. It is a skill which is often possessed by people who are sure of themselves and of the outcome of their actions.

In Pride and Prejudice personal autonomy is explored from a number of viewpoints, but let's emphasize on one: the autonomy of Lydia Bennet. The reason why Lydia makes a good study for personal autonomy is because she is part of a group of sisters who are given quite a lot of autonomy considering their social standing. This is because the

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