Jane Austen discussion

I'm currently reading Persuasion, and interesting the introduction mentioned that in real life Jane Austen was approached by her own niece looking for advice about whether to become engaged to a young man whom she would not be able to marry (for lack of sufficient money) for several years.

Apparently Austen was loathe to give advice either way, but indicated that a long engagement was a risky business - better to 'marry poor' and then be committed, or stay 'unattached' completely, than to half-tie oneself to a man who might, or might not, eventually be able to afford to set up home with you as his wife.

Given that the entire plot of Persuasion hinges on whether Anne Eliot did the right thing in breaking off with Wentworth first time around, I found it interesting that Austen had considered the issue of 'giving advice' in her own life to be problematical. (Lady Russel has no problem giving advice of course!)

It set me thinking about the question of long engagements overall in Austen's novels, and, indeed, engagements that could not be made publically known.

So far I've come up with Anne Eliot (though she breaks her engagement), and Edmund Ferrars to Lucy Steele, and Frank Churchill to Jane Fairfax (not sure how long it was, only that it was secret).

Persuasion also mentions Captain Benwick, who deferred marriage till he'd made some prize money, but his fiancee died beforehand.

Are there any others that come to mind?

The issue also brings up the dangers of the opposite of course - the very very short engagement, ie, marrying in haste, repenting at leisure, perhaps most mentioned in Mansfield Park, where Fanny's mother married inadvisably ('to disoblige her family' as Austen puts it sardonically), and Maria Bertram insists on marrying (can't remember his name!) though her own father urges delay and reconsideration.

Some inadvisable marriages have to take place ASAP, such as Lydia and Wyckam, or social scandal will ensue.

Charlotte Lucas marries Mr Collins without delay, perhaps to remove herself from Mrs Bennet's recriminations!!!

I'm sure Mr. and Mrs. Bennet married in haste as well. She does seem to make a case that long engagements don't end happily but that could be influenced by her sister, whose fiance went off to work as a chaplain to the army in the West Indies and died before he could return home. Jane wasn't equipped to give advice on marriage because she had never been married.

Wasn’t it Mr. Rushworth with his twelve thousand a year that Maria rushed to marry? It’s a great name choice in my opinion!

I would say nearly all the engagements are pretty hasty by today's standards.

Shana wrote: "Wasn’t it Mr. Rushworth with his twelve thousand a year that Maria rushed to marry? It’s a great name choice in my opinion!"

Yes, the dim-witted Mr. Rushworth. She married him because Henry Crawford went away and she wanted to get out from under her father's roof. Sir Thomas gave her an out, though.

Ah yes, that's it, Mr Rushworth - thank you.

I wonder if one might argue that it is the unhappy marriages in Austen (eg, the Bennets, the Prices) that were rushed into??

I guess by today's standards we don't have to rush into marriage as we are allowed to live together before hand.

Cassandra Austen's sad experience I think is referenced in the sad experience of Captain Benwick, with the genders reversed.

It's nice that Cassandra's late fiance left a small amount of money to Cassandra, which I think helped her and Jane get a bit of financial independence after their father die, which helped keep the wolf from the door.

Having just read and written about Lucy Steele on the 'who'd be friends?' thread, of course, Lucy and Edward's engagement is very long indeed!

And luckily came to nothing. Phew!

Conversely, Lucy's engagement to Edward's brother Robert is very short indeed. Will he regret it????! Or are they actually well suited!

I think Lucy and Robert could be happy if they can live comfortably.

Engagements in the era tended to be short. There was no picking a date, having multiple bridal showers, bachelor parties, hiring a wedding planner, doing the cake tasting, etc, etc.
The only thing that tended to prolong an engagement was the time it would take for a man to establish his financial security. (Edward Ferrars or James Morland.) Where there were no financial restraints, marriages took place very soon after the banns.

In some circumstances, a prompt marriage might be politic! eg, when an 'eight month' baby arrives!!!!