24 Classics for 2024 discussion

In context of the first 4 chapters:

As Bessie and Abbot discuss Jane, what does their language tell us about how beauty and class affect a young woman’s prospects? Does it strike you as fair to call Jane a “little toad” in comparison to the “lovely” Georgiana?


I was interested in this question because I know that later on Jane gets a love interest. What do you think?

In general beauty was essential to a woman of the period because due to inheritance laws a male in a family stood to gain all of any estate, with any money coming to women being in the form of a dowry that they would receive upon marriage. Following marriage her status would improve somewhat if she produced a male heir. Most however were effectively a servant in this period working long hours and yet when guests arrived she was still expected to look beautiful and be supportive of the Head of the Household.

I believe the comments on Jane's looks are partly a manifestation of her status. Georgiana, regardless of her actions is commended on being "nice to look at", which seemingly makes up for any of her shortcomings. Jane however, who does not have a high status to fall back on and is reprimanded for being less beautiful, as if it were her fault. The characters up until this point ask themselves "she is disobedient and poor, how can we pity her if she is not even pretty?"

I also think they are quite biased as well. I assume they are mainly around Mrs. Reed and therefore hear a lot of the stuff that she says to other people about Jane. A lot of 'training' has probably gone into making Georgiana a biddable prospect for a good match so she is probably very 'lady like'/prim and proper whereas they tried with Jane but she obviously does not conform to their societal definitions.