May I ask a couple of questions?

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May I ask a couple of questions? Written by Tracy W (4/30/2007 4:36 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Bingleys' family & fortune., penned by Mandy N

I am not definitely maintaining that someone in the Bingley family owns an estate. The family in the north of England could also have been a family with strong military traditions, or in the clergy, and still be worthy of being more deeply impressed on Caroline and Louisa's memories than the source of their own fortune.

But, if Charles snr was a younger son of an established landowner, and his oldest brother who inherited the estate had several sons of his own (our Bingley's cousins), then surely Charles snr could look to buy an estate of his own as a surer way of getting one than hoping to inherit one?

Secondly, JA tells us that the family in the north of England was more deeply impressed on their [Caroline and Louisa's] memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade. (chpt 4) Do you really believe that Caroline and Louisa would choose to remember a family that was in trade?

This is my problem with the idea that the Bingleys came from a long line of wealthy merchants. Regardless of what Caroline and Louisa may or may not say later in the novel I can't believe that JA lies to us when she says that the family in the north of England was more deeply impressed on their memories, and I can't believe that Caroline and Louisa would be "more deeply impressed" by a family who was in trade. I can more readily believe that JA never mentioned any conversation in which Caroline and Louisa flaunted the family tree, or that Caroline and Louisa are wise enough to conceal such snobberies, than that JA lies to us about them and their memories in this chapter.

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Bingley family and fortune. Mandy N (4/29/2007 10:35 a.m.)

Maybe... Maria Liourdi (4/29/2007 5:29 p.m.)
- Bingleys' family & fortune. Mandy N (4/30/2007 2:20 p.m.)
  - May I ask a couple of questions? Tracy W (4/30/2007 4:36 p.m.)
    - We'll try it again... Mandy N (4/30/2007 8:57 p.m.)
      - Did not mean to accuse you of really believing JA is lying Tracy W (4/30/2007 10:08 p.m.)
        
        That's okay, and let's agree to disagree. Mandy N (5/1/2007 3:36 a.m.)
    - More about Bingley's family Line (4/30/2007 6:41 p.m.)
      - Why would the Bingley sisters...   Tracy W (4/30/2007 7:25 p.m.)
        
        I think...   Maisy (5/1/2007 6:40 a.m.)
        
        Thanks for trying to clarify my post, Maisy!   Line (5/1/2007 7:46 p.m.)
- Families are long and complicated Tracy W (4/29/2007 7:25 p.m.)
  - Very helpful background infos :-) NFM Maria Liourdi (4/30/2007 12:17 p.m.)
- Exactly! :-) (nfm) Line (4/29/2007 6:02 p.m.)
I am afraid that I don't quite understand your question Tracy W (4/29/2007 5:09 p.m.)

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