Money and class
Posted by Helen on March 20, 1998 at 13:17:05:
In response to Money, written by Myretta on March 19, 1998 at 22:00:10
I am gradually coming to the opinion that one characteristic of the English middle class to which JA belonged, (some servants, owned property, professional) is that both then and now they don't perceive themselves as having enough money, or as being well-off. This can seem somewhat ludicrous on occasion, as obviously JA's family, for instance, wasn't starving in rented slums as so many people of the period were. Part of the reason, I think, is that they know how things ought to be done: how many spare rooms one should have, how many servants should wait at dinner, how many horses one should keep. And they know that they have to struggle to achieve this standard. So they think they have no money. An interesting parallel can be found in E.M. Delafield, Diary of a Provincial Lady, set in the 1930's, where the heroine constantly struggles not to have an overdraft at the bank, but keeps two servants - see the Virago Press introduction to this book (which I heartily recommend) for some further comment on this issue.
Helen
- you are right! Caroline 16:21:07 3/20/98
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- No... Helen 14:32:52 3/26/98
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- Oooh, yes! Caroline 09:15:43 4/10/98
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- Should we suggest a group read? ;-) (nfm) Helen 07:42:45 4/17/98
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- Should we suggest a group read? ;-) (nfm) Helen 07:42:45 4/17/98
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- Oooh, yes! Caroline 09:15:43 4/10/98
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- Class by Cooper Woodhouse 07:07:47 3/23/98
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- I hate < tags! read this one, please! Caroline 09:06:05 3/23/98
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- Jilly Cooper Caroline 09:04:25 3/23/98
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- I hate < tags! read this one, please! Caroline 09:06:05 3/23/98
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- No... Helen 14:32:52 3/26/98
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