The law don't treat men and women the same
Posted by Caroline on August 26, 1998 at 18:27:05:
In response to Re: Why?, written by Anne on August 26, 1998 at 16:22:34
] Yes, but if the sole intent of the entail is to keep the land on one piece, what is to stop that one piece from passing on to Mr Bennet's eldest daughter?
Under the law, the land would be inherited equally by all five daughters, so would be split five ways.
If Mr Bennet's name was never Collins, then at some time the property must have passed to a female relation, must it not? Otherwise, how did they come by their differing surnames?
Quite possible that it did come through a female relation at one time- before the entail was set up (they don't last for ever).
As to the differing names, Although Mr Bennet refers to Mr Collins as his cousin, and Mr Collins referes to a difference of opinion between his father and Mr Bennet, it doesn't necessarily follow that Mr B and Mr Collins senior were brothers. The word cousin could be used more loosely, and the true, same-generation cousinship might be between the two who fell out....Or, at one time Mr Collins Senior may have changed his name......
Like so much of Austen, there's rarely a simple answer!
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