The Whittakers must be a family in the general vicinity of Barton in Devonshire. Sir John mentions that he can drum them up for a same-day tea party when Edward Ferrars is visiting.
Austenopedia
Showing posts with label Families. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Families. Show all posts
The Westons
The Westons are friends of the Palmers, scheduled to come stay with them in the autumn, shortly after Edward Ferrars leaves Barton Cottage.
The Jennings Family
Though many members of the Jennings family no longer bear the surname, their presence is felt throughout the novel. We are told that the late Mr. Jennings “had traded with success in a less elegant part of ,” than the Mayfair address in which his widow now lives, suggesting that theirs is a fortune borne from trade.
Members of the Jennings Family met or discussed in the novel include:
- The Late Mr. Jennings
- Mrs. Jennings
- Her eldest daughter, Lady Middleton, who married Sir John Middleton and had the following children:
- Her second daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Palmer, who married Mr. Palmer and has her first child over the course of the novel.
The narrator says that Mrs. Jennings “had only two daughters,” who have now both married, leaving her with nothing to do, suggesting that there are not other Jennings children.
Mrs. Jennings maintains a home in Upper Berkeley Street where Charlotte lived until her recent marriage. It is unclear how long ago Mr. Jennings passed away.
The Ferrars Family
Though the Dashwoods are the family at the heart of the novel, the Ferrars clan interferes and interconnects with them throughout the novel.
We know that the late Mr. Ferrars died “very rich,” but have no indication whether this wealth is part of a storied and ancestral estate or a more recent acquisition. Given that many members of this family seem very focused on advancement in society, it is likely that their origins are comparatively humble.
Members of the Ferrars family discussed or portrayed in the novel include:
- The Late Mr. Ferrars who married Mrs. Ferrars and had the following children:
- Edward Ferrars, the eldest son
- Robert Ferrars
- Fanny (likely Frances) Ferrars, who in turn married Mr. John Dashwood and bore Harry (likely Henry) Dashwood
When trying to convince Edward to marry Miss Morton, Mrs. Ferrars promises to settle “the Norfolk estate” on him, anticipating that it will bring it ￡1,000 per year if not more, suggesting that the family’s country holdings are modest. However, Mrs. Ferrars and her unmarried sons seem to live in Park Street, London.
The Ellisons
Mr. Ellison is the legal guardian of Miss Sophia Grey, which likely means they are related in some way. He and his wife never appear on the page, but are discussed at various junctures throughout the novel. Given the society in which they seem to move, it is likely that they keep a home in London.
Mrs. Jennings leads us to believe that Mrs. Ellison and Miss Grey do not get along and that, therefore, the Ellisons are very pleased to get Miss Grey off their hands when Willoughby expresses an interest. Later on, Colonel Brandon overhears Mrs. Ellison gossiping in Pall Mall about the engagement the day that the news breaks publicly.
The Dashwood Family
The Dashwoods are a well-established gentry family from Sussex who form the center of the novel. From the first chapter, we are told that “Their estate was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance."
A crisis of succession for the estate provides much of the initial action for the novel, circling around a range of family members:
- Uncle Dashwood, who married an unspecified woman and had no children
- Aunt Dashwood, who keeps house for her widowed brother Uncle Dashwood, for ten years after the death of his wife
- An unnamed and unmentioned younger brother of Uncle Dashwood, deceased long before the novel begins, who was the father of:
- Henry Dashwood, heir to Norland Park, who had two different families with two different wives:
- With his first wife:
- John Dashwood, who married heiress Fanny Ferrars and had:
- With his second wife, Mrs. Dashwood:
Uncle Dashwood, we are told, leaves the estate to Henry “on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest,” due in part to the entail which Uncle Dashwood sets up to benefit Harry. This has significant consequences for the Dashwood women after John Dashwood inherits.
The Careys
The Carey family appears to live in Newton, Devonshire, which is located in the general vicinity of Barton Park. At different points in the novel, the “two Miss Careys” come to Barton in order to join the planned picnic at Whitwell, Sir John offers to round up “The Careys” for a tea party and Mrs. Dashwood leaves Margaret with the family when she rushes to Marianne’s sickbed.
The Brandon Family
Though the only Brandon we ever meet in the novel is Colonel Brandon, his backstory reveals far greater complexity in the family structure.
Members of the Brandon family portrayed or described in the narrative include:
- Mr. Brandon Senior
- Mr. Brandon (the Colonel’s elder brother)
- Colonel Brandon
- At least one sister
- Cousin Eliza
The Brandons appear to be based at Delaford in Dorsetshire, which appears to be an old manor house. Speculation about Colonel Brandon’s situation suggest that they have been gentry for some time, but are not of great wealth.
The Bingley Family
The arrival of the Bingleys in sleepy Hertfordshire is the instigating action for the novel. Based on various allusions, it’s likely that the family originally comes from the north of England. We’re told with certainty that their fortune was made in trade, but that they now aspire to greater things.
Members of the Bingley Family mentioned in the novel are:
- Mr. Bingley Senior (deceased before the novel begins)
- Mr. Charles Bingley
- Miss Caroline Bingley
- Mrs. Louisa Hurst (née Bingley), married to Mr. Hurst
It is established at the beginning of the novel that the Bingleys have no ancestral estate, though Charles and Caroline, we are told, stay at the Hursts' house in Grosvenor Street, London.
The Regiment at Meryton
In the first autumn of the novel, a militia regiment arrives in Hertfordshire, using Meryton as a headquarters. We never receive titles for the majority of the men who appear to be in it, but we do know the younger Bennet girls spend a lot of time socializing with them.
Officers of the Regiment include:
- Colonel Forster, who brings along his wife, Harriet Forster
- Captain Carter
- Lieutenant George Wickham
- And then a group of men for whom no rank is ever given:
Later in the novel, the regiment moves to Brighton, presumably for summer training activities.
For reference, the ranks in the British Army go:
- Field Marshal
- General
- Lieutenant General
- Major-General
- Brigadier
- Colonel
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Major
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Second Lieutenant
- Officer/Cadet (for students)
This suggests that at least one of the men in the list (Denny, perhaps?) is a Major, but we're never told who.
The Lucas Family
Within the setting of the novel, the Lucases serve as a kind of foil for the Bennets. As a prosperous local family, they seem to be the closest peers for the Bennets, reflected in Mrs. Bennet’s ongoing rivalry with Lady Lucas and the friendships between the two families’ daughters. Though the two may be of fairly equal footing now, Sir William began as a town tradesman whereas Mr. Bennet has been a gentleman all his life, a difference reflected in the expectations and values of both families.
Based on the text of the novel, we can glean the following about the Lucas family:
- Sir William Lucas married Lady Lucas and had the following children:
- Charlotte Lucas, who marries William Collins over the course of the novel
- Maria Lucas
- A young, male Lucas
- Possibly other children
The Lucas family lives at Lucas Lodge, presumably a new house, we we know is outside of Meryton, Hertfordshire.
The Gardiner Family
The Gardiners appear to have begun as a prosperous family in trade in Meryton, Hertfordshire. We're never told what Mr. Gardiner senior did, precisely, but we do know that Mr. Philips originally joined the family as a clerk to Mr. Gardiner. As one of the daughters married into the local gentry, they were likely at the very top of the trade stratum, though not so far ahead that son Edward did not feel compelled to move to London to support his business.
Based on the characters we meet in novel, we can infer the following about the Gardiner family tree:
- Mr. Gardiner (senior) had the following chidlren:
- Edward Gardiner, who moved to London, married M. Gardiner and had the following children:
- A daughter, aged eight
- A daughter, aged six
- Two younger sons
- Mrs. Bennet, who married local landowner Mr. Bennet and had the following children:
- Mrs. Phillips, who married local attorney Mr. Phillips. We are never told of any children coming from their union.
It is possible that there were additional Gardiner siblings, but they never appear in the novel.
The Fitzwilliam Family
Though seldom on stage, the Fitzwilliam clan is the highest-ranking family in the novel, with connections to virtually every aristocratic character we meet. Presumably they are fairly prestigious, though given that last generation’s daughters seem to have married down the social ladder, it is not unreasonable to assume that the prestige of their title may outweigh their actual financial wealth.
Based on the characters we meet in novel, we can infer the following about the Fitzwilliam family tree:
- The Late Earl of ------- had the following children:
- The Earl of -------, who married an unspecified woman and has at least the following children:
- Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam, who married Sir Lewis de Bourgh and the following children:
- Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, who married Mr. Darcy Senior and had the following children:
It is possible that there are more children of the late Earl, but they do not appear in the novel. We have no information about where the ancestral estate might be; based on the patterns of the time as well as the fact that Fitzwilliam daughters married into families from wide-ranging Derbyshire and Kent, it is likely that the family is well-connected in London society.
The de Bourgh Family of Rosings Park
Unlike some of the other families in the novel, we do not actually have much information about the de Bourgh clan. We know that they live at Rosings Park which is described as a modern building and that the local parson’s land is only a lane away from the estate. Based on these clues, Austen may be trying to tell us that the de Bourghs were not quite so wealthy or established a few generations ago. Alternatively, the new Rosings may be a re-build on the site of an older house.
Members of the de Bourgh family discussed or featured in the novel include:
Though we have no idea what kind of income Rosings Park brings in, we do know that the family has patronage over Hunsford parish, presumably located in the nearest town.
The Darcys of Pemberley
The Darcys are considerable landowners in Derbyshire and seem to responsible for a good portion of the charity and prosperity of the area. Lady Catherine describes the family as “respectable, honourable, and ancient—though untitled" and any gentleman receiving Pemberley’s income of £10,000 per year would be securely in the gentry.
Members of the Darcy family who appear or are discussed in the novel include:
- Mr. Darcy Senior (deceased before the novel begins)
- Lady Anne Darcy (deceased before the novel begins)
- Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy
- Miss Georgiana Darcy
The Darcy family seat is Pemberley House, located near Lambton in Derbyshire. We know that the estate was formerly managed by the late Mr. Wickham until about five years ago and that the current housekeeper is a Mrs. Reynolds.
Fitzwilliam Darcy also appears to have a house in London, though it is unclear whether this was inherited or purchased on his own accord.
The Bennets of Longbourn
Though comparatively poor compared to some of the suitors to materialize in the novel, the first chapter of the book tells us that they are “principal residents” of Longbourn village, presumably named for the dominant manor house. We know they have a number of servants, but Mr. Bennet’s comment that he’d like to have the horses at the farm more often than Mrs. Bennet’s demands allow indicates that they have at least limited stock.
The Bennets are fundamentally in an unstable position because the estate is entailed away along the male line to a William Collins, meaning that Mrs. Bennet and the girls will have extremely limited financial supports and no home when Mr. Bennet dies. This creates the dramatic tension behind the piece and Mrs. Bennet is keen to marry off the daughters to wealthy men who will be able to look after her and any remaining daughters after Mr. Bennet’s demise.
Members of the Bennet Family featured in the novel are:
- Mr. Bennet
- Mrs. Bennet
- Miss Jane Bennet
- Miss Elizabeth Bennet
- Miss Mary Bennet
- Miss Catherine Bennet
- Miss Lydia Bennet
The Bennets live at Longbourn House in Hertforshire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)