Gentry and gradation of fortunes in the novel Pride and Prejudice

1. Instructor: Bibi Halima
Bibi.halima@uow.edu.pk
Pride and Prejudice:
Social Class

3. *Gentry is the term which is closely related to
current novel for this refers to the class of
establishes and landowning families
*Jane Austen’s main characters come from the
very bottom of this class or from its margin
called middle-class aristocracy or Pseudo-
Gentry
Gentry

4. *It refers to group of traders
and other professionals whose
growing incomes were enough
to buy property
*E.g., Bingleys seek to achieve
high class gentry as compared
to Darcy
Middle-class aristocracy/
Pseudo-Gentry

5. Gradation of Ranks
and Fortunes

6. Nobility
Nobility are rich and powerful group of people like
royalty. They are people with titles and degree of
ranks:
• Duke/Duchess
• Knight/Dame
• Earl/Countess
• The Viceroy
However, there is a difference between Nouveau
Rich Nobility and Vieux Riche Nobility

7. Old Families of Wealth
They are those who refused titles and they
thought to be beneath people of titles and
ranks. These families can have more fortunes
and can be even superiors to many nobility.

8. Wealth Acquired
They are those who acquired
wealth by any profession, merit or
accomplishment

9. Inferior Gentry
They are those who count hundred
instead of thousands. They live with
virtue and moderation; they are the
wisest and happiest.

10. Genteel Professions
They are those who are employed in
public offices under government offices
of Army, Navy and can be merchants

11. • Jane Austen’s novels present the situations
of upward nobility and contested hierarchy.
She is interested in portraying responsible
professionals and merchant class – New
Meritocracy
• She satirizes class structure and feud
among different classes
Social Class in the Novel