Insights into Jane Austen's World During the Regency Era (1811-1820)
Discover the societal dynamics, extravagance, widening class gaps, social hierarchy, and the impact of the Napoleonic Wars on Jane Austen's world in the Regency era. Explore her keen observations of human behavior and the contrasting lifestyles of different social classes during this transformative period.
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Jane Austens World The Regency Era: 1811-1820
Jane Austen 1775-1817 Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, at the rectory in the quiet village of Steventon in Hampshire. As a parson s daughter she saw many aspects of life, including poverty and death. She lived a very local life, mostly in the society of family and friends. She never married, and died at 43. Her novels demonstrate an outstandingly keen observation and understanding of human behaviour.
Extravagence The Regency era spans the reign from 1811 to 1820. It occurred at the latter end of the Georgian period when King George III was declared unfit to rule for reasons of insanity and his son, George IV was appointed as Regent to govern the country. The Prince Regent was notable for his lack of restraint in most areas of life. He was a womaniser who over-ate, over- drank and over-spent. As such he lost the respect of many of his subjects, including Jane Austen herself. In fact, she mocks over-indulgence and vanity of all kinds, while restraint is depicted as a mark of character strength.
Widening gap between rich and poor While the upper classes in the Regency era were enjoying an opulent lifestyle, the lower classes experienced a grinding poverty. The Prince Regent made little effort to relieve the situation and his lavish lifestyle caused a growing resentment.
Social Class and Rank Precedence Jane Austen's novels reflect the hierarchical framework that provided the same structure for Regency society as it had for centuries before. Precedence, often mentioned in her novels, is the ranking of society based on a clear distinction between one class and another: Royalty (not referred to in her novels) Aristocracy (characters like Dowager Viscount Dalrymple are rarely presented in a good light) The gentry (Sir Walter is a baronet, which is an inherited title, and places him at the head of this class) The landed gentry (like Mr. Knightly in Emma). A person's eligibility to mix with the aristocracy and gentry was limited wholly by their rank. Such distinctions were noted by society at large and even between siblings and parents and their offspring.
A Time of War The Napoleonic Wars grew out of the French Revolution (1789-1802) and were a series of conflicts fought by various European allies against Napoleon's French Empire. They began in 1803 and ended with Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Britain was involved in the conflict throughout the Napoleonic Wars, but was specifically at war with France from 1803-1814. This long period of war sent ripples of dissatisfaction and unrest throughout British society: The British middle and lower classes had been inspired by the American War of Independence (1775-1783) to demand freedom from the restrictions that the class structure imposed Some were boosted further by the egalitarian sentiments at the root of the French Revolution - Liberty, Equality and Fraternity - and agitated for political reform Others were disenchanted with the awful bloodshed of the Terror and their enthusiasm for reform was dampened whilst nationalism increased.
The Royal Navy Whenever the Navy captured a vessel from another navy at war with England, the contents of the ship, and the ship itself, would be sailed back to England and sold. In a short timeframe, the British Navy was at war with the Dutch, the French, the Spanish and the Americans. That s potential for a lot of profit. War meant profit. For these men in the upper echelons of the Navy, news of peace was bad news.
Beginning of class movement in England Because many working class young men joined the Royal Navy, and some even made a fortune, the strict class structure of Regency England was challenged. This was the beginning of people making money and joining the upper classes via making money, as opposed to inheriting property or titles through you parents. Before this time period, most people in the upper class were landowners or had titles they inherited over time from the King. The new wealth of the Navy caused confusion and great resentment among the upper class.
