What Are The Differences Between Mansfield Park And Persuasion

After reading “Persuasion” by Jane Austen, and watching two versions of “Mansfield Park” as well as “David Copperfield”, I have now decided that this essay will mainly be about equal rights between the genders and the differences between the working class and the aristocrats. In the text I will also mention socioeconomical issues and social science. I will compare these topics with the present situation, and find similarities and contrasts. Because even though matters have changed, some of these problems are still around today.

The first theme to be discussed is the social mobility during the pre-Victorian Era. This will focus on the social ranks, and the differences in treatment, particularly the women. While Queen Victoria ruled, a woman’s

If we look at “Mansfield Park”, for instance, we see that Mrs Price, who married for love, is poor and miserable. While her sisters, on the other side, married for fortune and riches, and are living happily in a big mansion. The ward sisters are each in different classes, and this is a clear example of how unlike they are. Now I am going to focus more specifically on each class. The wealthy people barley did any work, especially not the ladies. Their only chore was to marry. They had nice clothes and fancy parties showing off their prosperity. Preferably, they should have skills such s singing, playing an instrument and speak French or Italian. In addition to the material differences concerning the classes, there is also diversity in the way people speak. The elite has a posh manner of talking, while the working class has a more relaxed tone. We can find examples of this in “David Copperfield” when we look at the difference between they way Miss Murdstone and the way Clara Peggotty express

Therefore the majority did not have the knowledge of keeping household in the new society. Some ambitious girls could get paid positions as salesgirls, cashiers, teachers or governesses. When the telephone came along, it was possible to work as a telephone operator, which was a valued position. Eventually work in nursery was optional as well. But the doctor’s occupation was men’s only.

As for the working class, the women often had to get jobs in case their husbands got ill or died. They had to make an income to be able to take care of their family. It was normal to work 14 hours a day in for example a textile factory. If a woman was pregnant, she had to work until they day she gave birth, and then return as soon as possible. The wages in general were low, but women earned a lot less than men.

In “Persuasion”, Austen is challenging this class system. The persons of higher social rank are made fun of. For example, Austen describes Sir Walter Elliot, the wealthy landowner, as superficial. She makes a mockery out of his respected position and pride. He has no feeling of responsibility, energy or