Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

Mentoring Ms. Burney
Frances Burney was raised on the edge of the upper
classes. Charles Burneyrs position put her in contact
with the aristocratic and the bohemian, the rich and the
poor. Her own position as Second Keeper of the Robes for
Queen Charlotte served to solidify her position as a
woman of quality, but it did little to resolve her
financial future (Doody Introduction xvi). "Quality"
women, such as those Doody classes with Frances Burney,
had a chance to marry young and well if they could bring
a portion to their marriage. This was not the case with
the Burney sisters.
Further, Frances Burney and her sisters had first-
hand knowledge of the pitfalls of upper-class marriage.
They knew their stepmother brought a goodly portion to
her marriage with Charles Burney. She was a wealthy
widow in love with him. Though she boasted of her wealth
and position, the largest portion of Mrs. Burney's
settlement from her first marriage was in trust reserved
for her children, enough money to make Maria, her
daughter, an heiress. Mrs. Allen inherited forty
thousand pounds, but lost it in bad investments before