Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

family through provision for his male line through his
son. Years later, without that son, there would be
nothing left of the Bennet name when he died. For Mr.
Bennet, Mrs. Bennet was a large part of his inheritance
problem. She and her family were responsible for more
than just the birth of five girls. Their part in his
downfall goes much deeper.
Members of a husband's family, his father and
father-in-law included, negotiated the marriage
settlement. Sometimes even the input of the future wife
was included. If the future husband received estates
from his future wife or her family, he could not sell
them; thus, his economic power could be severely limited.
Resettlement of his estate upon marriage would legally
affix those lands and the marriage portion his wife
brought with her became his to use until his death. At
the marriage settlement, well before the birth of any
children, the wife and any future children's inheritances
were fixed.
Trumbach observes that daughters received monetary
inheritances, but they usually were not allowed to
inherit land. If there was no male heir at the death of
the father, then larger portions were given to daughters
and the land went to an uncle or male cousin (70).