Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

deviation from this preoccupation; for instance, he was
the first to visit Mr. Bingley, and he knew the extent
and value of his estate and the marriage-ability of his
daughters. He was aware, however, that he alone
understood his position; there were no other voices
sharing the pride he had for his family lineage, or the
fatalism with which he viewed his family's futures.
As guardians of their daughters, Mr. Harlowe, Mr.
Villars, and Mr. Bennet are failures. Maaja Stewart
points out that Mr. Bennet and Mr. Villars abandon their
daughters through either helplessness or indolence (54).
This study argues that Mr. Harlowe is easily included in
this group of abandoners, for though he is life tenant on
his estate, he still has authority to empower or
disinherit any of his younger children (Habbakuk 15).
All three gentlemen take no real action to protect, let
alone advance, their daughters.
Strict settlement and primogeniture were the
supported forces of reaffirmation of perpetuity for
family estates. At first blush, primogeniture appears to
be at odds with the spirit of individualism, also
emerging during the eighteenth century. Wealthy
landowners had a "personal stake in the maintenance of