Skip to content

ABOUT thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon…

“ABOUT thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton,* and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet’s lady,* with all the comforts and consequences of an…” quote by Jane Austen
Download Open image
““ABOUT thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton,* and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet’s lady,* with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income. All””

Jane Austen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A woman of modest means rises socially through marriage, gaining wealth and status.

In simple terms: Marriage lifts a woman’s social standing.

Key Takeaway

Consider the limits of social mobility.

Themes

social class marriage economic advancement

Mood

reflective critical historical

Type

literary analytical

When to use this quote

  • historical fiction
  • social commentary
  • character study

Key Concepts

gender roles class structure

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does wealth affect personal agency?
  • What are the costs of social climbing?
A Different Perspective

Social ascent may depend on luck and patronage.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Jane Austen

Explore all 2,013 Jane Austen quotes

More Book quotes

Browse all 29,378 Book quotes