Sense and Sensibility is a book that deals with many circumstances of life over the course of the eighteen hundred. Although it was written in the first person, it can provide the reader with a detailed perspective on the lifestyle of the upper stratum of society. However, to fully appreciate this lifestyle, one must reach out to elements of the opposite group, the lower class. By comparing differences between lifestyles, characteristics that differ between individuals in their respective groups can be explained and, more importantly, justified. The Dashwoods are undoubtedly not from the lower stratum of society, but rather from the upper middle class for a number of different years. reasons. What most clearly distinguishes them from the lower class is that they do not need to work to survive. Although they were left with a budget by the senior Mr. Dashwood, they had no desire to work, and there was no mention of it throughout the novel. They were content to simply wait to be married by a financially stable man. Proof of this statement came from Mrs. Jennings when she said: “(She) missed no opportunity to plan marriages among all the young people. » This is the same practice that any reasonable woman of that era would have participated in. The aristocrats of the time would not have imagined that taking a regular job was the way to success, and they were right. It was impossible to succeed, but for those working in those days, it was not about success, but rather survival. At the time this book was written, England was going through a “boom”. The industrial revolution...... middle of paper ...... servant, the expense would be a trifle; Mom, she was sure, would never object. »(22) This left the reader perplexed and curious as to why this would be the case. However, after analyzing the lifestyle of the lower class and upper classes, the reader can get a sense of understanding regarding the mindset of the Dashwood family. It's easy to see how someone who has servants and hunters at their feet doesn't know how to cope alone or for themselves. lifestyle, especially if it's the one you were born into. Although it is not the families' fault that they are not accustomed to hard work, it prompts me to ask the question: How can one learn the meaning of hard work if one never works? hard ? Great Britain 2005. History Channel February 2, 2005. http://www.historychannel.com/perl/print_book.pl?ID=210855