For all the Jane Austen fans out there…

[ThomasinaGallico]

Have you ever wondered about the subsequent lives of the various Jane Austen heroines/supporting characters? I read a (somewhat sobering) account just now of the historical backdrop to Persuasion, which made me think, right, this may not entirely be a happy-ever-after, so inspired by that, here are my thoughts:

Most likely to have a large rowdy houseful of kids: Catherine Morland & Henry Tilney

Most likely to be childless: Fanny Price & Edmund Bertram

Most likely to outlive their husband: Anne Elliott

Most likely to die in childbirth: Marianne Dashwood

Most likely to have sons and no daughters: Emma Woodhouse

Most likely to have daughters and no sons: Elinor Dashwood, or possibly Jane Bennett

Most likely to be left holding the baby: Lydia Bennett.

….Any other thoughts?

Most likely to be childless: Fanny Price & Edmund Bertram

There's a bit at the end of Mansfield Park where it says they were able to move into the Mansfield parsonage just at the time they needed a larger income and were beginning to find the distance inconvenient - I have always taken this to mean Fanny was expecting.

True @Antarcticant . Maybe Marianne’s a better choice for that one. I also have Jane Fairfax in mind for the ‘left holding the baby’ role as Frank Churchill always struck me as flaky.

I often think of the 'other' women...
What happened to Elizabeth Elliott?
And Mary Crawford?
Did Maria Bertram ever come out of exile, and what did she do?
Did Miss DeBourgh ever find a backbone?

Elizabeth Elliot might have remained single as she obviously has an unpleasant and overbearing personality. Men have resisted her so far although she is good looking, she is virtually 'on the shelf' at the advanced age of 29 (I know!) 😉. Also she herself would be unwilling to accept a husband of lower social status, as she's a massive snob. So that really narrows her options down anyway. Not that anyone has proposed so far, I suppose people could recognise a narcissist (like her dad), even back then.

Genteel retirement in Bath is my guess for her future, initially with her father until he dies. He is crap with money so they won't be able to return to the Hall (Kellynch?) Later on Anne and Wentworth will probably have to help her out with an allowance. Frederick Wentworth will have an amazing career in the navy and probably be given a title and land so they'll be fine and can easily afford to help. Aargh I don't want him to die in the Napoleonic wars or something!

I feel that Fanny Price might die young as she is portrayed as quite sickly and 'delicate'. And of course sadly many women died in childbirth in those days, it was quite common. I think this might happen to Jane Fairfax too. We already know this happened to her mother, and I think I read that Jane Austen gave out hints that this is what would happen. She also said that Kitty Bennet would marry a clergyman with a 'living' near either Pemberley or maybe Mr Bingley's estate, so quite satisfactory to Mrs Bennet! Whereas Mary would marry last and have to settle for one of her uncle's clerks.

I realise I probably give all this too much thought!

I always thought that Sir Walter married again and had a son despite Mr Elliots schemes, and his poor, very pretty, very silly wife died in childbirth leaving Elizabeth to raise the child (handed it to a wet nurse/nanny) and remain a spinster and her father's constant companion.

Well that would sort out Mr Elliot! You'd feel sorry for the child though, what a weird childhood that would be.

I always thought Mary would stay at home with her parents until they both died, then move between her sisters.

@ThomasinaGallico would love to read the account you read about historical background to persuasion, can you link to it / name it please?

I agree about Frank Churchill. It wouldn't quite be plain sailing at very least.

I think Jane Fairfax would have her work cut out for her with Frank, but she is no pushover, and her inlaws will be lovely and supportive.

Wasn't there, at the end of Pride and Prejudice, a brief bit about what happened next? Wait, I found this thru spark notes summary of last chapter.
I'm staying in the hotel where they filmed the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion soon!

It was in the Telegraph this week (might be behind a paywall but sometimes these are copied on Yahoo news or similar, so keep an eye out):

Persuasion article