Social Class and Marriage

Where it surfaces

• How a Rich Banker Married an Actress

  Archibald Floyd's marriage to an actress defies class boundaries, sparking scandal and gossip among the gentry who view Eliza as beneath their station.

• III: What Became of the Diamond Bracelet

  Talbot Bulstrode's pride in his Cornish baronet lineage contrasts with his disdain for Aurora's 'snobbish' party and her interest in horse racing, highlighting class tensions and the marriage market.

• After the Ball

  Talbot views Lucy as the ideal wife due to her pure upbringing, while Aurora's mysterious background and boldness unsettle his class expectations.

• John Mellish

  The chapter explores social expectations through the hiring of a governess to 'train and prune' Aurora, and Talbot's concerns about introducing her to his family at Bulstrode.

• Rejected and Accepted

  Talbot's internal conflict about Aurora's background and the expectations of his station.

• Poor John Mellish Comes Back Again

  The chapter highlights the social dynamics of marriage among the upper classes, with John Mellish's wealth and status as a Yorkshireman contrasting with Talbot's aristocratic background.

• Captain Prodder

  Captain Prodder worries his niece's high station might lead her to look down on him, reflecting class divisions within families.

• Captain Prodder Carries Bad News to His Niece's House

  Captain Prodder's treatment by the servant and his own awareness of his lowly status relative to his niece's wealthy marriage underscore the tensions of social class within family relationships.

• John Mellish Finds His Home Desolate

  John's pride of caste is deeply wounded by Aurora's unequal marriage to a servant.