Reply #12: And if I recall my woman's lit class correctly [View All]

A lot of what Jane Austen wrote in those novels was meant to be received in a mocking tone. Sort of "see how silly and strange the manners of the upper class are". In a way, she was trying to point out how confusing and unfair courtship and marriage were for upper class women. The marriage of these young characters to older men underscored these imbalances.

Also, for most of history, women have been expected to marry and start producing children almost from the moment they are physically able to. And in looking for the most financially stable man for a daughter to marry, family were drawn to older, more established suitors. The question was less "find someone she likes close to her own age" and more "find someone with enough money to take care of her and any children she'll have". Considering that society encouraged these women to cultivate few marketable skills, well, that makes some economic sense.

The situation was different for poorer women. Many of them had marketable skills (cooking, cleaning, spinning, teaching, weaving, sewing, etc.) and could have supported themselves (although sometimes just barely) or their families needed the money they brought in. So it wasn't a disaster if they didn't get married until they were in their 20s.

From your friendly neighborhood spinster (no, really, I'm single and I have a spinning wheel!).