"everyone says he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise." (Chapt. 5, page14).
A hack chaise is what a taxi was called during Austin's time. Class is an evident theme in Pride and Prejudice and clearly displayed in this passage. In order for a family to own a carriage a horse must be kept, and the family also must employ a driver and groomer. If a horse is to be owned the expenses of its food and keep in a stable must be payed. All of these expenses add up to much more than the modern car would cost a family in today's society. In this passage Mr. Darcy is considered too proud to be acquainted with a person such as Mrs. Long, who cannot keep a carriage. This is a prime example of how little different classes mingle with one another.
~"Hack." Webster's Online Dictionary - with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation. 02 Apr. 2009
~The Republic of Pemberley. 02 Apr. 2009
Thank you. That helps a lot!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm reading Pride & Prejudice and your explanation clarified enough.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
ReplyDeletepaid - not payed
ReplyDeleteAusten not Austin!
ReplyDeleteThank you)))
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
ReplyDeleteWell explained. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteVery clearly explained above. Now I realize also why taxi drivers have a
ReplyDeletehacker's license.