Transportation in Pride and Predjudice

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TRANSPORTATION IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Hack Chaise Curricle The Curricle was the vehicle of the elite. It was fast and often used in high class racing. In chapter 44, Mr Dacy’s uses of a Curricle shows him to be a rich and dashing young man. A hack chaise is the victorian equivalent to a taxi. As upkeep of horses and the carriage where expensive and so not all high class families could afford them. In chapter 5, Mrs Long had come to the ball in a hack chaise, and Mr Darcy pride does not allow him to associate with someone who does not have the same money as he has, though they are both of the same class. Chaise A chaise was the transport of a person who had a considerable amount of wealth. Mr Bingley’s wealth is shown when he is described visiting Netherfield in a “Chaise and Four”(Ch.1), which is a chaise pulled by four horses. Phaeton A phaeton is a small carriage with large wheels. This carriage is used by the sickly daughter of Lady Catherine and is pulled by ponies. This is used to highlight the delicacy of Lady Catherine's daughter. Coach Means of Transportation are used as symbols of financial status in Pride and Prejudice. In Chapter 7, the Bennets are shown to own a carriage and a coach, however the horses they used for them are also used on the farm. This can be compared to Mr.Bingley’s wealth were he owns an expensive carriage and four horses used only to pull it. In Chapter 59, when Mrs.Bennet hears that Elizabeth will marry Mr.Darcy, she exclaims, “Oh my sweetest Lizzy!...what carriages you will have!”. This is to show how much financial status Elizabeth will claim by marring Mr.Darcy. A coach is a covered carriage that was used by the upper class. Passengers would sit in the booth and the driver would ride one of the horses. The Bennets own a coach as well as an ordinary carriage.
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