For Love or Money: The shock and logic of Willoughby's betrayal

 We have just finished reading chapters 21-30 of Sense and Sensibility (or, in my version of the book, the last two chapters of Volume 1 and the first 8 chapters of Volume 2).

By the end of this section, Marianne's suffering is heart-rending. Elinor's heart is also broken for her sister.

"Elinor drew near, but without say a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne's. The latter, though unable to speak, seems to feel all the tenderness of this behavior, and after some time thus spend in joint affliction, she put all the letters into Elinor's hands; and then covering her face with her handkerchief, almost screamed in agony." (Vol. 2 Chap 5). 

Source for Illustration

 The real question is WHY??? Why did Willoughby abandon Marianne? 

Elinor sums up his actions succinctly:

"But have you likewise heard that Miss Gray has fifty thousand pounds? In that, if in anything, we may find an explanation." (Vol. 2 Chap. 8). 

And we despise Willoughby for this, for choosing money over his love for Marianne. This is a classic theme in literature, especially Austen's writing, where money is a key factor in choosing a spouse (remember Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice?). 

While we may accept this as a tried-and-true trope, it is slightly baffling to our 21 century American understanding.

Why did Willoughby, for all his seemingly sincere feelings for Marianne, give her up so easily for the "jackpot" of a fifty thousand pound bride? 

Why couldn't Willoughby just get a job and support himself and Marianne? 

How did money work for a gentleman in Austen's day and age? 

Here is a (very) brief history lesson about the way money worked (or didn't work) for the Regency Gentleman: 

Willoughby, as a gentleman, received his income from his family. The landed gentry (where we get the term "gentleman") in England were wealthy because they owned land. 

If they managed their property well, they received a substantial income by leasing their land for farming and housing to tenants. This income, supplied by sales of crops and collected rent, often made these land-owners extremely wealthy. This wealth was then passed down from fathers to sons, or to daughters in the way of a hefty dowry. 

Sometimes, an uncle or aunt would take a nephew under his/her wing and make this nephew the heir to the family fortune (One of Jane Austen's brother was actually adopted by his uncle for this reason. Nice for him, right? But in a modern context, this is really strange, don't you think?). 

Willoughby is apparently the heir to his aunt's fortune. While his aunt lived, he would get an allowance, of sorts, to live on. After his aunt's death, he would become the heir to Allanham, her estate, and all the responsibilities that came with running that estate. 

His "allowance" was probably very generous, allowing Willoughby to live a life of pleasure, pursuing hobbies such as hunting and socializing (and pursuing young ladies? hmm?).

However, as we learn from this chapter, Willoughby has many debts and is essentially broke. At this point in the book, we can assume that he gave up his attachment for Marianne because she would not bring enough money to the marriage to either pay for the debts or support his lifestyle or their future life together. 

Sad, right? But Willoughby seemed to make a logical, if despicable, decision. 

But, wait! What about the fact that he is the heir of Allanham? Won't he still inherit after his aunt passes away? Couldn't he have just waited? We know Marianne would have!

I don't want to give away any spoilers for those of have not finished the book, but we will find out why waiting until he inherited Allanham was not an option for Willoughby. I don't think we will like him any better after finding out the reason why. 

So, Willoughby abandons Marianne for fifty thousand pounds, all because he is a spend-thrift, thinking more about his current pleasures than his future happiness. Perhaps, we wish, like Mrs. Jennings vehmently does, 

"I wish with all my soul his wife may plague his heart out."

What do you think? 

Does understanding the way money worked in Regency England make Willoughby's actions less reprehensible? 

Did he have any other options? 

Did anyone catch Mrs. Jenning's practical financial suggestions for Willoughby in Vol. 2 Chapter 8?