Question

Read the excerpt from chapter 29 of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

In spite of having been at St. James’s, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth’s mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he represented.

Which statement best describes the historical context of the setting?

This was a time when men had to be introduced to women.
This was a time when people were highly conscious of their social status.
This was a time when people of different social classes did not mingle.
This was a time when men took over the role of hosting.

Answer 1

This was a time when people were highly conscious of their social status.

Evidence: phrases like “inferior rank,” Sir William’s being “awed by the grandeur,” and the formal, authoritative behavior of Lady Catherine all show the novel’s emphasis on rank, deference, and social hierarchy.