s would want to be a man (in Austen) or a capitalist (in Dickens). The system (of manners, romance, marriage in Austen; of work, economics, social structure in Dickens) is the source of the corruption, slavery and misery which flow from the abuse of power. The women in Austen are as trapped as the workers in Coketown by the oppressive power which flows from the prevailing material and economic conditions. In reality, men and women, capitalist and laborer, are all slaves to the system of power in which they are all pawns.
On first glance, Austen's novel seems to be peopled with characters who are very privileged, insulated, socially and politically apathetic, and superficial. Why should readers care about them? After all, they seem to care about little but money and marriage. The heart and soul of the book is the effort to marry five daughters to wealthy men. The book is full of musings which would probably seem insane to the embattled Coketowne
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