(no subject)

[oneiriad]

I wonder whatever happened to Audhumla?

Also, has anyone considered that maybe if Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner marry, Will will not have to work 24-7 to try to keep her in something resembling the manner to which she is used? Is it not possible that the lady might actually have some money to bring into the marriage? Considering that her father is governor and thus propably pretty high class and no mention is made of any close relatives, well, might there not actually be a fair amount of money? Or is it just me being silly?

Comments

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Hmm...she would have had to have inherited from her mother directly to have any money of her own, really. Swann would have given her quite the dowry and probably continued to spoil her, but still, I can see Will as the type to wish to support her by himself.

Plus the dowry isn't exactly to be spent. It's supposed to be a saving, and the groom has to give it back if something goes wrong.

Of course, once Swann kicks the bucket, Lizzie will be rich. Ahem.

[soho-iced.livejournal.com]

Implication being that her father would disapprove of the marriage and refuse to give her a dowry, I suppose. I don't think she would have any money in her own right, unless (eg) her mother or a grandparent had directly settled money on her.

[drbillbongo.livejournal.com]

If Governor Swann doesn't refuse to contribute or disinherit her, what I doubt, Will won't have to work much for them to make a living. But Will is quite the proud type - I'm sure he wouldn't want Governor Swann to help them financially. At least that's how I see it.

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

I think it's quite clear that, despite Swann's objections to the 'blacksmith', he is willing to abide by Elizabeth's decision. Therefore, I doubt seriously that he would withhold her dowry --- that was only done in high society in the most egregious cases of parental non-approval. And Swann doesn't strike me as the kind of father who would deny her much of anything, juding directly from his reactions to her in the movie.

Also, it is likely that Elizabeth has had money settled on her---her mother is dead, and there might well have been some kind of legacy. And Swann would have made sure Will had his own establishment or was at least raised from 'journeyman' to 'master craftsman' in order to have his own shop. Will might be too proud to want to accept help, but 18th century society was not as accessible as it was a century later. His and Elizabeth's marrriage may be a mesalliance but it's not as socially destructive in a colonial port as it would have been in London. Since women did not really 'own' property at the time (they had to have a man adminstrating it and once she married, anything Elizabeth owns becomes her husband's property, including herself. I know that ruffles a lot of 21st century feathers, but that's how it worked before 1884 Married Woman's Property Act: Even if Swann died and she inherited, she would have a 'settlement' of money accessible to her, but the bulk of the inheritance and property would be managed carefully for her future children.)

In any event, that's how it appears to me and that's the basic background I used in "A Lamantable State of Affairs" for the polyficathon last year. It makes sense for the period and the characters.