#Books: Why to Get Employment: The Sense and Sensibility Way

For long I have fantasized to be rich enough and reckless enough so as not to be 'working for money'. These days I am reading 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austen. It is tempting to know that in those days in England (also) there were men who inherited fortunes and their estates granted them 'freedom' to remain idle. :) And the language in which Jane Austen writes about it, makes it so glorious. 

Mrs. Dashwood wants to tell Edward, who loved one of her daughters, that it was better if he was employed (perhaps that would be more comforting to her as a could-be mother-in-law). So how does she tell it? She says, "You would be a happier man if you had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions. Some inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it - you would not be able to give them so much of your time. But you would know where to go when you left them."

So interesting! To be employed, so that "you would know where to go when you left a place"! :)

Edward replies including, "I always preferred the church, as I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family." (no one wants to give her daughter to a man who is rich enough to need to go only to a church). "They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me". (they are fine sending sons to army than seeing them at at home!?) "The law was allowed to be genteel enough; but I had no inclination for the law." (What is the use of arguing for others when one can't for oneself?) "I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been properly idle ever since." (as always true - confused people go to college and return more confused).

Now Mrs. Dashwood says, "The consequence of which, I suppose, will be, that your sons will be brought up to as many pursuits, employments, professions, and trades as Columella's".

Edward says in a serious accent, "They will be brought up to be as unlike myself as is possible."

Now this proposition - to work and get employment - so that our kids can also get into same vocation and hence we could make sure they don't trade unseen waters, is so boring and yet interesting. Thanks to Jane Austen's classy humour...

- Rahul Tiwary