这些妇女，绅士而美丽，是叛军，她们对愚蠢的母亲所做的选择，无能为力的父亲（在奥斯丁的小说中很少有明智的父亲）和僵化的东正教社会。他们冒着排斥和贫穷的危险，获得爱与陪伴，并以民主的核心接受这一难以捉摸的目标：选择权。
(These women, genteel and beautiful, are the rebels who say no to the choices made by silly mothers, incompetent fathers {there are seldom any wise fathers in Austen's novels} and the rigidly orthodox society. They risk ostracism and poverty to gain love and companionship, and to embrace that elusive goal at the heart of democracy: the right to choose.)