What are some commonly-used themes in English classic novels by Austen, Elliott, Dickens, Hardy, Gaskell?

Question

Early-and mid-19th-century-set novels by these authors often swerved very close to each other. There were changes taking place in agriculture, in marriage customs, and in political representation.

Answer 1

These writers sometimes provided a snapshot of a cluster of people at one incident, or a span of time about them (perhaps a village like Middlemarch) to show the changes taking place. New technology was making it possible for people to pursue other work, or making it necessary! The idea of marrying for love rather than out of a property arrangement was experimented with, not always with satisfying results. Representation was becoming broader in basis, in gender, class and age. The idea of a middle class emerged. The idea of extending credit for productive reasons was articulated.