Clothing: Although clothing appears to symbolize the same things in each of the seven novels, there is actually a progression as clothing in the early novels illustrates class, character, and modesty and in the later books it exemplifies character, profession, and ambition.

1.) Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (1814)
1. Class
  1. Fanny Price had only two sashes
    1. Even the servants sneered at her
2. Character
  1. Mr. Rushworth's blue dress and pink satin cloak
    1. Mr. Rushworth's love for finery illustrates his silliness
3. Modesty
  1. Fanny desired a plain gold chain for her cross
    1. The Crawfords wanted her to have a fancy one
7.) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)
1. Character
  1. Cane of sturdy wood
    1. Breaks when he loses control of himself
  2. Mr. Hyde was "clothed...with detestable attributes"
2. Profession
  1. Dr. Jekyll wears elegant suits that were proper to his profession
3. Ambition
  1. Mr. Hyde is compared to a thick cloak
    1. The thick cloak allowed him to pursue his goal of doing evil without being detected
6.) Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy (1872)
1. Character
  1. Fancy Day's boot
    1. Fancy Day's boot provides both readers and the characters information about her and is even described as a character itself
2. Profession
  1. Week day aprons
    1. Many of the characters wear clothing that is unique to their profession such as aprons or strings to hold back hair while mending shoes
3. Ambition
  1. Necessity of multiple dresses
    1. Fancy Day hoped her fine appearance would get her an elevating match
3.) Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (1851-1853)
1. Class
  1. Old black silk gown and shepherd's plaid cloak
    1. Lady Glenmire's attire surprised Cranford
2. Character
  1. Miss Matty's silk gown
    1. Miss Matty desired a silk gown but sacrificed it
3. Modesty
  1. Pearl necklace
    1. Miss Matty was too old
4.) Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens (1846-1848
1. Class
  1. Good Mrs. Brown's clothing was miserable rags and old worn out cloaks
2. Character
  1. Indistinguishable wedding clothes
    1. Appearing special was not important to Florence
3. Profession
  1. Glazed hat and blue jacket
    1. Captain Cuttle's clothing denoted his profession
4. Ambition
  1. Diamond brooch
    1. Mrs. Skewton hoped to lure a man into marrying Edith by finery and accomplishments
5.) Adam Bede by George Eliot (1859)
1. Character
  1. Jacket tossed aside and sleeves rolled up
    1. Adam cared more for responsibilities and family than his clothing
2. Profession
  1. Methodist dress
    1. Dinah's Methodist dress alerts readers to what work Dinah has devoted her life
3. Ambition
  1. Lace and gloves
    1. Hetty schemes on how to win Captain Donnithorne with her clothing
4. Religion/Morality
  1. Simple black dress and inattention to appearance
    1. Dinah was too devoted to God to care about her appearance
2.) Heart of the Midlothian by Sir Walter Scott (1818)
1. Class
  1. Mrs. Dabby dressed twice as grand as the Queen
    1. Class is innate so the upper classes didn't try to prove their class status
2. Character
  1. Clean white stockings
    1. Illustrates Jeanie Dean's pure heart and motives
3. Modesty
  1. Bonnets
    1. Jeanie and her father always wore the head coverings necessary for modesty
4. Religion/Morality
  1. Effie's loose hair
    1. Uncovered hair was considered impure