How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
That punishment, the public punishment of a disgrace, should in a just measure attend his share of the offence, is, we know, not one of the barriers which society gives to virtue. In this world the penalty is less equal than could be wished [...] (48.20).
This is one of most blunt assessments of gender inequality in this entire book, and in a lot of Austen's work as a whole. Maria suffers the brunt of the fallout of her disastrous affair with Henry. Her life is essentially over.
Quote #11
But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them (1.1).
The marriage market was pretty tight during the early 1800s. England had been fighting wars with France and there were more women than men running around, since men were dying in combat. Also, lots of people didn't have enough money to actually get married around this time. So lots of women were competing for a few eligible bachelors, basically.