How would the sister's lives have been different had either or both of them married? What role does Cassandra play in Jane's writing life and success?

Cassandra reflects: "Jane's story and her own could not be separated: they were bound tight together to form one complete history. On the fortunes of the other, each life had turned." How would her and Jane's lives have been different had either or both of them married? What role does Cassandra play in Jane's writing life and success?

Cassandra encourages Jane's writing. As far as how their lives would have been different, in some ways it might have been harder on both of them. They were obviously very close growing up. If one of them had married and moved away, somewhat breaking that bond, I think they would always have felt some sense of loss of that closeness. If she had married, Cassandra would have had a family of her own to take care instead of always taking care of others. If Jane had married and had children and a household to manage, she might not have ever been a published author.

If Gill Hornsby's research is to be believed, and the sisters were as inextricably linked as they appear to have been, clearly Cassie, herself, would have been lost had she married, for It appears that she existed almost to care for others. At times in the novel she overhears what others say about her, and while she may not like it, she does not alter her ways. She goes, time and again, to help her brother and his wife with their family, and looks after her own mother and sister as well. She realized that marriage to Tom - had it occurred - would have resulted in a far different reality than she realized as a young woman in love. It would have, for example, separated her from Jane, who would never have written the novels that eventually made a name for her, provided an income for her, the novels that allowed for her earliest works to become well known as well. It allowed Cassie to be present in the home when her father died, to continue to help Jane have the freedom to write by relieving her of household duties that she, Jane, worried would rob her of her precious writing hours, and ultimately, it led Cassie to look after the reputation of the family's and most pointedly, Jane, as is the novel's focus. Clearly, as scottishrose says above, Jane may never have become the household name she now is - and Hornsby would never have felt the interest or need to write this book.

Scottishrose and susiej have beaten me to the punch once more--lol All of those things are true but I think they would have been healthier emotionally and mentally had they had something or someone other to focus on than their strange interdependence. I really felt uncomfortable with their insulated existence.

I think Cassandra would have been a wonderful wife and parent but would constantly worry about the rest of her family and miss them terribly. Her marriage would be most successful if she could have married someone near her family’s home. I think Jane would have remained single whether Cassy was married or single. Her life was her writing and her struggle with depression.

Marriage would have changed the sisters' relationship dramatically. The married sister would be busy with a family and running a home. They would still visit, but the time they spent together would have been drastically reduced.

I agree with djcminor and others who said how marriage would change the sister's relationship dramatically. The obligations of being a wife and mother and running a home would leave far less time for their sisterly relationship, even if they had lived close by.
If one or the other had moved any distance away their visits would have been few and far between. Unlike today, their only means of communication would be letter writing. I imagine that would mean big gaps in the latest news.
I don't think I can even imagine how hard that would be except to remember when I was young and living away as a serviceman's wife in the 60's. We rarely called family, because long distance charges were so high and we couldn't afford it. So, we wrote letters and waited til they were received and answered....there was not the instant communication of texting, e-mail, Zoom etc. and it was much harder to keep in touch. I am so thankful for technology since I live far away from all my family. It does keep us as close as possible to be able to pick up the phone and talk any time.

If either had married, this history would be entirely different, It would have been very difficult for them to be separated, however, there would now be husbands and children involved in this history I believe Cassie would have liked being married and having a family. I have a feeling Jane would not have been as good at it. I am sure she have times when she could get involved in her writing and forget about them.