Northanger Abbey

Throughout the course of history, social hierarchies have existed across the globe, spanning from prince to pauper or business tycoon to lowly scrivener. Authors, in turn, have written works regarding social class, often examining the negative effects of societal structure on personal growth. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre takes place in Victorian England, in the age of industry and genesis of industrial capitalism. The novel’s protagonist, Jane, first lives a life of neglect, then a life in poverty, and eventually finds her happy ending. Through Jane’s personal experiences and interactions with fellow characters, Brontë analyzes the effects of social class. Professor Chris Vanden Bossche’s article analysis “What Did ‘Jane Eyre’ Do? Ideology, Agency, Class and the Novel” examines social inclusion and monetary pressures placed on the central characters during this pivotal era of English history. Through the Marxist lens, Jane Eyre can be understood in terms of complexity and character motives. Vanden Bossche effectively argues that external forces, like money and people, both motivate and repress Jane into choosing her own path. Thus, a more developed explanation is made for Jane’s various behaviors regarding social inclusion and societal rebellion.

In late eighteenth and early nineteenth century England there was a sort of moral ‘code’ of behavior and standards that are to be maintained by the middle and upper classes of society. Austen realistically mirrors this ‘code’ through the characters and plots of her novels while showing that social flexibility was narrow and class boundaries were strict. The topics of class stringency and social mobility are important areas in Jane Austen’s literature. We begin to see that Austen is not a revolutionary as she supports and preserves the morals and customs of societies hierarchy. However she often encourages and backs the emergence of new wealth permitting greater social mobility. In Austen’s world the naval and ‘tradesmen’ professions

Jane Austen was a Georgian era author who was best known for her novels that commented on social issues and class, and Northanger Abbey is no exception. Austen’s social commentary is apparent in this novel’s plot, as the reader follows a seventeen-year-old protagonist, Catherine Morland, as she matures and forms intimate relationships with fellow characters in an England town called Bath. Marriage between characters in the novel is heavily based on wealth, and because of England’s unstable economy at the time, marrying into wealth meant maintaining a high social class and economic stability for the characters. The importance of economic prosperity and social rank heavily influenced marriage in 19th century England, and this idea bourgeoisie classism and marrying for wealth is contradicted by Austen in her novel, Northanger Abbey.

Fitting with the common theme between the two novels of the judgment of others, each heroine falls victim to a horrible misjudgment of the character of another. After discovering that the engagement between her brother and her friend Isabella has been broken, Catherine finds she has grossly misjudged her friend’s character, and thinks, “She was ashamed of Isabella, ashamed of ever having loved her” (Northanger 150). Elizabeth, on the other hand, finds her attachment the Wickham wholly inappropriate after receiving her letter from Mr. Darcy. After digesting the shocking contents of the letter, Elizabeth “grew absolutely ashamed of herself.—Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” (Pride 156). And indeed, as suggested by Elizabeth’s mention of Darcy, this misjudgment goes on to affect each girl’s attachment to her future husband.

Austen’s representation of reading epitomises the excesses of the imagination exhibited by sentimental readers which effectively led to their disconnection from reality. Austen’s employment of the gothic reflects Catherine’s transition from the excesses of her gothic fantasies to reality, which fundamentally enables Catherine to develop independent judgement through her exploration of human experience and to reject her projection of idealist imaginations influenced by her gothic readings (move up). Although Austen satirizes the excesses of sensibility through the characterisation of Catherine’s absorption of the gothic, Austen does not completely ridicule or dismiss the truth behind the gothic or the imagination. Richardson (2005:399) explains

There is Holling who has a controlling father, submissive mother and flower child sister. And then Mrs.Bigio whos husband died in war, along with Mrs. Baker whos husband went M.I.A. in war. Mia Tia who really has no family because she was adopted by the chalotic church from Vietnam, Meryl Lee who all we know is her father was not a honest business man and stole Hollings fathers idea for the new middle school. Lastly, of course there are the other class mates Holling does not really go into detail about that we assume have a pretty average family life. Each one of these families has a certain value to it; and at the end of the book the classmates find out that they really do have someone there for them even if it is not their direct family.

At first, Austen reveals the tensions between the working class and the upper class and emphasizes the rigid social structure that existed in nineteenth century London. The rigidity of the social structure can be attributed to the fact that “no class exists for itself but is bound by reciprocated rights and duties to classes above and below” (Kilger 359). Although the classes are separate and very distinct from each other, they still all depend on one another to thrive and succeed. However, this was definitely not the case during the

An educated woman challenges the patriarchal system within their society since knowledge gives men power and superiority. Therefore, knowledgeable women are unappealing while imbecility greatly enhances their personal charms. The narrator demonstrates further demonstrates this through the positive effects of Catherine’s ignorance: But Catherine did not know her own advantages -- did not know that a good-looking girl, with an

Catherine is so wrapped up in her fictional world of reading that she becomes ignorant of her real life issues with Henry Tilney, for whom she has been love-struck since their introduction. She entertains herself with wild imaginings about his life and family. Catherine's imaginings foreshadow her eager desire for mischief as Austen's story develops. Catherine is endowed with a vivid imagination, but she has not yet learned to use it in concert with her perception, especially in understanding the interactions between people.

Another aspect which is relevant today and forever it shall remain relevant is selfishness. Catherine's selfish character was depicted when she wanted both Edgar and Heathcliff at the same time. In the beginning, she was introduced as a 'high spirited' character who was wild. However, she drastically changes throughout the book. When she hurts her leg and is forced to stay at Thrushcross Grange, she returns to Wuthering Heights as a well dressed and dignified lady. She was easily swayed to the superior lifestyle of the Lintons and began to look down upon Heathcliff. She even laughs at his rough and dirty appearance and says "I didn't mean to laugh at you. I could not hinder myself Heathcliff. Shake hands at least! What are you sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If you wash you face and brush your hair, it would be alright. But you are

Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey establishes the inner feeling of a woman based on her own personal experience which provides a vivid glance into her perspective. Correspondingly, it reinstates Gothic novels as an reflection marginalized by the experiences of women living in the upper class. For contemporary modern day, Northanger Abbey functions as a warning, depicting the danger of amorous and sexual exploitation from the opportunistic characters within a social environment. These dangers are a realistic theme even in today's society marking potential threat for women. Mostly importantly, it serves as a device that's depicts the social separation between the companionship of woman and the inhuman acknowledgement of women as objects, which fosters the necessarily development for both men and

Soon after her own arrival in Bath, Catherine is followed by her brother James and Isabella’s brother John Thorpe. At the initial meeting with the boys, Catherine is mistaken on two different points, still being ignorant in her perceptions of other people. Although slightly thrown off by John’s manners, Catherine is unable to formulate her own negative opinion of him, too affected by the opinions of Isabella and James, and “her judgment was further brought off by Isabella’s assuring her…that John thought her the most charming girl in the world” (Austen 48). For Catherine, it is easier and more natural to accept the opinions of someone like Isabella, a mentor figure. Also, in the same scene, Catherine makes the assumption that her brother James has journeyed “so far on purpose to see me” (49). Catherine hastily jumps to this false conclusion, not having the experience to detect James’ continuous questions and compliments of Isabella as a sign of his true motives for coming to town: to visit the “prettiest girl in Bath” (49).

Catherine’s growth is evident in the very first line of the novel as it states “No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her” (37). Catherine’s lowly heroine figure is made known instantly so that her development is much more apparent at the end of the novel. From the start of the novel Catherine is not a typical heroine, she is unorthodox in all facets of her life including the status of her parents. Catherine is initially also an incredibly naive character and this fuels her

Isabella Thorpe is not that much different than her brother. As equally as self-absorbed, rude, and lying as he, Isabella takes full advantage of Catherine. Yet why does Catherine not see through Isabella as readily as John? Even though Catherine is a bit suspicious of Isabella's actions and grows tired of her at times, she does not assume that Isabella is like John. For Isabella has something that John lacks, tact. Catherine being very naïve is not able to pick up on the actions of Isabella as readily as those of John, because, like most women, Isabella is very deceiving. Her every word and action has some unstated intention. For instance, Isabella is asked to dance by Captain Tilney, yet declines his request by saying that it is "quite out of the question, her being so preoccupied with thoughts

After these events Catherine is soon forgiven by Henry. It is then that Catherine discovers James has called off his engagement to Isabella due to her pursuit of Captain Tilney, only she was to realise he had no intention of marriage. Isabella’s social standard is ruined by this scandal and Catherine soon realises that their friendship was all but a