Northanger Abbey Research Paper
In Jane Austen’s book “Northanger Abbey”, one of the major themes and objectives within the novel is the nature and attitude of the society towards different genres of reading and literature. This essay will examine this theme according to the novel as a whole, the passage given and the devices with which Austen distinguishes her views on literature, as well as the views she has on characters which revolve around the theme of reading and literature. The essay will also examine the context behind the novel in terms of the status of reading and literature in that period of history in England and how this theme of reading and literature reflects on Austen’s broader theme within the novel.
The attitude of Austen towards reading and writing can …show more content…
Austen’s satirising of gothic novels is indicated to the reader in the first pages of the novel where Austen decisively describes the character of Catherine by making reference to the fact that Catherine’s character does not resemble that of a heroine in a gothic novel. An example of this type of reference can be seen in the first line of the novel where Austen states “no one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her fancy, would have supposed her born to be a heroine” (Austen, 1983:pp1005.) The novel also includes a theme of ongoing mockery of gothic novel conventions as Austen describes Catherine’s family as normal. She goes so far as to state that Catherine’s father does not lock his daughters up, which is a typical convention which occurs in the gothic genre, thus mocking the forms of gothic novels and the highly predictable nature of these novels due to these forms (Flavin, 2004). In the passage given, the parody of gothic novels that Austen carries throughout the novel is illustrated, although it is not attacking or mocking these novels directly, Austen takes her satire of these novels further by stating several of the novels within that genre that display …show more content…
For instance she describes the views on novel reading of the time through the character of John Thorpe, who immediately dismisses Catherine’s thoughts on novels, more specifically her thoughts on a gothic novel called Udolpho . Mr Thorpe states “Udolpho! Oh, Lord! Not I; I never read novels; I have something else to do.” (Austen, 1983; pp1026) Therefore John ‘s reaction reflects the general attitude of the time about novels during this period, one of the attitudes held, being that novels are a waste of time and a person cannot gain anything from reading a novel. However, before this incident occurs there is a part in the novel where it seems that Austen herself is talking to the reader, and stating that society and writers should not be critical of one another but rather leave that to the critics as novel writers are “an injured body” ”(Austen, 1983: pp1019). This passage and the character of John Thorpe’s himself suggest Austen’s feelings of the general opinion of the society of novels as a pointless skill being in very bad taste (Austen, 1983). Another character that can be identified through their literary views is Isabella, as she continuously makes reference to a friend named Miss
The attitude of Austen towards reading and writing can …show more content…
Austen’s satirising of gothic novels is indicated to the reader in the first pages of the novel where Austen decisively describes the character of Catherine by making reference to the fact that Catherine’s character does not resemble that of a heroine in a gothic novel. An example of this type of reference can be seen in the first line of the novel where Austen states “no one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her fancy, would have supposed her born to be a heroine” (Austen, 1983:pp1005.) The novel also includes a theme of ongoing mockery of gothic novel conventions as Austen describes Catherine’s family as normal. She goes so far as to state that Catherine’s father does not lock his daughters up, which is a typical convention which occurs in the gothic genre, thus mocking the forms of gothic novels and the highly predictable nature of these novels due to these forms (Flavin, 2004). In the passage given, the parody of gothic novels that Austen carries throughout the novel is illustrated, although it is not attacking or mocking these novels directly, Austen takes her satire of these novels further by stating several of the novels within that genre that display …show more content…
For instance she describes the views on novel reading of the time through the character of John Thorpe, who immediately dismisses Catherine’s thoughts on novels, more specifically her thoughts on a gothic novel called Udolpho . Mr Thorpe states “Udolpho! Oh, Lord! Not I; I never read novels; I have something else to do.” (Austen, 1983; pp1026) Therefore John ‘s reaction reflects the general attitude of the time about novels during this period, one of the attitudes held, being that novels are a waste of time and a person cannot gain anything from reading a novel. However, before this incident occurs there is a part in the novel where it seems that Austen herself is talking to the reader, and stating that society and writers should not be critical of one another but rather leave that to the critics as novel writers are “an injured body” ”(Austen, 1983: pp1019). This passage and the character of John Thorpe’s himself suggest Austen’s feelings of the general opinion of the society of novels as a pointless skill being in very bad taste (Austen, 1983). Another character that can be identified through their literary views is Isabella, as she continuously makes reference to a friend named Miss