📘English Literature – 1670 to 1850 Unit 14 – Jane Austen: Novels of Manners

Historical Context

• Austen's novels set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries during the Georgian era in England
• Society characterized by strict social hierarchies and expectations of proper behavior and decorum
• Women's roles primarily limited to the domestic sphere with little opportunity for independence or self-determination
• Marriage considered a crucial means of securing financial stability and social status for women
• Rise of the novel as a popular literary form reflecting the interests and concerns of the growing middle class
• Influence of the Enlightenment emphasizing reason, individualism, and social progress
• Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) provided a backdrop of political uncertainty and nationalist sentiment
• Increasing industrialization and urbanization began to transform traditional rural life and social structures

Jane Austen's Life and Times

• Born in 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire to a close-knit, educated family of the lower gentry
• Received a broad education at home, including access to her father's extensive library
• Began writing short stories, plays, and novels in her teenage years, often read aloud to her family for entertainment
• Never married, though she had several romantic attachments and a brief engagement in her early twenties
• Lived most of her life in the countryside, moving with her family to Bath in 1801 and then to Chawton in 1809
• Published her novels anonymously during her lifetime, with little public recognition of her authorship
• Died in 1817 at the age of 41, likely from Addison's disease or Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Her works gained popularity and critical acclaim in the decades following her death

Key Novels and Plot Summaries

• Sense and Sensibility (1811): Two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, navigate love and heartbreak while learning the importance of balancing reason and emotion
  • Elinor represents sense while Marianne embodies sensibility
  • Both sisters face romantic challenges and ultimately find happiness in marriage
• Pride and Prejudice (1813): Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy overcome their initial prejudices and misunderstandings to fall in love and marry
  • Explores themes of class, marriage, and the dangers of hasty judgments
  • Features a witty, independent heroine and a proud, initially aloof hero
• Mansfield Park (1814): Fanny Price, a poor relation living with wealthy cousins, remains true to her principles and wins the love of Edmund Bertram
  • Critiques the moral corruption and social ambition of the upper classes
  • Fanny serves as a model of virtue and integrity amidst a world of superficiality
• Emma (1815): Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman, meddles in the romantic lives of others while gradually learning to understand her own heart
  • Showcases the perils of misguided matchmaking and the importance of self-knowledge
  • Mr. Knightley serves as a moral guide and eventual romantic partner for Emma
• Northanger Abbey (1818, posthumous): Catherine Morland, a naive young woman, learns to distinguish between reality and Gothic fantasy while falling in love with Henry Tilney
  • Parodies the popular Gothic novels of the time and their influence on impressionable readers
  • Emphasizes the value of rational thinking and genuine human connection
• Persuasion (1818, posthumous): Anne Elliot, an unmarried woman in her late twenties, reconnects with her former fiancé, Captain Wentworth, and finds a second chance at love
  • Explores the constancy of love, the impact of societal expectations, and the possibility of redemption
  • Portrays a more mature and reflective heroine compared to Austen's earlier works

Themes and Social Commentary

• The importance of marriage as a means of securing financial and social stability for women
  • Austen critiques the societal pressure on women to marry for pragmatic reasons rather than love
  • Depicts the limited options available to women outside of marriage
• The role of class and social hierarchy in shaping individual lives and relationships
  • Characters' social status often influences their romantic prospects and personal interactions
  • Austen exposes the superficiality and snobbery of the upper classes while affirming the value of moral character
• The tension between reason and emotion in matters of love and decision-making
  • Austen advocates for a balance between sensibility (emotion) and sense (reason) in navigating life's challenges
  • Characters who rely too heavily on either extreme often face negative consequences
• The importance of self-knowledge, personal growth, and moral development
  • Austen's heroines undergo journeys of self-discovery and maturation, learning to understand their own hearts and minds
  • Characters who exhibit moral integrity and kindness are ultimately rewarded with happiness and fulfillment
• The power dynamics and gender roles within families and society
  • Austen portrays the limited agency and opportunities afforded to women in the patriarchal society of her time
  • Male characters often hold authority and influence over the lives and choices of female characters
• The role of education and accomplishments in shaping individual identity and social prospects
  • Austen values genuine knowledge, understanding, and moral character over superficial accomplishments
  • Characters who prioritize substance over appearance are portrayed in a positive light

Austen's Writing Style and Techniques

• Irony and satire employed to critique social norms, human foibles, and the absurdities of her time
  • Austen often uses wit and humor to expose the flaws and contradictions in her characters and society
  • Her narration maintains an ironic distance, inviting readers to observe and judge characters' actions and motivations
• Free indirect discourse used to convey characters' thoughts and feelings without explicit dialogue
  • This technique allows readers to access characters' inner lives and perspectives while maintaining narrative flow
  • Austen seamlessly blends the narrator's voice with the characters' consciousness, creating a sense of intimacy and understanding
• Detailed, realistic portrayal of everyday life and social interactions in the Georgian era
  • Austen meticulously depicts the manners, customs, and social rituals of her time, immersing readers in the world of her novels
  • Her focus on the domestic sphere and interpersonal relationships reflects the realities of women's lives in the early 19th century
• Carefully crafted dialogue that reveals character traits, advances plot, and provides social commentary
  • Austen's dialogue is often witty, revealing, and layered with subtext, allowing characters to express themselves and interact in meaningful ways
  • Conversations serve as a primary means of character development and plot progression, reflecting the importance of social discourse in Austen's world
• Narrative structure that follows the heroine's journey of self-discovery and personal growth
  • Austen's novels typically trace the emotional and moral development of the central female character as she navigates the challenges of love, society, and self-understanding
  • The narrative arc often involves a process of learning, maturation, and eventual resolution, mirroring the heroine's internal journey
• Use of foils and contrasts to highlight character traits and themes
  • Austen often juxtaposes characters with opposing qualities or beliefs to illuminate their distinct personalities and moral stances
  • These contrasts serve to underscore the central themes and conflicts of the novel, such as sense versus sensibility or pride versus prejudice

Character Analysis

• Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice): An intelligent, witty, and independent heroine who challenges social conventions and expectations
  • Elizabeth's lively mind and sharp tongue make her a memorable and endearing character
  • Her journey from initial prejudice against Mr. Darcy to love and understanding reflects her personal growth and the novel's central themes
• Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice): A proud, wealthy gentleman who learns to overcome his prejudices and express his true feelings
  • Darcy's initial aloofness and snobbery mask a deeper sense of honor and a capacity for love and self-improvement
  • His relationship with Elizabeth showcases the transformative power of love and the importance of looking beyond first impressions
• Emma Woodhouse (Emma): A privileged, well-meaning young woman who meddles in others' lives while learning to understand her own heart
  • Emma's misguided attempts at matchmaking reflect her naivety and lack of self-awareness
  • Her gradual realization of her own feelings for Mr. Knightley and her growth in empathy and understanding form the core of her character arc
• Fanny Price (Mansfield Park): A timid, morally upright heroine who remains true to her principles despite challenges and temptations
  • Fanny's quiet strength and unwavering integrity make her a unique and admirable character in Austen's canon
  • Her journey from a poor, neglected cousin to the moral center of Mansfield Park highlights the value of inner goodness over social status or wealth
• Anne Elliot (Persuasion): A mature, reflective heroine who gets a second chance at love and happiness
  • Anne's steadfast character and depth of feeling make her a compelling and relatable protagonist
  • Her reunion with Captain Wentworth and her assertion of her own desires and choices reflect Austen's more nuanced portrayal of love and marriage in her later works
• Secondary characters who serve as foils, comic relief, or social commentary
  • Austen populates her novels with a rich cast of supporting characters who add depth, humor, and contrast to the central storylines
  • Characters like Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, and Mrs. Norris provide satirical commentary on the follies and absurdities of Georgian society

Impact on Literature and Culture

• Austen's novels helped establish the genre of the "novel of manners," focusing on the social customs, behaviors, and relationships of a particular class and time
  • Her works set a precedent for realistic, character-driven narratives that explore the nuances of human interaction and societal norms
  • Subsequent authors in the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Henry James and Edith Wharton, drew inspiration from Austen's style and themes
• Austen's portrayal of complex, multi-dimensional female characters challenged traditional gender stereotypes and expectations
  • Her heroines, with their intelligence, wit, and agency, provided a new model for female protagonists in literature
  • Austen's influence can be seen in the works of later feminist writers, such as Virginia Woolf and Margaret Atwood, who continue to explore women's experiences and perspectives
• Austen's enduring popularity and cultural resonance have inspired countless adaptations, spin-offs, and tributes across various media
  • Her novels have been adapted into films, television series, stage productions, and web series, testifying to their timeless appeal and relevance
  • The "Austenesque" subgenre of literature, which includes sequels, prequels, and retellings of Austen's works, has become a thriving industry in its own right
• Austen's keen social observations and insights into human nature continue to resonate with readers and scholars today
  • Her ability to capture the universal experiences of love, family, and personal growth transcends the specific historical context of her novels
  • The enduring popularity of her works reflects the depth and universality of her themes and the lasting impact of her literary genius

Critical Reception and Interpretations

• Early reviews of Austen's novels praised her wit, realism, and moral insights, though some criticized her limited subject matter and lack of historical or political context
  • Sir Walter Scott, a prominent contemporary novelist, admired Austen's ability to create "a correct and striking representation of that which is daily taking place around us"
  • Charlotte Brontë, while acknowledging Austen's skill, found her works lacking in passion and intensity, reflecting a difference in literary sensibilities
• 20th-century feminist critics reevaluated Austen's works, highlighting her subversive commentary on gender roles and the status of women in Georgian society
  • Scholars like Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar argued that Austen used irony and subtle critique to challenge patriarchal norms and assert female agency
  • The rise of feminist literary criticism brought new attention to Austen's complex portrayal of women's experiences and her role as a pioneering female author
• Postcolonial and Marxist interpretations have examined Austen's treatment of class, imperialism, and the economic underpinnings of Georgian society
  • Critics like Edward Said have noted the presence of colonial wealth and slave trade in the background of Austen's novels, even if not directly addressed
  • Marxist readings have emphasized Austen's depiction of class hierarchies and the role of money and property in shaping social relations and individual fates
• Recent scholarship has explored Austen's engagement with contemporary philosophical, political, and aesthetic movements, such as the Enlightenment, Romanticism, and the Napoleonic Wars
  • Researchers have situated Austen's works within the broader intellectual and cultural context of her time, revealing her participation in the major debates and discourses of the late 18th and early 19th centuries
  • New historicist and cultural materialist approaches have shed light on the ways in which Austen's novels both reflect and shape the social, economic, and ideological forces of her era
• The ongoing popularity and critical interest in Austen's works reflect their enduring relevance and the richness of their interpretive possibilities
  • Austen's novels continue to inspire new generations of readers, scholars, and adaptors, who find in her works a timeless exploration of the human condition and the complexities of social interaction
  • The diversity of critical approaches and interpretations applied to Austen's oeuvre testifies to the depth, subtlety, and universality of her literary achievement