Throughout  the semester we have read many articles that stood out to me, however I was very amazed by the novel Northanger Abbey written by Jane Austen. Austen is a female English writer from late-eighteenth century to the nineteenth century. Most of her novels are based on the lives of middle class and upper class Britain families during the nineteenth century. Jane Austen’s novels touch upon themes like marriage, social interaction, gothic parody and the challenges that women faced  in the nineteenth century.

It is told that Jane Austen was a women of stature, humor and intelligence. Within her readings, we are able to understand Austen’s life struggles. However, most of her literary works portrays her desires for the evolution of the female gender. The author found herself facing many obstacles before publishing this novel and it wasn’t till her death that the novel was published. The main reason as to why it was hard to publish her novel was  because the women’s main responsibility was to take care of their families or simply because novels were looked down upon by many people.

In Northanger Abbey, the main character named Catherine Morland or mentioned throughout the novel as a “heroine in training” tells her life journey in which she finds herself struggling to understand her inner self and the people around her. She found herself  forced to leave her hometown, in order to find a suitable man to marry. As she mentions throughout the novel she struggles finding the perfect man. Catherine and Henry Tilney struggle to make sure that their love defeats all aristocratic family. As Henry states, “He was guilty only of being less rich than he had supposed her to be. Under a mistaken persuasion of her possessions and claims, he had courted her acquaintance in Bath, solicited her company at Northanger, and designed her for his daughter-in-law. On discovering his error, to turn her from the house seemed the best, though to his feelings an inadequate proof of his resentment towards herself, and his contempt of her family.” As we can tell even though General Tilney was against their union because she did not belong to an upper class family. They decided to do what was best for their love and decided to marry without the social approval of anybody. We are also able to see how the Thorpe siblings prefer marriage for social status instead of a romantic marriage, which makes them lose their friends and their engagements.

Another important aspect that is mentioned throughout the novel is the different interactions between the different social classes. As narrated in the novel, the city of Bath not only  becomes an important piece for Catherine’s life but it also is very important in Jane Austen’s life. Austen  at the age of twenty six had a hard time adjusting to Bath’s  social demands. We are able to see  Catherine break free from her innocence and naïve thinking. We are witness of her growth and her understanding of society.

Another important aspect that we are able to observe is how the main character narrates her obsession for gothic novels. The author makes it a point to let the audience understand how women in that time were only allowed to read gothic novels. Catherine mentions “ Because they are not clever enough for you – gentlemen read better books.” However, Henry Tilney, offended by her comment, states that he as well was very into gothic novels  and that does not  make him less of a man. On their way to Northanger Abbey, Henry makes a silly comment towards Catherine and says “You have formed a very favourable idea of the abbey.” “ To be sure, I have. Is not it a fine old place, just like what one reads about?” “And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors that a building such as ‘what one reads about’ may produce? Have you a stout heart? Nerves fit for sliding panels and tapestry?” Henry in a way tries to tease Catherine by scaring her and opening her imagination just like when she reads her gothic novels. It is also mentioned how she has suspicions that General Tilney may have killed his wife or have her locked somewhere in the basement of the Abbey. The reading of gothic novels makes Catherine’s imagination wonder because she always imagined an Abbey to be scary. However, she did not find anything scary and begins to invent something herself.

Another important aspect that is brought to light is the way women were treated during the nineteenth century. The author narrates how Catherine criticizes her own self because in her eyes she does not meet the requirements of being a beautiful woman. She also mentions how different she was from other young girls when growing up, this is why she believes she is not worthy of no men. The narrator states, “Mrs. Morland was a very good woman, and wished to see her children everything they out to be; but her time was so much occupied in lying-in and teaching the little ones, that her elder daughters were inevitable left to shift for themselves; and it was not very wonderful that Catherine, who had by nature nothing heroic about her, should prefer cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age of fourteen, to books – or at least books of information – for, provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she had never any objection to books at all.” We are able to see how Catherine’s interests were very different to other girls. On the other hand, it is also mentioned in the novel how women should not been seen with a gentlemen that are not their family. An example of this, would be when Mr. and Mrs. Allen make a comment on Catherine joining Mr. Thorpe on a ride to Kingsweston. He states, “These schemes are not at all the thing. Young men and women driving about the country in open carriages! Now and then it is very well; but going to inns and public places together! It is not right; and I wonder Mrs. Thorpe should allow it.” Women had to be very vigilant on what they did in public because their every move was being watched. Austen makes it a point to tell her audience how women were maltreated psychologically and had to live a very miserable life with aristocracy in their day by day.

Therefore, Northanger Abbey outlines the social pressure placed on girls that were in those days coming of age. Jane Austen makes it a point to touch base on important aspects that women and men had to live through during the nineteenth century. She also mentions the development of important themes like marriage, social interaction, Gothic parody and the obstacles women had to face in order to live a peaceful life.

Works Cited

“Jane Austen Biography.” Chicago Public Library, www.chipublib.org/jane-austen-biography/.

Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. Murray, 1803.