Evil Villains in Northanger Abbey In Jane Austen’s, Northanger Abbey, John Thorpe and General Tilney are portrayed as unpleasant villains. Villains are defined as, “a wicked or evil person; a scoundrel” (The American Heritage Dictionary web).
Austen description of both men as power-hungry, easily upset, and manipulative follows this definition. She introduces both characters in separate parts of the book, however simultaneously she delivers a stunning example of their identical villainous personalities. Through the portrayal of John Thorpe and General Tilney as villains, Austen comments on the male supremacy that permeates through her time. In the first half of the novel, John Thorpe stands out as the villain of the novel.
He is introduced as a, “stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, and to much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, and imprudent where he might be allowed to be easy” (Austen 25).
Following the initial description, John is introduced to Catherine. Rather than engaging in personable dialogue, he brags about the quality and speed of his horses, his authority on ascertaining distances, and his proficiency in leading his horses. Immediately, the reader is struck with the similarity of John to an immature ‘schoolboy’. Although Austen continues to portray John as juvenile, she does not develop him into the villain until later in the novel. While Catherine’s love grows for her hero, Henry Tilney, John also develops affection for Catherine.
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During this struggle for Catherine’s love, John begins to mature into the ‘classic villain.’ For example, during a normal evening at the ball, Catherine had promises to dance with Henry Tilney. However, Thorpe approaches Catherine and declares, “What is the meaning of this? – I thought you and I were to dance together” (Austen 46).
Catherine is flustered since this declaration is false. After a barrage of half-truths, John once again talks about his beloved horses and his knowledge of them.
Suddenly without any type of closure, he is wished away by the “resistless pressure of a long string of passing ladies” (Austen 47).
In this section of the novel, John Thorpe quickly becomes dislike able and Jane Austen’s image of men as self-centered begins. However in Catherine’s next meeting with him, Thorpe is transformed from a selfish, immature man into a disgusting villain. Much to Catherine’s pleasure, she has a walk scheduled with her sweetheart, Henry Tilney, and her dearest friend, Eleanor Tilney. However, on the morning of the walk, it rains. Austen uses the rain to foreshadow the upcoming unpleasant events.
In the afternoon, the rain subsides leaving a muddy mess. Unexpectedly, Isabella Thorpe, John Thorpe, and James Morland arrive at her house. They request that Catherine go along on their trip to neighboring cites. However, Catherine feels obligated to stay in the house and await Henry Tilney and Eleanor Tilney. In his typical self-centered manner, John Thorpe declares that he saw Tilney engaging in other activities, “I saw him at that moment turn up the Lans down Road, – driving a smart-looking girl” (Austen 53).
Although perplexed as to why the Tilney did not send word that their engagement should be broken, she consents to the proposed carriage ride.
While riding out of her neighborhood, Catherine spots Eleanor and Henry Tilney walking towards her house. Catherine, exclaims, “Pray, pray stop, Mr. Thorpe. – I cannot go on. – I will not go on. – I must go back to Miss Tilney.” (Austen 54).
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John Thorpe disregarding Catherine’s plea, “laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd noises, and drove on” (Austen 54).
During this scene, Austen magnifies the villainy of John Thorpe by whisking away with innocent Catherine. After developing John Thorpe’s character, the author moves onto the second villain of the novel. Initially, Catherine’s first encounter with Henry’s father, General Tilney, was very positive.
Although no words were exchanged, General Tilney observes Catherine from across the ballroom and inquires to Henry about her identity. She was immediately struck with, “How handsome a family they are” (Austen 50).
In her second appearance the General continued his politeness with, “such anxious attention was the general’s civility carried, that not aware of her extraordinary swiftness in entering the house, he was quite angry with the servant whose neglect had reduced her to open the door of the apartment herself” (Austen 65).
When Catherine was ready to leave, the General asked her, “if she would do his daughter the honour of dining and spending the rest of the day with her” (Austen 65).
Although she declines, Catherine accepts the Generals next invitation to visit their home, Northanger Abbey. When she arrives at Northanger Abbey, Catherine is gradually exposed to the picture of men as ruthless and cold.
After a brief time period to settle in, General Tilney begins, “pacing the drawing-room, his watch in his hand, and having, on the very instant of their entering, pulled the bell with violence, ordered ‘Dinner to be on table directly!’ ” (Austen 106).
Catherine is exposed to the General’s anger when his military-like schedules are not met. After similar arrogant events, Austen is ready to further introduce the reader to General Tilney and John Thorpe’s true villainy. After General Tilney unexplainably banishes Catherine from Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen sets up a climatic culmination of the villainous characters and her ideas of the male role in her society. Catherine’s ‘knight in shining armor’ arrives in a fluster at Catherine’s home to explain his father’s dastardly deed. He begins by telling her that the, “General had nothing to accuse her of, nothing to lay to her charge, but her being the involuntary, unconscious object of a deception which his pride could not pardon, and which a better pride would have been ashamed to own” (Austen 160).
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He follows by telling Catherine that the only fault the General could find in Catherine was that she was, “guilty of being less rich than he had supposed her to be” (Austen 160).
Henry explains that his father had courted Catherine in his mistaken belief she could benefit his family with her large financial wealth. Arriving at the conclusion that Catherine would not be an adequate addition to his family, he turned her from his house without care of contempt from his family or resentment from hers. After showing that the General as a conceited and power hungry patriarch, Austen continues with more surprises.
Henry Tilney continues his villainous story by declaring that John Thorpe was the one who spread voracious lies. The General had inquired to John whether he could shed some light on his son’s new acquaintance. Set on marrying Catherine and delighted to talk to a man with the General’s influence, John was more than happy to tell the General about Catherine. He lied and said that she came from a wealthy family of consequence. However, when the General bumps into John during Catherine’s visit at Northanger Abbey, John amends his story. Bitter that Catherine had fallen in love with Henry and rejected him, he changes his entire story and tells the General she only from a middle class family.
Jane Austen completes her story with a “Cinderella ending” of Catherine and Henry marrying. However, her novel is more than a fairytale ending. Although often wrong and misguided in their judgments, she shows the supremacy of males that permeated throughout her society. Jane Austen takes us from a portrayal of men as rude, self-centered, and opinion ate to uncaring, demanding, and lying to downright ruthless, hurtful, and evil. John Thorpe’s and General Tilney’s total disregard for others feelings and their villainous ways prove Austen’s point. Whether reading Northanger Abbey for the happy ending or the moral lesson, this novel has much to offer.
Bibliography The American Heritage Dictionary. Fourth Edition. 9 November 2000. 4 March 2002. web Jane.
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Northanger Abbey. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Classics.
