Book Report: “Northanger Abbey”, By Jane Austen
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in a village called Steventon in Hampshire. Jane’s personal life and how she spent her time growing up has a big influence on her main characters, especially the female ones. It is known that Jane loved to talk long walks around Hampshire and to read book, this is portrayed in most of her female characters, notably Catherine Morland and Elizabeth Bennet. Around 1801 Jane Austen was forced to move to Bath, a move which she resented and fought, this could lead to the portrayal of Bath in her works. Northanger Abbey was published after Jane’s death, however it is said to be the first one she wrote.
Northanger Abbey was sent to a publisher in 1803 but never published. It was revised and then published towards the end of 1817; however it is dated to have been published in 1818. It is a relatively short book consisting of only 177 pages.
In Austen’s first full-length novel, Northanger Abbey, Jane tells the story of a young girl, Catherine Morland, who leaves her sheltered, rural home to enter the busy, sophisticated world of Bath.
Northanger Abbey is set in the 1790’s when it was written it takes place in 3 major locations. At the beginning of the book it is set at the Morlands’s house, after, Catherine is invited to Bath by the Allen’s and finally it is set in Northanger Abbey. The story is written by a narrator, yet whenever Catherine is spoken to directly, it is answered in a first person perspective; “You all drink a great bit more wine than I thought you did.”
The Essay on Northanger Abbey A Playful Short Novel Is The One Which
... whole aspect of the novel highlights many gothic scenes. Reference Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. New York.Graphic Society. (1986). ... I think this book rates as one of the true gems of the 19th Century. I believe that Jane Austen uses Northanger Abbey to show ... stay in Bath. There she meets the entertaining Henry Tilney; later, on a visit to his family's house (the "Northanger Abbey" of the ...
Catherine Morland is the main protagonist in this novel, we follow her as she moves from her own home to Bath and finally to Northanger Abbey. Catherine is a very naïve person; she constantly confuses herself due to her naïveté. Nonetheless Catherine is considered an intelligent person and learns from her mistakes, she is also considered to be relativity witty and on-the-ball. Her strongest traits are her caring nature and her ability to learn from the mistakes she makes.
Henry Tilney is a 26-year-old from a small village called Woodston. He is intelligent, well-tempered. He is very well read, and enjoys novels as much as history books. He is good natured, but has a cynical view of human behavior. He “puts up” with Catherine’s naïveté and helps her, he doesn’t take advantage of her as he easily could.
Eleanor Tilney is Henry’s younger sister; Eleanor is a shy, quiet young woman. She shares an interest in reading with her brother. Eleanor is often the blunt of the somewhat tyrannical behavior of her father, General Tilney.
Isabella Thorpe is Catherine’s best friend for the first half of the novel. Isabella is attractive and very spirited, but like her mother, she is a gossip and often concerned with superficial things. She enjoys flirting with many young men, which bothers the more reserved Catherine.
Love & Marriage appears constantly throughout Northanger Abbey. Most of the novel is about the different relationships present throughout the course of the story. The scenario in Northanger Abbey is similar to that in Pride and Prejudice, the main protagonist turns down a relationship as she doesn’t love the person; Elizabeth turns down Mr. Collins’s proposal on the grounds that she feels no love for him and she thinks that you should marry for love and not for social security. Likewise in Northanger Abbey, Catherine has no relationship with John Thorpe as he is conceited, arrogant and is known to talk incessantly but not to listen; it is his arrogance that drives Catherine away. The other main characters have relationships that also aren’t very successful , Isabella, who is known to be a bit of a flirt loses her fiancé James and her fling Frederick.
The Essay on Evil Villains In Northanger Abbey
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 ...
