Northanger abbey
Chapter One - Challenges the conventions of gothic tropes The register/tone of the narrator is ironic. Jane Austen is suggesting that this is a light-hearted read. This informs the reader from the beginning that the novel is a parody of a gothic novel. Narrator is omniscient, playful and often makes direct comments to the reader. Chapter Three Henry Tilney is introduced as a jovial and playful character, quite on the contrary to a brooding, dark and mysterious gothic hero. Defence of novels Jane Austen criticises the stigma attached to novels. Novel writers tended to be ashamed and embarrassed of novel writing and did not stick up for their profession. She urges novel writers to encourage and support novels. Novel provide more 'extensive and unaffected pleasure' than those of other 'literary corporation'. Despite the criticism, novels attracted a lot of readers. Novels are not given enough credit even though she claims that they display the intricacies of human nature whereas other historic/factual texts that is seen as honourable to read have unnatural characters and improbable circumstances and language that doesn't reflect well of the people that had to ensure it. John Thorpe "Udolpho! Oh, lord! Not I!" John criticises novels and the narrator had previously defended novels therefore the narrator is portraying him as arrogant and ignorant. Especially as he says "If I read any, it shall be Mrs Radcliffe's" not realising Mysteries of Udolpho is Anne Radcliffe's novel, rendering him appearing to be foolish in saying so. "there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since Tom Jones, except the Monk" Tom Jones was a bildungsroman book (when a person goes on a journey and discovers the world and themselves) The Monk is packed with rape, incest and controversial content. John claims to have read these novels but doesn't appreciate or read novels. "but his friend disregarded them all" He is not a very attentive listener and does not have consideration for other's opinions and rather reinforces his own. He gives himself a lot of self-importance. "I defy any man in England to make my horse go less than ten miles in harness" He is a show off, believes himself to be the best there is. "did you ever see an animal so made for speed in your life" Exaggerates, pretentious. "I hate haggling" Tries to portray himself in a positive light, self-appraisal "He does look very hot" "He had not turned a hair till we came to Walcot Church" He does not listen to her or consider what she has to say. Does not value her opinions. Henry Tilney "The person be it, gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid" Jane Austen's narrator had already defended novels saying people with taste read novels therefore she is showing that Henry has good taste and is well suited to Catherine. "In one respect there certainly is a difference" Shows how respectful and considerate he is. He takes her opinions and points into account. Shows their compatibility. - Chapter ten Chapter Eight - Binary opposition of Eleanor and Isabella Goodness versus beauty Genuine versus pretentious Page 36 "her air.. had more real elegance" "her air, though it had not all the decided pretension" "without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence." Comparison to Isabella's exaggerations "hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy" Comparison to Isabella and Catherine's speedy intimacy that seems artificial and unnatural Catherine feels stupid when she is on the walk with Henry and Eleanor because they are well-educated and have real taste. Jane Austen's making a comment on the gothic setting conventions. "Clear blue sky" is no longer a proof a fine day. Page 80 Isabella We learn of Isabella's deceptive nature and her underlying motives behind what she says. Isabella claims to be uninterested in Captain Tilney and tends to reinforce her honesty, her faithfulness to James and her qualities throughout the book repeatedly. She wishes to portray that she in uninterested in Captain Tilney by telling Catherine "he will not see us, I'm sure" suggesting that she does not wish to be seen however the narrator tells us that she "earnestly fixing her eyes upon him" managed to catch his attention as she had hoped. The use of the adverb earnestly reveals her eagerness to be noticed by him despite her elaborately telling Catherine otherwise. This is a form of dramatic irony as the narrator is explicitly informing the audience of Isabella's dishonest character, which becomes transparent and renders her lacking credibility in the eyes of the audience. Chapter Twenty Henry is mocking Catherine's sensationalist nature. He is trying to impress her by illustrating his understanding of gothic tropes and feeding on her interest of the gothic conventions and her curiosity. Simultaneously he is mocking the gothic inventions. "in a third the remains of some instrument of torture" but this being "nothing in all this out of the common way". |
Ballroom etiquette 1) Gentleman (including married men) were expected to look for unattended ladies to ask for a dance. 2) Ladies would not typically ask gentleman to dance nor did anyone dance with a person who they did not know. 3) A lady was expected to say yes unless she already had been asked or if she was sitting the dance out. She couldn't refuse one man and accept another as this would be bad manners. 4) 18th Century - rude for couples to dance together 2 or 3 times because dances were social events. 5) They were definite social classes which were marked by attires, speech and behaviour. Many groups didn't engage at a social level. 6) Criticising someone on their clothing or dancing was the height of bad manners. A defence of novels -With cheaper printing. book publishing flourished during the 18th century. This resulted in greater literacy demand. -As the novel wasn't deemed to be a classical or educational, it was deemed to be of lower quality and value. (Like 50 shades of grey or Twilight) Marriage market Dance was important in the 18th century life It provided an opportunity for courtship (dating) There were strict rules that were to be followed to maintain propriety Social class were regulated by strict code of conventions. -Calling card were important -A young lady never called on a gentleman -A servant would stand between the house owners and visitors -There was a right way to do things -Deviation from this was frowned upon Aesthetics - Pertaining to beauty William Gilpin, 1782, wrote a book which instructed England's leisured travellers to examine "the face of a country by the rules of picturesque beauty" Picturesque us part of the tropes of romanticism and the gothic. |