Introduction: Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Except for her Juvenilia
, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is the first book by the author that I have read. Northanger Abbey
gives us insights into what life was like in the 18th century. We see how the gentry lived, and as you might expect, it’s very different from how we live today. Class is far more pronounced and there are much more superficial people. I found myself laughing a lot at what I think are silly situations and behaviors. The book Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen also reminds me of the Castle of Otranto
by Horace Walpole.
The Story: Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Catherine Morland, from the look of things was very ordinary. At age 17, she has no prospects for marriage. Her neighbor, Mr Allen, has to go to Bath, for health reasons, and his wife thinks it will be a great adventure to take Catherine along with them. The couple has no children of their own. Having never been on a trip before, this is indeed an adventure for the young woman, and her entry into society. Mr Allen leaves the two women to amuse themselves. Every day, Mrs Allen complains to Catherine about not having any friends at Bath. It’s often difficult to be in a situation where you know no one.
One day, Catherine meets Henry Tilney, and he seems interested in her. However, he disappears for a bit without saying anything to her, and she is not sure what to make of it. Catherine and Mrs Allen meet the Thorpe family. Mrs Thorpe is an old friend of Mrs Allen, whom she hasn’t seen in a very long time. She speaks non-stop about her children, and praises her eldest daughter, who is quite the looker. Catherine meets Isabella Thorpe. After some conversation, they learn that their brothers, John Thorpe and James Morland are friends. Isabella and Catherine become fast friends, but it feels as if it has more to do with Catherine having led a very sheltered life.
John Thorpe and James Morland arrive in Bath. John is surly – quite the unlikable character – also complaining and criticizing others. John is interested in wooing Catherine, but she doesn’t like him. Henry Tilney returns to Bath, after a few days away. Catherine meets his sister, Eleanor Tilney. Catherine, Eleanor, and Henry make arrangements to go for a walk. The day they are supposed to go for a walk, it’s raining heavily, and the place is very muddy. Eleanor and Henry are late, but Catherine understands that they could be delayed because of the weather.
John shows up to take Catherine for a drive in his carriage. Being a really nice person, she tells him that she is supposed to go for a walk with Eleanor and Henry. What does John do? He tells Catherine that he saw Henry and Eleanor driving in a carriage, so they won’t be going for a walk with her. When Catherine leaves with John in his carriage to visit a castle, she sees Eleanor and Henry and realizes that John lied to her. She asks him to stop the carriage, so she can speak to them, but he refuses to stop, and goes even faster. Fortunately, she gets the opportunity to explain to her friends what happened and they believe her.
As Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen unfolds, you get a glimpse of how superficial Isabella is. Her true nature is very different from the one she projects to Catherine. Isabella encourages James Morland to woo her because she expects him to get a certain amount of money from his father for them to live on. James finally proposes to her, and gets his parents’ permission to marry her. Isabella is disappointed when she learns of the amount of money that James is getting from his father. If she was truly in love with him, the amount wouldn’t matter. John and his sister, Isabella are very insincere, and out to better their financial situation. Are they capable of loving without a hidden agenda?
When James leaves Bath, Isabella encourages Henry's brother, Captain Tilney, to woo her. He is on leave from the military. It is worth noting that Captain Tilney has much more financial resources than James Morland, who is the son of a pastor. Captain Tilney has no intention of settling down. Catherine is upset by what she sees, but Henry and Eleanor encourage her not to say anything to her brother James. They think it’s best to see how things play out. The two know that their brother, Captain Tilney, will never marry Isabella.
Henry’s father, General Tilney, invites Catherine to spend some time with his children, at their home, Northanger Abbey. James Morland learns about Isabella's behavior and calls off the engagement. While at Northanger Abbey, Catherine receives a letter from James telling her about what Isabella has done. He is heartbroken about Isabella because he loves her.
When things do not work out between Isabella and Captain Tilney, she writes Catherine to intercede on her behalf to win back James. She realizes that she's not going to win a rich guy. In the letter, she suggests that although she spurned Captain Tilney, he would not leave her alone. But Catherine does not believe Isabella, and she shouldn't. Eleanor or Henry does not believe her either. Catherine ignores Isabella’s pleas and doesn’t reply to the letter.
Captain Tilney goes away on business. While away, he sends a message to Eleanor instructing her to send Catherine home. He does it in a very callous manner. Neither Catherine nor Eleanor know why he made the decision. Catherine is very upset, even more so, because Henry is also away, and she doesn't get the opportunity to say goodbye to him. She returns home to Fullerton, but she is devastated and mopes around. I thought it quite poignant when her mother, Mrs Morland says:
“Wherever you are you should always be contented, but especially at home, because there you must spend most of your time.”
A few days after Catherine's return, to her parent’s home, Henry comes to visit her. It's the first time he defies his father. Henry asks for Catherine's hand in marriage, and her parents give their consent with one caveat – the young couple have to get General Tilney's blessings. They eventually get it, and Catherine is married when she is eighteen.
The reader finally learns why General Tilney had Catherine sent home so abruptly. John Thorpe told him that Catherine's parents were wealthier than they are. He wanted Catherine for himself, and thought that when General Tilney found out about her true financial situation and rejected her as being suitable for his son, she would turn to him. When he couldn't have her for himself, John tells the General the truth. Because the Allen's took Catherine to Bath with them, and having no children of their own, John assumed that Catherine was a goddaughter, who would inherit their wealth.
Conclusion: Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
I enjoyed reading Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and highly recommend it. The story is witty, and you get to visit a long gone era.
Northanger Abbey (Wisehouse Classics)
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