Jane Austen(1775-1817)

Views of a Prejudice Society

Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility (1811) Pride and Prejudice (1813) Mansfield Park (1814) Emma (1815) Persuasion (1817) Northanger Abbey (1817)

Austen’s Published Writings

Juvenilia Love and Friendship (1922) Lady Susan (1871) The Watsons Sandition

Austen’s Minor Writings

Born December 16, 1775 in the village of

Steventon, Hampshire, the seventh of eight children.

Interest in writing started early where she wrote enthusiastic short stories for her family’s amusements.

Her father’s own death in 1805 left her family struggling financially and in the end had to take assistance from her brother.

Struggled many years to have her literature published.

Died at the age of 41 having never married but fulfilled her dream as an accomplished writer.

“She never wrote a memoir, sat for an interview, or recorded whether she had herself felt the joys and disappointments of love”.

Four of her novels were published anonymously “By A Lady”.

Jane Austen’s Life

Early Nineteenth Century English Society

The only respectable paid work open to a woman was the job of lady companion or of governess.

Women were dependent on the income of their father and the amount of the given dowry.

The inheritance of the family estate will immediately go to the next male relative upon the fathers death.

The only way for a woman to secure her position financially and reputation, was by marrying a man of wealth.

Once a girl marries her property becomes her husband’s.

Sense and Sensibility

Austen’s first published novel (1811). Austen published this novel

anonymously “By A Lady”. First draft of the manuscript was titled

“Elinor and Marianna”. Austen displays the prejudice against

women under the process of male primogeniture.

Austen conveys the difficulties of securing a husband with little money to offer.

Austen’s novels are also love stories where the young middle-class heroine will fall in love and live happily ever after.

Pride and Prejudice

Austen’s second published novel (1813).

The most successful to date. First draft of the manuscript

was titled “First Impressions”. Examines the social order upon

diverse classes of society. Again Austen’s heroines face

issues with property inheritance and limited income.

Mansfield Park

Austen’s third published novel (1814).

Started writing in 1811. Deals with the

disadvantages of society and concerns with matrimony.

Known as Austen’s least favorite publication.

Emma

Austen’s last publication (1815) before her death.

One of a kind romantic comedy. Much different from her previous novels. Emma Woodhouse is a youthful,

attractive lady living in upper-class society.

Emma has an extreme imagination and uses her influence to fix up friends.

Emma’s lack of discipline and worldly knowledge work against her.

Austen still touches on an unsettling society when Emma attempts to match based on necessity, not love.

Emma was Austen’s favorite heroine to date.

Persuasion & Northanger Abbey

“Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion” was published together in 1817, after Austen’s death.

“Northanger Abbey focuses on Catherine Morland’s love of gothic tales.

Morland’s travels at an early age help her to escape from fantasy and gain worldly wisdom about her society.

“Persuasion” is known as Austen’s most perceptive and mature work.

Austen scrutinizes existence among English gentry.

"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.“ "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man is in possession of

a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.“ "It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse

an offer of marriage.“ "One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling

on something witty.“ "Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor. Which is one very

strong argument in favor of matrimony.“ "Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used

synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us.“

"Why not seize the pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!"

Famous Austen Quotes

Ever musing I delight to tread

The Paths of honour and the Myrtle Grove Whilst the pale Moon her beams doth shed

On disappointed Love. While Philomel on airy hawthorn Bush

Sings sweet and Melancholy, And the thrush Converses with the Dove.

Gently brawling down the turnpike road, Sweetly noisy falls the Silent Stream--

The Moon emerges from behind a Cloud And darts upon the Myrtle Grove her beam.

Ah! then what Lovely Scenes appear, The hut, the Cot, the Grot, and Chapel queer, And eke the Abbey too a mouldering heap, Cnceal'd by aged pines her head doth rear

And quite invisible doth take a peep.

Ode to Pity

Jane Austen: Views of a Prejudice Society

Christi FentonTroy University

July 18, 2010

English 1102Ms. Elizabeth Owens