This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the most famous British writer, Jane Austen. On this occasion various festivals and fairs are being held throughout the UK, with the most significant one taking place in Steventon, Hampshire, the village where the writer was born.
Jane Austen was one of the most prolific writers of the pre-Victorian era, paving the way for future women authors of the Victorian period. She received mixed reactions from critics: some called her a genius, praising her keen observations and ability to capture the joys of provincial life and the dramas of middle-class families; others found her works dull, claiming she couldn’t look beyond the romantic relationships of her heroines.
One thing we can be sure of, however, is that Jane Austen’s novels are, above all, a bildungsroman – a literary genre that focuses on psychological and moral growth and change of the protagonist. Each of her works exposes the flaws of the main characters, and teaches the true moral and ethical principles. If at the beginning of the story the main character is impulsive and reckless, by the end she must undergo a journey of growth and education, recognising her mistakes and, in modern terms, becoming the best version of herself.
I have read all of Austen’s six major works: Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Persuasion (1817), and Northanger Abbey (1818). So, if you’ve always wanted to get to know Jane Austen but didn’t know where to start, this guide is for you.
The central theme of Sense and Sensibility, as the title suggests, is the contrast between cold reason (sense) and excessive emotionality (sensibility). Austen sums up the flaws of her characters in the title, a technique used Pride and Prejudice as well. The main characters in Sense and Sensibility are sisters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor is rational and reserved, while Marianne is overly emotional and hot-headed. Their personalities become starkly evident and contrasted as both face similar trials, yet react to them in different ways. Both sisters are deceived by men, but while Elinor keeps her emotions hidden, Marianne makes her grief public. Nevertheless, it is apparent that Jane Austen sides with restraint.
Pride and Prejudice is perhaps Jane Austen’s most famous novel. We’ve all admired Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy at different times. Today, psychologists would call the relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth unhealthy, but somehow such relationships stir the most intense emotions in most of us. Darcy is arrogant, vain, aloof, and taciturn. Lizzy, as everyone calls her, is his complete opposite: she is cheerful, loves to joke and talk, yet is deeply sensitive. As previously noted, their main flaws are indicated in the title: Darcy with his pride and Lizzy with her prejudice. “I might forgive his pride if he had not wounded mine,” says the famous quote. Who forgives whom and what – you’ll find out after reading.
Mansfield Park is my favourite Austen novel. It’s full of canonical characters, plotlines, passions, and best illustrates Austen’s overarching theme – the uprising of the soul. Fanny, who was taken in by wealthier relatives as a child, moves to Mansfield Park. There, she has a more or less comfortable life and grwos up under the watchful eye of her unkind aunt, Mrs. Norris. Despite living in a grand estate, Fanny faces many deprivations: her room is in a remote corner of the house and unheated, she does not go out in society, and is treated like a servant. Fanny’s character contrasts with that of her wealthier cousins, who have always lived in abundance. As you might guess, Fanny grows up to be more reserved and sensible, while her cousins remain impetuous and impatient. The main message of Austen is simple: moderation in all things.
Emma, the heroine of the novel of the same name, is one of the few who isn’t in a hurry to marry but instead plays matchmaker for others. After successfully predicting the marriage of her governess, Emma decides that she has found her vocation – matchmaking. At 21, she is rich, clever, and believes that no man can offer her anything she doesn’t already have. Like many of Austen’s heroines, Emma goes through a process of self-growth, admits her mistakes in assessing people’s natures, and of course, marries.
Persuasion was published posthumously and tells the story of the snobbish Elliot family. As a teenager, Anne Elliot fell in love with a sailor, but her father disapproved of the marriage because he was not of their class. Years later, as the Elliot family faces financial ruin, the two meet again and must decide whether they still have feelings for each other and are willing to forget the past.
Northanger Abbey is a parody of the gothic novel, which was growing in popularity during Austen's time. Although it was published in 1818, Northanger Abbey is Austen’s first written novel. The main character, Catherine, becomes deeply absorbed in gothic novels, and when her wealthy relatives invite her to visit Bath, she views her entire journey through the lens of these novels, constantly expecting to encounter a monster or witness a night-time attack. In my opinion, this is Austen’s most satirical novel: she mocks conventional characters and ridicules her own naive heroine.
