Catherine Morland was the fourth of ten children had by her father Richard, who was Fullerton’s cleric. Nothing in particular stood out in the girl’s appearance and personality until she was, at least, fifteen years old. But, even so, it wasn’t after the age of seventeen, that she began to experience certain changes in her life. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, a married couple with whom her family maintained a close bond, one day made her a proposal whose acceptance brought endless changes, and situations of difficult resolution for a girl who had never left the countryside before. The proposal consisted of an invitation to spend a few weeks in Bach in their company; of course, once the consent of their parents had been obtained.
The first person Catherine met in Bach was Henry Tilney, a charming twenty-five-year-old minister of the Anglican church, and descendant of a wealthy family. Catherine felt in love with Henry after having exchanged just a few words.
The following days, fate held more surprises for Catherine. Thanks to an old acquaintance of Mrs. Allen, Catherine started to have several conversations with Isabella Thorpe, a girl four years older than her, with whom she became a close friend. Also, Catherine found in Bach one of her older brothers; James Morland. Unfortunately, his presence was due to reasons of a romantic nature, and in consequence he didn’t dedicate much time to her.
As Catherine began to attend the theaters and dance halls, she aroused the admiration of some men and dazzled Isabella’s brother, John Thorpe. The poor girl was harass by his attentions without knowing quite well how to get rid of him.
After a few days without knowing the whereabouts of Henry Tilney, Catherine would find him, one evening, in his sister’s company; her name, Eleanor. Such was Catherine emotion at that moment, that she wasn’t able to hide her joy.
As time went by, Catherine managed to win the affection of the members of the Tilney family, who, corresponding to the girl’s feelings, invited her to spend a season in their mansion in Northanger Abbey.
There couldn’t be a more tempting proposition for her, nor other that could promise to fill the next few months with so much happiness. However, reality would present itself in a very different way than she had expected. Once surrounded by the walls of the ancient building, that once upon a time was a convent, the secrets and mysteries of the mansion would disturb her mind night and day.
Characters:
The Morland Family
Thanks to the profession of the father of the family, and to a modest fortune that he possessed, both his wife and his children had enough means to live without hardships.
▪Richard Morland:
His presence is scarce in the story. With a serene and generous temperament, he tried to give his children an appropriate education, as well as the necessary freedom to discover who they wanted to be in life. But his intention of not forcing their destinies led him to be a carefree and distracted father.
▪Mrs. Moland:
She also has no more than three or four scenes in the book. As a mother, she believed, like her husband, that her children had to find their own way in life with the fewest restrictions possible. Constantly busy with taking care of her little boys and girls, she couldn’t devote herself to the upbringing of her older children. The education of the latter, in subjects such as literature, history and geography was neglected and each one was forced to acquire the knowledge that was necessary to develop their interests in consonance with what was most useful for their future.
▪James Morland:
He is one of Catherine’s older brothers. He moved to Oxford to study at the university. On one occasion, during the Christmas holidays, he met a young lady at a friend’s house and he fell in love with her. During the course of the story, we notice how much he is interested in this woman. However, his feelings, much to his regret, would make him disappointed.
Her duplicity hurts me more than all; till the very last, if I reasoned with her, she declared herself as much attached to me as ever, and laughed at my fears. I am ashamed to think how long I bore with it; but if ever man had reason to believe himself loved, I was that man.
She doesn’t possess any of the skills that a young lady should seek to acquire in order to be sure to capture the interest of a handsome young man in search of a wife. She never learned to draw or to play any instrument; on this last point we find the following quote:
Her mother wished her to learn music; and Catherine was sure she should like it, for she was very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn spinner; so, at eight years old she began. She learnt a year, and could not bear it; and Mrs. Morland, who did not insist on her daughters being accomplished in spite of incapacity or distaste, allowed her to leave off. The day which dismissed the music-master was one of the happiest of Catherine’s life.
Luckily, the readings she chose at her whim managed to improve her thinking capacity, in addition to her aesthetic criteria to distinguish and admire everything that was beautiful. In this way she supplied, in part, the teachings that she could not obtain from her parents.
The Allen Family
This couple didn’t have any kids, so Catherine was like one of their own.
▪Mr. Allen:
He is another of the characters that has few appearances in the plot. His observations reveal his respect for good manners and customs. As Catherine is his protégé, he advises the girl on several occasions so that her behavior suits the circumstances.
▪Mrs. Allen:
This character is quite recurring and colorful.
Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them. She had neither beauty, genius, accomplishment, nor manner. The air of a gentlewoman, a great deal of quiet, inactive good temper, and a trifling turn of mind were all that could account for her being the choice of a sensible, intelligent man like Mr. Allen
Mrs. Allen has a devotion for her dresses. Her affection for them is so deep that any mishap in this regard plunges her into deep consternation. Thus, throughout the novel, there are some passages of the book in which Mrs. Allen reveals this trait of her personality.
‘My dear Catherine’ said she, ‘do take this pin out of my sleeve; I am afraid it has torn a hole already; I shall be quite sorry if it has, for this is a favourite gown, though it cost but nine shillings a yard’
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 21 and 22).
The little reasoning that the lady enjoys is also remarkable, and is shown by so many other comments. To see a clear example we’ll share this other quote:
Catherine found Mrs. Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of the morning, and was immediately greeted with, ‘Well, my dear, here you are,’ a truth which she had no greater inclination than power to dispute
It’s a family almost as big as Catherine’s. It has, at least, eight members; Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe, and six children, three young men and three ladies.
▪Mrs. Thorpe:
She had been a schoolmate, and friend, in her youth, of Mrs. Allen. Like her, she has a single topic of conversation; this is about the virtues and achievements of her sons and daughters. Thus, when Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe walked through the streets of Bach, while one talked about her dresses, the other did the same boasting about the integrity of her first-born or the shyness of her youngest child. In consequence, they both remained focus on their monologue without hearing a word of what the friend had to say.
▪Isabella Thorpe:
She is the oldest of the three sisters, and the slimmest and most beautiful of them. She is inevitably flirtatious and seductive, and the impudence with which she unfolds is incomparable with that of any other woman. However, to achieve her purposes, she shows herself as a sensitive lady; at least through her words as not so with her behaviors.
There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong.
He is one of the older brothers of the Thorpe’s family. He study at Oxford’s University together with James, Catherine’s brother. He lacks any kind of charm.
He was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to be easy
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 43 and 44).
Added to all this, he has an obsession with race horses and carriages.
… but look at his forehand; look at his loins; only see how he moves; that horse cannot go less than ten miles an hour: tie his legs and he will get on. What do you think of my gig, Miss Morland? A neat one, is not it?
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 43 and 44).
In addition, he also has the bad habit of demanding, without the slightest reservation, some respect towards his person, giving ample evidence of his conceited nature.
‘What is the meaning of this? I thought you and I were to dance together.’ ‘I wonder you should think so, for you never asked me.’ ‘That is a good one, by Jove! I asked you as soon as I came into the room, and I was just going to ask you again, but when I turned round, you were gone! This is a cursed shabby trick! I only came for the sake of dancing with you, and I firmly believe you were engaged to me ever since Monday. Yes; I remember, I asked you while you were waiting in the lobby for your cloak. And here have I been telling all my acquaintance that I was going to dance with the prettiest girl in the room; and when they see you standing up with somebody else, they will quiz me famously.’
This family has four members: two sons, a daughter, and their father.
▪General Tilney:
A man of severe character, he subjects his children to harsh criticism and demands faultless conduct from them.
▪Frederick Tilney:
Perhaps more by imposition than by desire, Frederick followed his father’s footsteps by dedicating himself to the military trade. During the course of the novel we come to know that he holds the rank of Captain within his regiment. His personality resembles, in a way, that of his father.
She looked at him with great admiration, and even supposed it possible that some people might think him handsomer than his brother, though, in her eyes, his air was more assuming, and his countenance less prepossessing. His taste and manners were beyond a doubt decidedly inferior; for, with in her hearing, he not only protested against every thought of dancing himself, but even laughed openly at Henry for finding it possible
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 139 and 140).
Frederick becomes, indirectly, guilty of the suffering of James Morland, despite the fact that his intentions in approaching the woman loved by this one were not serious; rather, its aim was only to arouse the interest of the lady to rejoice in his conquest.
‘I have very little to say for Frederick’s motives, such as I believe them to have been. He has his vanities as well as Miss Thorpe, and the chief difference is, that, having a stronger head, they have not yet injured himself. If the effect of his behaviour does not justify him with you, we had better not seek after the cause.’
This character, like Eleanor, differs significantly from the last two. By being humble, he shows a great sense of humor.
‘I see what you think of me,’ said he gravely — ‘I shall make but a poor figure in your journal tomorrow (…) Shall I tell you what you ought to say?’ ‘If you please.’ ‘I danced with a very agreeable young man, introduced by Mr. King; had a great deal of conversation with him — seems a most extraordinary genius — hope I may know more of him. That, madam, is what I wish you to say.’
In turn, he also knows how to adopt a serious tone when the occasion requires it by trying to conduct himself according to the ethical and moral values he proclaimed.
▪Eleanor Tilney:
She has been affected by her mother’s death nine years ago.
‘I have no sister, you know — and though Henry — though my brothers are very affectionate, and Henry is a great deal here, which I am most thankful for, it is impossible for me not to be often solitary.’
Eleanor is introduce as Isabella’s antagonist. She has almost the same attributes and, neverthelesss, it’s alien to all pretense.
Miss Tilney had a good figure, a pretty face, and a very agreeable countenance; and her air, though it had not all the decided pretension, the resolute stylishness of Miss Thorpe’s, had more real elegance. Her manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy nor affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young, attractive, and at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her, and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 56 and 57).
Scenarios:
a) Fullerton:
The story begins in this small town. Both, the Morland Family and the Allen couple, have lived there for several years. Little can be said about this physical space since there is no description of it in the novel. All we know is that it has the typical characteristics with which a village like Fullerton can be adorned with; that is to say, large green spaces, some probably dedicated to harvesting, and simple houses separated by a few miles.
b) Bach’s city:
Most of the story takes place here; and yet we don’t have a clear description of it either. The ballrooms, theaters, and the Spa are mentioned, and of none of these we have even two words to define their characteristics. The only thing that is clear is that Bach has a great deal of entertainment in contrast with Fullerton.
It is also interesting to mention that there is no detail that can reveal to us what the house in which Catherine stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Allen during her stay at Bach looked like.
As regard both, the city of Bach and Fullerton, is beyond doubt, that Jane Austen did not intend to dwell on these details; her intention was to provide a highly detailed study of the behavior of her characters.
c) Northanger’s mansion:
We do have some details to share about it.
The furniture was in all the profusion and elegance of modern taste. The fireplace, where she had expected the ample width and ponderous carving of former times, was contracted to a Rumford, with slabs of plain though handsome marble, and ornaments over it of the prettiest English china. The windows, to which she looked with peculiar dependence, from having heard the general talk of his preserving them in their Gothic form with reverential care, were yet less what her fancy had portrayed. To be sure, the pointed arch was preserved — the form of them was Gothic — they might be even casements — but every pane was so large, so clear, so light! To an imagination which had hoped for the smallest divisions, and the heaviest stone-work, for painted glass, dirt, and cobwebs, the difference was very distressing
Although Catherine spends a considerable time at this residence, and it is evident that the author wanted to highlight its importance by providing a few descriptions of which she has deprive the other locations, there are few chapters in which the events occur in the mansion. If the writer has fixed her interest in the Northanger’s abbey, it is because of certain events that would happen in it later on.
d) Woodston:
Is the rectory where Henry lives.
I think it would be acknowledged by the most impartial eye to have many recommendations. The house stands among fine meadows facing the south-east, with an excellent kitchen-garden in the same aspect; the walls surrounding which I built and stocked myself about ten years ago, for the benefit of my son. It is a family living, Miss Morland; and the property in the place being chiefly my own, you may believe I take care that it shall not be a bad one. Did Henry’s income depend solely on this living, he would not be ill-provided for
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 194 and 195).
The significance of this property, as regards to the plot of the novel, appears to be null. Nevertheless, it is necessary to give an image of it to the reader, attending, as in the case of Northanger’s mansion, to some incidents that will take place in this landscape.
By ten o’clock, the chaise and four conveyed the two from the abbey; and, after an agreeable drive of almost twenty miles, they entered Woodston, a large and populous village, in a situation not unpleasant. Catherine was ashamed to say how pretty she thought it, as the general seemed to think an apology necessary for the flatness of the country, and the size of the village; but in her heart she preferred it to any place she had ever been at, and looked with great admiration at every neat house above the rank of a cottage, and at all the little chandler’s shops which they passed. At the further end of the village, and tolerably disengaged from the rest of it, stood the parsonage, a new-built substantial stone house, with its semicircular sweep and green gates; and, as they drove up to the door, Henry, with the friends of his solitude, a large Newfoundland puppy and two or three terriers, was ready to receive and make much of them
(Northanger Abbey; Planet eBook’s edition; page 239 and 240).
Composition rules:
Jane Austen knew perfectly well the rules for composing a novel, and decided to allow herself certain liberties on this occasion.
1st) Fuzzy structure:
As a general rule, a novel is made up of three parts that follow one another in the following order: ▪Introduction: The context from which the story’s plot is elaborated is presented to the readers. The characters of it are also introduced. ▪Development: The conflicts that surround the characters and link them are detailed, and the essence of the story is delved into. ▪End: the enigmas of the story are revealed. In this novel, it is not easy to distinguish when the development ends and the outcome begins; their boundaries are blurred and overlap each other. The introduction, on the other hand, comprise only chapter I. However, there may be confusion about it. It is possible to consider that the development begins with Catherine’s trip to Northanger Abbey. This would imply that the introduction would have more than ten chapters. Such an opinion would have its rationale in the fact that the novel has been titled with the name of this destination, and in the importance given by the author to this site.
2nd) Narrative interruption:
In several chapters, Jane Austen suspends the telling of the story to make comments about her characters and about certain topics that they deal with. Writers were not used to doing this in the first half of the nineteenth century; rather it is an action that can be observed in works of the 20th century.
3rd) Atypical use of sarcasm:
It is a resource that is usually used within the dialogues that the characters have with each other. In the case of this novel, none of the actors uses sarcasm in their speeches, but it is the author herself who makes use of it in her role as narrator.
4th) Comedy:
The only Jane Austen’s novel that has passages that refer to a play of this type is Northanger Abbey. It has such successful episodes that it is impossible not to keep them in mind when remembering the reading of the book. This resource, unlike the previous one, was not used in the development of her others novels; or at least not repeatedly, and in the style of Northanger Abbey.
Critique:
It is regretted that the wording of the last chapters is too succinct compared to the rest of the novel. Little more than twelve sheets are used to fill in the necessary details to close the story.
Curiosities:
The work is a parody of the Gothic novel as it presents its same constitutive elements but distorted in a burlesque representation[i],[ii].
Conclusion:
It presents a refined but scathing criterion; Jane Austen describes human nature with exemplary dexterity. In almost all of its chapters, the novel reaches excellence.
