Like always, you should feel free to respond to anything that particularly interested you in the first 10 chapters of Northanger Abbey. But here are some prompts to get you started thinking:
- Discuss conventions of the Gothic that Austen satirizes, especially in the opening chapter of the book. Why do you think Austen chooses to begin the novel this way?
- Compare what you’ve read of Northanger Abbey so far with the excerpts we read from The Mysteries of Udolpho. How do the two works differ in style, tone, characters, plot, etc? Despite the differences, do you see any similarities between the works?
- Discuss Catherine’s first meeting with Mr. Tilney. What’s interesting about the exchange they have? Do you think Austen wants readers to see Mr. Tilney as funny and satirical or as condescending to Catherine? You might also think about how these first impressions either change or stay the same as we meet Mr. Tilney again later.
- Consider the Thorpes versus the Tilneys. Can these two families be considered “doubles” like the ones we often see in Gothic fiction?
- Discuss ways that Northanger Abbey is a novel about novels. Would you consider the book an example of metafiction (a piece of fiction that is about fiction and fiction-writing and in which the book often self-consciously alludes to its own artificiality or status as fiction)?
- What about Austen’s humor? Do you find the book funny? Are there particular passages that you thought were especially humorous?
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the constant discussion of novels and their place and acceptance in society. I would absolutely consider this book a work of metafiction; it is a novel that strives to defend and legitimize novels while also satirizing their conventions in its continual breakage of the fourth wall. Austen confronts the common trope of heroines in novels not reading novels themselves, saying that novel writers need to normalize and defend their own genres and not discredit them further within the literary community. When characters such as Mr. Thorpe show respect to Ann Radcliffe as a writer while discrediting novels in the same breath, Catherine is quick to call it out and defend the substance and quality of the stories she reads. Novels are a way for the characters, especially Catherine and Isabella, to connect. They are rarely painted as negative influences, rather interesting puzzles to work out in the mind and topics of conversation brought up to ease tension and build community. I imagine it could have been liberating for young women at this time to read Northanger Abbey. It is a novel written for them, defending their choices, with their perspectives in mind.
I think Austen’s choice to make so much of the novel revolve around novels is a great way to add to the satire. By continuing to reference authors, have other characters interact and critique popular novels or the concept of novels themselves, etc., it allows the reader to be continuously reminded that this is also a book, and inadvertently creates a dramatic irony for the conflict that will soon occur. By consistently bringing up the idea of novel cliches and Gothic stereotypes, this in itself is a vessel for the humor and commentary Austen wants to explore through Northanger Abbey. I think this is an incredible additional way that Austen chose to subvert the reader’s expectations. Another way she chose to do this was by originally describing Catherine as boy-ish with dark features, sort of stupid, and uninterested in literature or academia. This directly contrasts the Gothic-heroine archetype as most leading women were blonde, embodied white purity, were timid and graceful, with noses stuck in books and consistently rejecting male advances. Even though Catherine eventually becomes what the books describes as “almost pretty”, I think this rebellion against traditional Gothic heroine stereotypes is extremely well done and makes for a much more compelling read, as does the rest of Austen’s humor and satire.
As I was reading the first ten chapters of “Northanger Abbey,” I couldn’t help but notice many examples of typical female stereotyping happening throughout the book, particularly in regards to the characters. First, we have the classic heroine of Catherine. She is, of course, considered to be intelligent but not particularly smart. This is shown through her inability to recognize the blossoming romance between Isabella and James. She is representative of the typical “airhead” woman stereotype. On the other hand, Isabella is talkative and self-interested, treating her friend as if she is less-than by leaving her to fend for herself and being confused as to how Catherine has not caught on to her new romantic interest. The relationship between these two characters reminds me of a book I recently read where the two main female characters were best friends, but one was always in the other’s shadow. The juxtaposition of these two characters is really interesting and I am not completely sure what to make of it yet, as I am not completely clear on Austen’s intentions with that relationship. Furthermore, Catherine represents the “damsel in distress” stereotype that is often seen in gothic literature, and this became painfully obvious at the ball when she waited for John after he ran off to the card room. I would not have waited for him for that long!
In the first ten chapters of Northanger Abbey, I was most shocked by the metafictive elements in the text. I was listening to an audiobook, so you can imagine my surprise when the voice in my headphones began to directly address me, the reader, instead of any of the characters within the story. These semi-fourth-wall-breaks were super refreshing from the verbose prose of Udolpho, at least to me. The narrator aided in my understanding of each character, and even provided extra context at times, saying the “unsaid” or underlying motives of each person. In addition to the narrator, the many references to novels, such as Mysteries of Udolpho, added more metafictive elements to Austen’s writing. Even the conversation between Catherine and Isabella about Mysteries of Udolpho was so layered, because Catherine was predicting what might happen in the novel, but also seemed to be hinting about possible twists and reveals that are going to happen in this novel (although, I’ve never read it so I’m not sure). All of these moments where Austen “holds a mirror” to her own writing definitely solidify Northanger Abbey as metafiction, in my opinion. I’ve really enjoyed that aspect of the novel, and it actually reminds me a lot of the show Fleabag– where the main character, who like Catherine is described to be extremely normal, interprets her world through wall-breaks and self-reflective moments.
I thought Catherine’s first meeting with Mr. Tilney was interesting and enjoyable to read. They seem to click immediately and I do not think Austen wants the readers to see Mr. Tilney as condescending towards Catherine. I believe she intends for him to be funny and satirical. Their exchange is especially interesting because he mocks many conventions, such as when he says, “I have hitherto been very remiss, madam, in the proper attentions of a partner here; I have not yet asked you how long you have been in Bath…” (10). He goes on to list a few other things he has neglected to ask Catherine. This humor is similar to what appears in the beginning of the novel, when Austen mocks some of the Gothic conventions like coming from a broken family, being poor, etc. Tilney goes on to make another one of these jokes at their first meeting when Catherine says she does not keep a journal and Tilney responds, “Not keep a journal! How are your absent cousins to understand the tenour of your life in Bath without one?” (11). This further shows Tilney’s sense of humor. I believe Tilney is meant to be a likeable character. This is more evident when John Thorpe is introduced and provides a comparison to Mr. Tilney.
The opening of Northanger Abbey in the Dover Thrift Edition immediately caught my attention with its unconventional depiction of Catherine Morland. Austen’s description of Catherine was laced with a quiet irony that elevated her simplicity into something I consider to be remarkable and relatable. In the realm of Female Gothic literature, we are often met with heroines that exude an intuitive elegance, beauty, or a mysterious allure. Austen defies these tropes by presenting Catherine as a tomboy, just an ordinary girl. This deliberate departure from tradition is both refreshing and intriguing. I personally adore when artists go against the rules laid out for them.
Rather than painting her as a tragic or ethereal figure, the text lovingly highlights her awkwardness, her lack of extraordinary talents, and her unremarkable childhood, which is both humorous and sorrowful. It is this humanity that makes Catherine relatable and extraordinary.
By stepping away from the gothic archetype of the brooding, enigmatic heroine, Austen sets the stage for a unique exploration of the genre. Catherine’s ordinariness goes beautifully against the dramatic, shadowy worlds often inhabited by gothic heroines. For me, as a reader, it makes me eager to follow her journey, not as an idealized figure, but as a flawed, earnest individual thrust into a world of romantic and gothic intrigue. Austen’s approach is subtly subversive and undeniably compelling.
While I am unsure how I feel about this novel so far, I have enjoyed some of the more humorous aspects of the text. I found it particularly amusing how the narrator/Austen describes Catherine towards the beginning of the novel. Austen has her characters describe Catherine as “almost pretty” and Catherine takes it as a compliment. I am not sure if Austen intended for this part to be amusing, but I found it hilarious. I also partially loved and hated how often Mrs. Allen wished she had more acquaintances in Bath while making absolutely zero efforts to make friends until she was reunited with Mrs. Thorpe, an already established friend from childhood. While it was annoying to read her saying that continuously, that seemed to be Austen’s intention while painting the type of person that Mrs. Allen is.
Additionally, I enjoyed the usage of other real novels in this text. I thought it was very interesting to read about a character who is reading a piece of literature that we read parts of in class. I probably would not consider this book to be metafiction because it does not seem to be the main idea in this novel, but my mind could change upon further reading.
What really interested me in the first 10 chapters of Northanger Abbey was the friendship between Catherine and Isabella. How they began seemed very hopeful as they spent a lot of time together and conversed heavily on things that interested them like Udolpho. However, with the introduction of Catherine’s brother James and Isabella’s brother John, their friendship takes a turn though Catherine does not notice much. Isabella will promise to not speak with James but only Catherine the whole night to, after only talking with Catherine for a few moments, turn back to James the rest of the night. She has also made promises to not leave Catherine but ends up doing so to dance with James. Isabella seems to also be pushing her own agenda of wanting John and Catherine together though she never asks Catherine how she feels of John. Additionally, when referring to the only person Catherine has shown interest in, Mr. Tilney, Isabella only shows interest in seeing him to a suspicious intent. Isabella does not seem genuine in her friendship with Catherine and seems to be imploring an ulterior motive, not caring what Catherine wants. I am interested in seeing how their friendship will further develop and how it will effect Catherine and her relationship with the Tilney’s.
I definitely think that Austen is a very funny woman after reading the first ten chapters of this book. Her descriptions of people and events is witty and cunning, once you get used to the antiquated language, and her descriptions of peoples physical appearances were not exactly generous. I think that Austen definitely intended for the Tilneys and the Thorpes to be understood as being pseudo-doubles of one another, and I even found myself confusing the two a few times during my reading. I would absolutely argue that this book is a work of metafiction. Not only do we have a protagonist who is reading, talking about, and becoming almost possessed by novels, but there is an entire passage on p.36 (in the Penguin Classics edition) in which Austen essentially breaks the fourth wall and goes on a page-long tangent about novels and their place and understanding within society during her time. I’m excited to see how reading Udolpho causes Catherine to come unglued and how Austen continues to play with elements of the Gothic genre
One of the initial things I noted about this novel was how charming Austen’s humor is. One example of this is right at the beginning, Catherine’s mother is described to have had “…three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might expect, she still lived on…” (Austen 1). Austen instantly pokes fun at the Gothic genre and its common trait of deceased mothers. Another example of Austen’s humor that I found to be entertaining is how she takes the time to jab at the predictable nature of high society. Specifically, the description of how, on a typical nice Sunday in Bath, “…all the world appears…to walk about and tell their acquaintance what a charming day it is” (Austen 17). I think that’s a humorful description of how shallow most conversations at the time were, that they were simply surface-level and nothing more. Lastly, I find Mrs. Allen’s characterization to be quite funny. Her only caring about how she dresses and constantly repeating in the beginning how “‘…I wish you could get a partner” (Austen 7) to Catherine at a party, and just exhausting her, just paints a humorous picture in my mind, as she’s just rubbing salt into Catherine’s wound, and doing nothing to help.
I am surprisingly enjoying the book due to its multiple genre-related aspects. There is comedy in the protagonist, the story beginning by simply stating that Catherine is a country-bumpkin who was ugly as a child and was droll growing up. It is also amusing how John Thorpe’s character is similar in a way to Austen’s character Mr. Collins in “Pride and Prejudice” being the socially awkward gentleman who is chafe from the slightest inconvenience towards his desires.
As for the gothic elements in the book, I am beginning to see them but also notice the difference in them. As far as I can see, the male character in the story, Mr. Tilney, is inconsistent after his introduction. He is mysterious in the way that he barely attends social gatherings that Catherine and all the seemingly important families attend regularly. Normally in gothic literature the female protagonist can easily gain audience with the male counterpart, but Mr. Tilney keeps his presence rare.
However, Catherine’s character plays a normal part in the gothic. She is a normal teenage lady, trying to find herself and immerse herself within society to better understand both her mind and the world of adults and men. She is innocent and begins a beginning journey to find a beau when she comes into contact with Tilney.
I had a blast reading the first ten chapters. I love how immediately Austen compares Catherine to the traditional gothic literature tropes and denies each one. Her mother is still alive, Catherine is terrible at the arts but still values her education highly, and she quite frankly has nothing to her name that her loving and doting father would want to steal from her. While the writing is still written formally and sometimes would take a reread through, it isn’t as heavy as Udolpho was where I would reread a paragraph to make sure I understand what’s going on in the plot, Austen still has a twinge of casualness into her writing. I think another thing I noticed was the prominence of female characters in this story, and how deeply they all care for each other, wherein Udolpho it was Emily relying on herself and her only friend Annette, whereas in Northanger Abbey, Catherine has multiple women wanting the best for her, and trying to make sure she has more friends, especially Mrs. Allen going on for a bit about how she wished Catherine had friends in bath. Isabella is just instantly throwing herself onto Catherine when she meets her, trying to be her best friend immediately, already the two in their faint acquaintance of each other are linking arms with each other, traveling throughout Bath.
I think the opening chapter of Northanger Abbey is funny in the way she talks about how Cathrine is nothing like what some of the other female main characters in Gothics are like. Jane Austen doesn’t give her the typical hobbies a girl would have or behave the way they should, especially whe the words “heroic” and “heroine” keep getting used. I think she choses to open the book like this because it is like its a Gothic novel about a girl going to live out her life through the plot of a Gothic novel. Making it all satire emphasizes how Cathrine is trying to make the world seem more mysterious. I would personally consider this book to be metafiction because of how she is aware of these things that happen in a gothic setting and is conscious about traveling and other activities because thats what young ladies in gothics do, so she must do them as well. I also find the passages we have read so far to be funny. I like Jane Austens humor because its kind of dry and sarcastic which is what I normally associate with british humor but probably not from this time period of when she was writing. The passages where she said little things like “for what young lady of common gentility will reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as she can?” because its like its calling out or making fun of young girls in any genre and especially gothic literature.
I have loved this book so far! I really love the character of Mr. Tilney, as he is used to dismantle some of the trife and underappreciated aspects of feminity at the time. Understanding and discussing the different muslins and their costs early on with Mrs. Allen and later when he breaks the stereotype of only women liking novels. He carries this charm that I feel is used as a foil to John Thorpe, rather than a mirror. He is well-learned yet not condescending and boastful like John. He also understands changing circumstances and does not push Catherine into things she does not want to do. I found the dance scene very interesting. Tilney compares the dance to marriage and finds himself maybe a little jealous of Catherine’s conversation with John, but he handles the situation with hilarious grace. I also don’t think that Tilney’s correction of Catherine or Miss Tilneys word choice felt condescending, rather a funny exchange and a way to get the characters connected in a more intimate way, rather than strictly following the rules of society. I think that Jane Austen’s humor really shines through in this novel, her characters are witty and lovable, and others downright detestable and annoying but in a way that satirizes their respective places in society.