Review of Literature - Jane Austen

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

An uneventful life

Jane Austen was born in 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire where her father was a rector of the church. She never married and was educated at home by her father. When she was young she was interested in literature and writing. In 1798 she wrote “Northanger Abbey” and “Elinor and Marianne” in 1796. She published “Sense and Sensibility” in 1811 and “Pride and Prejudice” in 1813.  She wrote “Emma” in 1814, but it was published in 1816. Her work “Persuasion” was published in 1818. All her works were published anonymously and her identity was revealed by her brother after her death. She died of Addison’s disease in Winchester in 1817.

Jane Austen - “Pride and Prejudice”  (1813)

The Plot

“Pride and Prejudice” is a romantic comedy. It is about the fortunes of young lovers and in the end their happy marriages.  It is in Longbourne, a small country village, where Mr and Mrs Bennet live with their five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia and Kitty. These girls go to the parties of the new neighbor Mr Bingley. One day, he falls in love with Jane and his best friend, Mr Darcy, likes Elizabeth. She doesn’t like Mr Darcy because he is a snob and she believes he is responsible for the separation of Jane and Mr Bingley.  At the same time, Lydia runs away with Wickham, a dishonest officer. Mr Darcy finds them and gives them the money to get married. Elizabeth changes her mind about Darcy and accepts his proposal. Mr Bingley and Jane get engaged, too. At the end, both couples get married.

The Novel of Manners

Jane Austen’s novel of manners are about the vital relationship between manners, social conduct and character.

They take place in upper and middle class society.

They are about the conventions of social conduct.

They present parties and tea meetings.

They are about personal relationships.

They are about the influence of money.

 The main themes are marriage, love and friendship in society.

The third-person narrator is used.

Irony is used in the language of the characters’ dialogues.