Northanger Abbey

Northanger Abbey was different from many of Austen’s other novels due to the increase of humor and irony seen in the narrative. One chapter that embodies this humor is chapter fourteen.

Chapter fourteen shows Catherine’s naïve character and her infatuation with the gothic novel. This entire scene is laced with humor, but creates a discussion on novels between Henry and Catherine. To begin, Catherine remarks on the scenery and compares it to the South of France. Humorously, Henry believes she has traveled there, but in fact Catherine is only comparing the scenery to what she has read in novels. This begins the debate of men and women reading novels. Catherine states that Henry must not read novels, as she recalls a previous conversation with John Thorpe where he states that he never read books, especially not gothic novels. Catherine is quite surprised when Henry clarifies that he does read and has read all of Radcliffe’s novels. This is an interesting subject in Austen’s novels and in this chapter, it could be implied that novels are meant to be read, and gender roles do not apply when reading novels. However, throughout the novel, Austen makes a point with Catherine that novels are to be read as entertainment, but one should never “lose” themselves in a novel.

Another concept seen in this chapter is the discussion of different types of literature. While Catherine only reads gothic novels, Henry argues that there are also valuable types of literature, particularly history. Catherine’s opinion of history books is a humorous one, as she says “to be labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, I have often wondered at the person’s courage that could sit down on purp...

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...inues to explain how Catherine was only describing a new novel and her vivid imagination and description was construed by Eleanor as riots and terror in the streets of London. If anything could be said positive of Catherine’s character at this moment is that she is enthusiastic and she could be a very good storyteller.

Chapter fourteen of Northanger Abbey has many good discussions on literature, and what makes it so valuable in the novel is Catherine’s character. If Catherine was not in the novel, the discussion of literature may come across as unnecessary, and without the humor Austen places these discussions in, the concepts and ideas of literature might come across as preachy and would not stand out as ideal concepts that later mold Catherine’s growth as a character.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane, and Marilyn Butler. Northanger Abbey. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.