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Jane austens influence on literature
Jane austens influence on literature
Life of jane austen essay
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Jane Austen was an exceptional English author of romantic fiction novels. However, it was not until after Jane’s lifetime that she was well acknowledged as a writer. Jane grew up with a large family whom she was very close to. She was inspired by her family greatly, and because of this wrote about situations relatable to everyday life. She was also a very innovative author; she helped to shape new ways of writing in her works. Through examining Jane’s relationships, dynamics of her writing, and novels themselves, we will be able to have a much broader understanding of Jane.
Firstly, Jane lived a fairly quiet childhood. Her parents stressed academics profusely and encouraged their children to indulge in their father’s library consistently. Although Jane lived a rather provincial life, through her brothers refined lifestyles she was able to experience exquisite things. For instance, her brother Edward, was adopted by their wealthy cousins, the Knights, and later became the heir to their estate. When Jane spent time with her brother Edward she was able to be a part of his luxurious world. Jane was also exposed to great culture of arts at a young age. Jane visited her brother, Henry, in London and was able to attend theatrical productions, art shows, and social events that allowed her to be around very talented writers. The culture and experiences Jane was exposed to at this time inspired her tremendously and are reflected in her novels.
Jane was also influenced through her relationships outside of her family. It is likely that she was arranged to marry Harris Bigg-Wither, a 21-year-old heir from a Hampshire family, but the following day Jane changed her mind. There are also many conflicting stories that cause one to believe Jane...
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...o was able to do so while relating to the everyday man. Jane was even able to write incredible love stories without ever experiencing great love for herself. Although Jane was not widely known in her own lifetime, the impact of her novels continues to radiate today. Jane Austen is truly inspirational through her successes and deserves to be honored and well respected for her works.
Works Cited
"Jane Austen." DISCovering Authors. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
"Jane Austen's Life." Jane Austen's Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
"Jane Austen." World Eras. Ed. James R. Farr. Vol. 9: Industrial Revolution in Europe, 1750-1914. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 80-81. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
Southam, Brian C., and EB Ed. "Britannica School." Britannica School. Athlone Press, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen used the character of Elizabeth Bennet to epitomize the harmonious balance between reason and emotion in a woman, making her a truly admirable and attractive character.
Jane Eyre has been acclaimed as one of the best gothic novels in the Victorian Era. With Bronte’s ability to make the pages come alive with mystery, tension, excitement, and a variety of other emotions. Readers are left with rich insight into the life of a strong female lead, Jane, who is obedient, impatient, and passionate as a child, but because of the emotional and physical abuse she endures, becomes brave, patient, and forgiving as an adult. She is a complex character overall but it is only because of the emotional and physical abuse she went through as a child that allowed her to become a dynamic character.
“A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of” (Austen). The bluntness of this quote fully encompasses the main theme of an advantageous marriage for the English novelist, Jane Austen. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics (Southam). Austen’s major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, were composed between the years 1795-1815. During those twenty years England was at the height of its power facing many historical landmarks (Thomson). It is no coincidence that Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, coincides directly with the historical events of this time period.
Jane does not experience a typical family life throughout the novel. Her various living arrangements led her through different households, yet none were a representation of the norm of family life in the nineteenth century. Through research of families in the nineteenth century, it is clear that Jane’s life does not follow with the stereotypical family made up of a patriarchal father and nurturing mother, both whose primary focus was in raising their children. Jane’s life was void of this true family experience so common during the nineteenth century. Yet, Jane is surrounded by men, who in giving an accurate portrayal of fathers and masculinity in the nineteenth century, fulfill on one hand the father role that had never been present in her life, and on the other hand the husband portrait that Jane seeks out throughout the novel.
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Norton Critical 3rd edition, ed. Donald Gray New York and London: Norton, 2001.
Although written during both the Victorian and Gothic time period, Jane Eyre draws upon many revolutionary influences that ultimately enabled it to become one of the most successful books of all time. Jane Eyre is merely a hybrid of a Victorian and Gothic novel, infusing a share of dark allusions with overzealous romanticism. The primitive cultures of the Victorian period reflect high ethical standards, an extreme respect for family life, and devotional qualities to God, all in which the novel portrays. Yet, to merely label Jane Eyre as a Victorian novel would be misleading. While the characteristics of a Gothic no...
She was very talented and passionate about her work. However, living in the 19th century made it especially hard to express her wonderful ideas as a woman. This forced her to publish most of her books anonymously so that people would not automatically dismiss her work (Christine, 2012, Writer Hero: Jane Austen). In fact, critics didn 't fully appreciate her style of writing at the time. They thought that Jane’s popularity was overrated because of her limited thought to her small world and it’s small concerns. In direct contrast, it was this exact idea that made her popular. It related her books to everyday life and appealed to the modern reader (Mullan, 2015, How Jane Austen’s Emma Changed the Face of Fiction). The way Jane wrote provided a gentle, easy-to-follow rhythm, using literary devices to move towards subjects floating through irony and criticism. This allows the reader to view the subject through humor and enjoyment but also clearly understanding the point Jane is trying to make (Collins, 2009, What Would Jane Do?). In her popular book Emma, it is the first time that an author writes in a third-person point of view, shares a character 's judgments, and follows the path to their decisions. This technique opened up a new world of opportunities, combining the internal and external world of a character in a novel (Mullan, 2015, How Jane Austen’s Emma Changed the Face of Fiction). Jane Austen had
Scott, Walter. "Scott on Jane Austen." 1826. Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage. Ed. B. C.
She first begins with the introduction of Jane Austen’s life circumstances, how small amount of money she had with her mother and her sister and the better life circumstances of her five brother whilst they had got access to work that was paid, inheritance and preference and also the right for independence, personal power that is prosperous and masculinity.
Austen: A Collection of Critical Essays, Prentice-Hall Inc, USA
This source is an updated study of the prevailing notion of Jane Austen, at a time in which the paradigms of classical literature were being challenged. This work points out the so-called bravado of Emma, and questions whether Austen intended to position Emma as likeable character or merely a strong and impressive character. The essay borders on Emma's apparent vindictiveness that brings into question key decisions and relationships which Emma displays in the book, all the while intonating that the fascination of Emma is not with who she is, but how she acts towards others. The question of whether Emma is virtuous and true to herself is raised, with a skeptic's eye that points out her frailties as a true heroine.
The literature output in Jane Austen’s creation is full of realism and irony. Janet Todd once asserted that "Austen creates an illusion of realism in her texts, partly through readably identification with the characters and partly through rounded characters, which have a history and a memory.” (Todd, The Cambridge Introduction to Jane Austen, 28.) Her works are deeply influenced between by late eighteenth-century Britain rationalism phenomenon and early nineteenth-century of romanticism.
Monaghan, David. Jane Austen Structure and Social Vision. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1980.
Austen used her sharp and sarcastic wit in all of her writing, including in one of her most famous works, Pride and Prejudice. She could create a powerful and dramatic scene and immediately lead it into a satirical, cathartic scene. We see these in various locations in Pride and Prejudice. She was able to use her experiences as well as her intense knowledge to create meaningful insights into her words, regardless of what topic she would be discussing. She often talks about marriage, or breaking the rules of what a person should be.
Fergus, Jan. “Biography.” The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen. Ed. Janet Todd.