Jane Austen is one of the most highly regarded authors of the English literary canon. She is best known for her novels that explore and critique the social conventions of her time. Austen was born in 1775 in Hampshire, England and was one of eight children. She was educated at home by her father and siblings, and began writing at an early age. Her first published work, Sense and Sensibility, was published in 1811 and was followed by Pride and Prejudice in 1813, Mansfield Park in 1814, and Emma in 1815.
This collection of essays explores the works of Jane Austen and their influence on literature and culture. They are a great starting point for students looking to write their own essays on one of Austen’s novels. Scroll down for an overview of her most famous works, together with a guide to writing essays on these novels.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a novel that explores the societal pressure on women to marry for financial security and status. The novel portrays different types of marriages, including those based on love, convenience, and social status. The marriages in the novel can be seen as a reflection of the society in which Austen … Read more
Persuasion is unlike Austen’s other novels in a variety of ways, perhaps one of the most obvious being that Anne Elliot, the heroine, is past her prime while Austen’s other heroines are all entering or at the pinnacle of their romantic viability. The novel is not so much about the contrivance of a marriage … Read more
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin, 1813 2. One theme in the novel is that to love, one must overcome pride and prejudice. Pride and prejudice is what keeps Elizabeth and Darcy apart. Darcy has prejudice about Elizabeth and her family, and sees them as lower than him. Elizabeth prides herself in her judgement, and … Read more
Mr Collins uses his library at Hunsford for ‘reading and writing, and looking out of the window in his own book-room, which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards’ (P&P, p. 117). The very deliberate positioning of his ‘book-room’ is emphasised by the ladies’ location at the back of the … Read more
The dictionary defines pop culture as being “cultural activities or commercial products reflecting, suited to, or aimed at the tastes of the general masses of people.” Jane Austen wrote during the late 16th/ early 17th century. During this time, religion was particularly prevalent in societal beliefs as well as a rigid social hierarchy. Society has … Read more
In Austen’s novel, the character of Marianne is an example of a younger, naïve women in the regency era; ‘she was sensible and clever; but eager in everything’. Marianne was bought up in an upper-class family, so she had a higher education and was ‘clever’. However, the adjective ‘eager’ indicates Marianne’s sense of urgency to … Read more
The publication of Jane Austen’s Emma in December 1815 presented the following memorable statement: No, Emma, your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, not in English. He may be very ‘amiable,’ have very good manners, and be very agreeable; but he can have no English delicacy towards the feelings of other people: … Read more
Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice and Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest, present opinions on society through irony, wordplay and characterization. The central themes of society that influence both texts include the significance of hierarchy and societal class, how love and courtship is either financially beneficial or true passion and how first … Read more
Pride and Prejudice was written in 1797, around the same time as Marie Antoinette’s execution and Napoleon’s reign. So, it seems unlikely that Jane Austen has anything left to say to us today in 2019. But, hidden under unrequited love and prideful millionaires, Jane Austen used her books to impart morals and subtle debates on … Read more
Writing is a beautiful thing, before technology it was one of the only modes of communication. Letters that have been used for hundreds of years, people were able to update others about their lives, confess love, and express emotion. In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen letters were a common motif often used for significant … Read more
Pride and Prejudice is historical fiction, it shows the reader real accounts that happened in the Regency era. The Regency era was an era where women just were there to look good, cook, clean, and help around the house. In the novel Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen uses Allegory, Imagery, and Symbolism to express the … Read more
Through analysing the narrative techniques used by Austen in Pride and Prejudice, and Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby we develop a true sense of heroism in the protagonists, Darcy and Gatsby. Jay Gatsby, the hero of The Great Gatsby is a mysterious representation of wealth and status living in West Egg, Long Island, in the … Read more
Jane Austen is an author noted for being ahead of her time in literature by shying away from the romanticism of the time and setting the stage for the realist movement. She uses concrete, polite language, oddly crafted sentences, characterization through their effect on others, and meaningful dialogue structure. All of these elements helped Austen … Read more
Have you ever been judged by your social position? In “Pride and Prejudice,” Jane Austen gives readers a glimpse inside the immense standards of wealth and class. Set in the tranquil English countryside the novel takes place at the same time when England was fighting for its life against the threat of Napoleon, and all … Read more
Intentional or not, Jane Austen gave important details about issues of class in her novel, Pride and Prejudice. Many people would learn issues of life and languages that would affect them later on in life. In Jane Austen’s novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” Jane uses issues of class as her theme. Jane Austen was a dynamic … Read more
Both Jane Austen, in ‘Emma,’ and Margaret Atwood, in ‘The Blind Assassin,’ arguably present romantic and platonic relationships as having a negative effect on their female characters. In ‘Emma,’ it is a woman’s status that influences the complex circumstances that occur within and surrounding their various relationships; social position is influential upon whom they … Read more
Historical information about the period of publication: Jane Austen’s novels counteract the time of publication. Although she writes her novel through a peaceful English countryside; in England, it was a time of fighting. Napoleon uses his power to conquer Italy, Austria, and also make peace with France. Women of this time period play a strict … Read more
“At the beginning of the 18th century most marriages among landed or moneyed families were essentially financial arrangements designed to cement powerful alliances and exchange or acquire land and property.”(Moor, W., 2009). Money, as a result of this reality, plays a central role to the plot of Pride and Prejudice and has an equally … Read more
Pride and Prejudice Expectation and first reactions I heard about Pride and Prejudice when I was actually quite young. My first expectations back then were that it must be a boring book with lots of complicated things. Now that I’m older, I wanted to give it a chance anyway. My expectations were, as discussed … Read more
Money is a necessary but not sufficient condition for happiness in marriage, a subject addressed in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. Through a powerful introduction, the text defines the socioeconomic setting of 19th century England. In a male dominated society, monetary issues are top of mind for women and their families as they make … Read more
In ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ the mother, Mrs Bennet, becomes a caricature of motherhood, desiring for her daughters first and foremost a “secure” marriage—by which she means one which is monetarily advantageous or raises the family’s social standing. Her primary objective following the first ball at the local assembly rooms, is to show off that her … Read more
Ian McEwan’s metafiction Atonement employs the device of intertextuality, alluding to great literary works of Clarissa by Samuel Richardson and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen as a frequent reminder to the audience that the novel is a construct, designed to warn the reader of the dangers of an untamed imagination. The importance of the construction … Read more
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is a classic novel of romance and family. It follows the lives of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who are left impoverished after their father dies and they are forced to leave their home. They are sent to live with their mother’s family, who are wealthy but distant. Elinor soon finds love with Edward Ferrars, and Marianne with John Willoughby, though their paths to love are fraught with obstacles. The sisters must navigate through a society full of snobbery and social conventions, as well as their own individual emotions and personal values. The novel is full of wit and humor, and its characters are memorable and relatable. Sense and Sensibility is a timeless exploration of how love and family can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic novel of romance, family, and social conventions. It follows the lives of the five daughters of the Bennet family, who are all looking for suitable husbands. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is deeply prejudiced against the wealthy and snobbish Mr. Darcy, but eventually learns to accept him and they fall in love. The novel is full of humor, and Austen’s characters are complex and memorable. The story is full of witty conversations and humorous observations, and the characters are both charming and realistic. Pride and Prejudice is a timeless exploration of family, society, and the nature of love.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen is a classic novel of romance, family, and social conventions. It follows the life of Fanny Price, a poor relation who is sent to live with her wealthy cousins at Mansfield Park. Fanny must navigate a world of gossip and snobbery as she struggles to find her place in her new home. The novel is full of wit and humor, and Austen’s characters are memorable and realistic. Fanny is a strong and independent woman who eventually finds love with Edmund Bertram. Mansfield Park is a timeless exploration of family, society, and the nature of love.
Emma by Jane Austen is a classic novel of romance, family, and social conventions. It follows the life of Emma Woodhouse, a young woman who is determined to play matchmaker for her friends and family. Emma is a strong and independent woman who must learn to navigate a world full of gossip and snobbery. Despite her best efforts, her plans often backfire, leading to both comic and romantic misadventures. The novel is full of wit and humor, and Austen’s characters are memorable and realistic. Emma is a timeless exploration of family, society, and the nature of love.
