Jane Austen's Parody In Gothic Novels
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Jane Austen led the reader and Catherine to believe the spunky General Tilney to be the typical gothic novel’s murderous husband in her book Northanger Abbey. Catherine held a healthy suspicion of General Tilney, even if it was only prompted by her overactive imagination as a gothic novel fangirl. I believe that Jane Austen’s parody wasn’t created in order to belittle the fans of gothic novels, but for the sake of the reader as a cautionary warning of the imminent danger within the bounds of society. That we all should be suspicious of the motives of people in our life, and the rules that govern our culture, for danger can more likely be found in the pursuit of marriage than it would from the gothic romance tales. A parody has accomplished
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Yet, it would turn out that she was justified in some regards to be suspicious of General Tilney’s behavior. While it was not as heinous a crime to be a gold digger rather than a murderer, it is used to show the necessity to keep an alert eye over society. It was from the laws and culture of their aristocratic society that made life treacherous. The aristocrats wanted to preserve land, power, and wealth in their family by creating sole inheritors and marital laws to retain this wealth. As reported by Catherine on General Tilney, “He told me the other day that he only valued money as it allowed him to promote the happiness of his children”(416). General Tilney had told this to Catherine in an appeal to her just sense of moral agency, thought it quickly backfired. When General Tilney discovered Catherine’s lack of wealth and forbid matrimony between her and Henry, it thus revealed the inconsistency in General Tilney’s and society’s values. General Tilney knew what was the morally correct opinion to possess, however, societal values had corrupted him to have valued money above all …show more content…
It may be true for certain features to be required to be considered the classic Gothic genre hero or heroine, but in reality, anyone could be Catherine. Catherine was only victim to deceitful wedding planners in Bath. These villains were ordinary people with realistic views and goals. Thanks to this, we watched how Catherine was beautifully showcased in a satirical approach to the innocent or blind heroine, while it would still amply demonstrate the realistic necessity for her to use an apprehensive approach to new acquaintances and
Yet, it would turn out that she was justified in some regards to be suspicious of General Tilney’s behavior. While it was not as heinous a crime to be a gold digger rather than a murderer, it is used to show the necessity to keep an alert eye over society. It was from the laws and culture of their aristocratic society that made life treacherous. The aristocrats wanted to preserve land, power, and wealth in their family by creating sole inheritors and marital laws to retain this wealth. As reported by Catherine on General Tilney, “He told me the other day that he only valued money as it allowed him to promote the happiness of his children”(416). General Tilney had told this to Catherine in an appeal to her just sense of moral agency, thought it quickly backfired. When General Tilney discovered Catherine’s lack of wealth and forbid matrimony between her and Henry, it thus revealed the inconsistency in General Tilney’s and society’s values. General Tilney knew what was the morally correct opinion to possess, however, societal values had corrupted him to have valued money above all …show more content…
It may be true for certain features to be required to be considered the classic Gothic genre hero or heroine, but in reality, anyone could be Catherine. Catherine was only victim to deceitful wedding planners in Bath. These villains were ordinary people with realistic views and goals. Thanks to this, we watched how Catherine was beautifully showcased in a satirical approach to the innocent or blind heroine, while it would still amply demonstrate the realistic necessity for her to use an apprehensive approach to new acquaintances and