Junie B. Jones

Introduction One of the central themes in Jane Austen's book 'Emma' is the developing relationship between Emma, the main protagonist; an attractive, pleasant, rich young lady, and her brother-in-law, Mr. George Knightley. The reason this relationship is interesting is due to the fact that throughout the story there is a significant transition in both of their attitudes towards marriage. Initially, they both appear to be apathetic to the idea of marriage, and even openly opposed to it. By the…

Although many of the characters within Pride and Prejudice marry for materialistic reasons, author Jane Austen advises those seeking to marry should marry someone who they truly love. Not common for an author at the time, Austen makes use of the characters within Pride and Prejudice to make commentary on society. Lydia Bennet and her mother, Mrs. Bennet see marriage as a necessity in the case of Mr. Bennet's death and do not value compatibility or love. In contrast, characters such as Elizabeth…

Claudia Johnson in her essay, Pride and Prejudice and the Pursuit of Happiness, claims that the centralized theme of happiness in the novel, Pride and Prejudice, carries the weight of political and social commentary. As Johnson molds this idea with a litany of examples in her essay she also defends Austen from critics who claim the novel supports a fairytale style happy ending that doesn’t resolve the political or social issues brought about in the novels opening pages. Johnson combats this…

Jane Austen’s is an influential, powerful writer and her unique style is one that is recognizable. Her two comedy of manners novels, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, reveal Austen’s personal views and opinions of the mid eighteenth century society while she makes the reader laugh at the witty truths in her writing. The styles of the novels reflect one another through the use of irony, characterization and theme. Jane Austen uses irony to get her point across in a comedic manner. The opening…

Kate Chopin’s The Story of An Hour was published in 1894. During this period, there was a shift in the role that women were expected to fulfill. Women were expected to cater to their husbands and create a happy household for them. Married women were not “allowed” to have interests or hobbies that did not pertain to the household or the marriage. During this time, women who were single grew independence and freedom by straying away from marriage. The setting of The Story of An Hour was…

Jane Austen was a writer of love and wealth; her stories were all inspired by relationships and the social classes the characters in her stories were in. Austen was known little before 1900’s in America, but by mid-century she received more attention in England. Jane left many people in this world when her time was coming short; she broke the heart of her readers, but they would keep her memory alive by making a cult of admirers who were known as “Janeites”. This cult was not the only memory…

In writing Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte sought to oppose her sisters’ beautiful heroines and prove she could make a heroine “interesting on any other terms”, stating, “I will show you a heroine as plain and as small as myself, who shall be as interesting as any of yours”. Bronte created a character that strayed far from the conventions of the beautiful but weak heroine. She was able to create such a character because Bronte herself didn't fall into the standard definition of the women of her…

In her Sense and Sensibility, author Jane Austen uses the titular values to analyze the societal institution to which the female characters are restrained. This critique features the presentation of one’s emotions and sensitivities, but more important than what is expressed, however, is what is not. Through the limitations of the period’s etiquette, Austen illustrates that the restraint of one’s tongue may aid in verbal combat, but may also hold one linguistically captive. Similarly, poet…

Mrs. David Simmons, a woman of the 1600s, once quoted, “Let your dress, your conversation and the whole business of your life be to please your husband and make him happy” (Nabi). Women were considered property of men until the 20th century. They were used mainly for sex to please men or beget children to continue a legacy (Nabi). They never could give their opinions, were forced to believe men were correct, and had to act polite and obedient to men because male dominance was the normality in…

This paper studies Jane Austen’s articulation of gentleman in Pride and Prejudice. The term gentleman is not new to Pride and Prejudice but has its roots in the medieval ages of Chaucer’s times. Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice highlights the social turmoil and class conflicts between the upper class and the middle class of the early 18th and late 19th century England. Through the themes of courtship and marriage Austen artfully creates a social circle with fictional characters belonging to…