When Jane Austen wrote her major novels England was in a period of social upheaval provoked by the French Revolution (1789) and the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1817). The achievement of religious freedom in France after the Revolution led to powerful social, political and religious tensions in Great Britain. They reached its heyday when Jane Austen reached adulthood. Thus Austen wrote under the impression of the French Revolution and the resulting British reformist’s movements including the feminist movement that called for equal rights for women, the abolitionist movement that supported the abolition of the slave trade and other political reform societies, mostly generated by ordinary working people that declined patronage and called for parliamentary reform, political influence and social equality. The rising tensions among the British society generated the fear among conservatives and the nobility that the French Revolution might spread to Great Britain and deprive the ruling class of their power. One of the most famous anti-revolutionary writers was Edmund Burke. In 1791 he published his pamphletReflections on the Revolution in France,a response to the revolutionary movement, in which he rejected any kind of political reform modelled on the French Revolution. In 1791/92 Thomas Paine replied to Burke’s attack on the French Revolution with his pamphletThe Rights of Menwhere he called for social security of the poor, the abolition of The House of Lords, equal political rights for all men and the abolition of the slavery. The book was immediately banned by the British government and Thomas Paine escaped to France a short time after in 1792 and never returned to England again. Nevertheless, Paine’s book reached lots of readers and thus fuelled the political debates. The British government as well as the aristocracy and the landed gentry were deeply alarmed by the spread of revolutionary ideas and in order to stern revolutionary potential the government enforced that radical political leaders could be arrested without trial, the distribution of political pamphlets was forbidden, reformist societies eliminated and many reformists were driven into exile. Although the British ruling class managed to suppress a revolution as it had occurred in France they could not circumvent some political reforms that should change the political climate in England forever, like e.g. the universal suffrage with was achieved in 1829.
Table of Contents
1. The Historical background to Jane Austen’s novels
2. The Social Context of Jane Austen’s novels and the Question of Female Education
3. The Representation of Women in Jane Austen’s Novels
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This independent study aims to challenge the traditional perception of Jane Austen as an apolitical, conservative writer by examining how her novels incorporate subtle critiques of the social and political landscape of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, particularly regarding the status and education of women.
- The impact of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars on British social climate.
- The rigid separation of gender spheres and the ideology of female inferiority.
- Analysis of female characters as representations of both traditional and non-conformist roles.
- Austen’s critique of the educational limitations imposed on women of her time.
- The intersection of morality, class, and marriage in Austen's narrative structures.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Representation of Women in Jane Austen’s Novels
The women of Jane Austen’s novels live in a male-dominated society in which they are inferior and dependent. This standing is imposed upon them by education and social tradition. From infancy a girl is taught to revere the male; in adolescence she discovers the economic and social foundations of male superiority. She is brought up to subordinate, praised for being ‘feminine’, and offered ‘advantages’ for acquiescing. Playing the ‘feminine’ role, she finds herself in a vicious circle: the less she exercises her freedom to understand, the fewer resources she discovers in herself as a subject. Marriage is her chief means of support and the chief justification of her existence. As a result getting a husband is her most important undertaking, and the disposition she makes of herself in marriage is the most critical event in her life. (Smith 1997, 144)
Emma, the heroine of the homonymous novel, does not find herself under the pressure of marrying since she is rich enough to live independently. She is described as being handsome, clever, lively and socially prominent. In contrast to other girls, who are brought up according to the conventions of the time, Emma was allowed to run wild when she was a child. Being raised by a governess, who was more than a friend to her than a mother, Emma never experienced any shadow of authority. Thus, she is exceptional independent but also spoiled and headstrong and had “rather too much of her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself” (Austen 2003a, 5). Mr. Knightley, Emma’s future husband, describes her as follows:
Summary of Chapters
1. The Historical background to Jane Austen’s novels: This chapter contextualizes Austen's work within the era of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, highlighting the political tensions and reformist movements that influenced the period.
2. The Social Context of Jane Austen’s novels and the Question of Female Education: This section explores the rigid social hierarchy and gender spheres, focusing on how the prevailing belief in female inferiority shaped the limited education available to women.
3. The Representation of Women in Jane Austen’s Novels: This chapter analyzes how specific heroines, such as Emma Woodhouse and Fanny Price, navigate or challenge the expectations of a patriarchal society, contrasting independent-minded women with submissive archetypes.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the evidence to argue that Austen’s novels are far more political than previously assumed, reflecting modern views on female intelligence and moral agency despite her outward social conservatism.
Key Words
Jane Austen, French Revolution, female education, social hierarchy, patriarchy, gender roles, rural gentry, marriage market, feminism, moral agency, Emma Woodhouse, Fanny Price, political literature, nineteenth-century society, social upheaval
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this independent study?
The study examines whether Jane Austen can be considered a political writer, focusing on how she uses her novels to reflect upon and critique the social and historical context of her time.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The research covers the historical impact of the French Revolution on England, the social restrictions placed on women, the role of formal education, and the representation of feminine identity in literature.
What is the main research question?
The study seeks to answer if Jane Austen's portrayal of middle-class rural life contains deeper, critical observations about the political climate and women's rights, effectively challenging her traditional reputation as a purely romantic, conservative novelist.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs literary and historical analysis, examining primary texts by Austen alongside historical background research and critical perspectives from scholars like David Monaghan and Mary Wollstonecraft.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats the socio-historical background of England, the systemic denial of higher education to women, and detailed character analyses of heroines from "Emma" and "Mansfield Park" to show how Austen portrays female independence.
Which keywords define the work?
Key terms include Jane Austen, patriarchy, gender roles, female education, French Revolution, social hierarchy, and moral agency.
How does the author characterize Emma Woodhouse's independence?
The author highlights that Emma is unique because her wealth grants her an level of independence unusual for the time, allowing her to avoid the immediate pressure of marriage, though this also makes her spoiled and headstrong.
Why does the study contrast Fanny Price with Lady Bertram?
They are contrasted to show the difference between an individual who possesses moral strength and critical thinking versus one who exemplifies the "patriarchal reduction" of women to passive, ornamental roles.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Röpke (Author), 2005, Jane Austen: A Political Author of her Time?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/57445
