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Jane Austen as a Child of the Eighteenth Century

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1 Jane Austen as a Child of the Eighteenth Century

Jane Austen as a Child of the Eighteenth Century

To understand these aspects of Jane Austen’s novels, we must consider the following important facts of Jane Austen as a Child of the Eighteenth Century.

Jane Austen’s Time

First, Austen was born during a time when the 18th century was ending, making her more a product of that era than a precursor to the 19th century. When the century closed, she was 25 years old. By then, she had already formed her opinions, attitudes, and beliefs, which remained with her throughout her life. This is why her works often reflect the ideas of thinkers like Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson rather than those of later figures like John Stuart Mill and Thomas Carlyle.

Limited Influence of Revolutions

Second, the revolutions of her time did not significantly affect many rural areas in England. Austen grew up in Steventon, a village in the South known for its good farmland. The Industrial Revolution mainly impacted northern cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Political changes and protests were often centered in London, far away from Austen’s rural home. In essence, she was a country girl whose life was not shaped by urban or industrial influences.

Family Background

Third, Austen’s family environment was not revolutionary. Her father was a clergyman, and her brothers were landowners, with one serving as a naval officer. Her family came from a long line of people involved in the church, farming, and the military. This background made it unlikely for her to become a revolutionary novelist, either in politics or in literary style.

Understanding Austen’s World

These factors help us grasp the nature of Austen’s novels. Her stories do not take place in bustling cities or modern settings. Instead, they are set in small villages or country towns, usually populated by a few families. The drama in her books revolves around moral and intellectual issues rather than the military, political, or industrial challenges faced by other parts of the country.

Social Structure in Austen’s Novels

There is little focus on political upheaval in Austen’s world. She does not challenge the political ideas of her time. The characters in her novels exist within a structured social hierarchy, with duties and privileges determined by their rank. Jane Austen never questions the strict social and political order of her society. Her work reflects the traditional values of 18th-century writers like Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, and Edmund Burke, which can seem outdated to modern readers.

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Related Questions

Jane Austen’s world is neither urban nor industrial nor modern; it is usually a small world, a village or a country town, in a relatively isolated rural area. Discuss!
Do you agree that Jane Austen should be considered more as a child of the eighteenth century than a forerunner of the nineteenth century?
How does Jane Austen’s upbringing in the 18th century influence the themes and settings of her novels?
In what ways does Jane Austen’s family background and rural lifestyle shape her portrayal of social class and morality in her works?
Considering that Austen lived during a time of limited political upheaval, how does this context affect her focus on personal relationships and societal norms in her novels?
How does the 18th-century social structure, reflected in Jane Austen’s life, impact her representation of marriage and relationships in her literary works?
Given that Jane Austen was influenced more by 18th-century thinkers than 19th-century ones, how do her personal beliefs and values manifest in her writing style and character portrayals?
Jane Austen was born at a time when societal norms were largely shaped by class distinctions and gender roles. Growing up in a rural environment, she was immersed in the values and traditions of the 18th century. This upbringing influenced her choice of themes such as marriage, social class, and morality. In her novels, we often see characters navigating these themes within the constraints of their societal expectations. How do these elements of her upbringing reflect in the themes and settings of her works?
In what ways does Jane Austen’s family background and rural lifestyle shape her portrayal of social class and morality in her works?
Austen’s family was rooted in the clergy and landownership, providing her with insights into the social dynamics of her time. Living in a small village, she experienced firsthand the limited opportunities for women and the pressures of economic security. Her novels often depict the moral dilemmas faced by individuals within their social classes. How does her family background and rural lifestyle affect her depiction of social class and ethical considerations in her characters’ lives?
While the 18th century saw significant political changes, Austen’s life in the countryside kept her distanced from these upheavals. Instead of engaging with the broader political landscape, her works focus on the intricacies of personal relationships and the expectations placed upon individuals by society. How does this limited political context influence her exploration of relationships, particularly in terms of marriage, friendship, and familial ties in her narratives?
Austen’s novels often highlight the importance of social hierarchy and its implications for marriage. In her time, marriage was not just a romantic union but also a social contract influenced by economic stability and family expectations. By examining her characters’ marriages, we see a critique of this social structure. How does the rigid class system of the 18th century manifest in her portrayal of marriage and relationships among her characters?
Austen’s literary style reflects the intellectual climate of the 18th century, influenced by writers like Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson. Her focus on moral values, social etiquette, and individual character development is a testament to these influences. How do her personal beliefs, shaped by 18th-century thought, come through in her characterizations and narrative techniques throughout her novels?