Austen Had Her Own Ideas about How to Write Love Stories
Happy 250th Birthday to classic English novelist Jane Austen, who was born on December 16, 1775. Jane Austen is not considered a romantic novelist. She had her own ideas about how to write love stories. I thoroughly enjoy Jane Austen’s love stories because her characters encounter obstacles that could impede their happy ending, and I am always curious to learn the suspenseful outcome. The three Jane Austen novels I have had the pleasure of reading are Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Persuasion. The relationship roadblocks that these characters face include loving somebody who is unattainable; pain of rejection; control addiction, and sad regret.
Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility tells the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Their mother, Elinor, Marianne, and younger sister Margaret suffer a reduced income because their half-brother, John, allows his spiteful wife, Fanny, to persuade him to sever financial ties with his stepmother and the sisters. Elinor meets Fanny’s brother, the clergyman Edward Ferrers. When Fanny notices the initial attraction between Elinor and Edward, she hatefully comments to Mrs. Dashwood that the Ferrers family has higher expectations for Edward. Mrs. Dashwood becomes angry and moves her family to a cottage in Devonshire that her second Cousin John Middleton rents to them. Elinor later learns to her consternation that Edward is secretly engaged to Lucy Steele, who is related to John Middleton’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Jennings. Edward feels obligated to honor the engagement despite his growing feelings for Elinor. Elinor is heartbroken but resigns herself to the fact that she can never marry Edward. Will circumstances eventually turn somehow in Elinor and Edward’s favor, or will they forever be discontent and parted?
Marianne Dashwood is noticed by a family friend named Colonel Brandon, not long after the Dashwoods move to Devonshire. She is completely indifferent to Colonel Brandon and considers him elderly. The unfortunate Colonel Brandon has even less of a chance when the dashing John Willoughby rescues Marianne after she sprains her ankle. Marianne becomes infatuated with John Willoughby after he visits her a few times and is certain that they will eventually become engaged. Willoughby later tells the Dashwood family vague information about going to London for business. This information is disconcerting to Marianne. She sends him letters, but he never answers her. Marianne later encounters Willoughby at a ball while she and her family are visiting London. He is with another woman and frostily acknowledges Marianne’s presence. Marianne is devastated and later develops a deadly fever. Colonel Brandon still cares for Marianne and supports her during this fever. Will Marianne survive this illness and romantic heartbreak? Read this wonderful story to learn if the Dashwood sisters’ endings are happy or sad.
Emma
Emma Woodhouse is a wealthy young woman who resides with her widowed father. Emma’s father is obsessed with his imagined physical ailments, so his headstrong daughter has free rein of her life. She has a close friendship with Mr. Knightley, whose brother was married to her older sister, but she has no romantic interest in him. She introduces her governess to the governess’s eventual husband, Mr. Weston, so Emma develops the notion that she has the magic touch for matchmaking. Emma’s next project is her orphaned friend Harriet, who is interested in Robert Martin, a farmer. She convinces Harriet that she can do better and pushes her to pursue Mr. Elton, the local clergyman. Knightley strongly rebukes Emma for her interference because he recognizes Robert Martin’s worth and Mr. Elton’s shallowness. Harriet nevertheless spurns Martin and blindly follows Emma’s advice. Mr. Elton treats Harriet with contempt and marries a person as shallow as himself. Harriet is vulnerable to any kind of male attention, so she misconstrues a gallant act of Mr. Knightley as interest in her. Harriet confides her feelings for him to Emma, and Emma becomes jealous. What will Emma do with this information? What will become of poor Harriet? Read this intriguing story to learn the outcome.
Persuasion
Anne Elliot is a 27-year-old woman from a haughty family. Eight years before, she fell in love with the local curate’s brother, Frederick Wentworth. He had a promising military career, but no fortune. Lady Russell, who was a family friend and surrogate mother, discouraged her from pursuing the relationship. Likewise, Walter — her widowed father — and her older sister believed Frederick was unfit to be part of their family. Anne caved under this pressure and broke off the engagement. Eight years later, the family loses their fortune due to Walter’s incessant spending. The family is forced to rent their family home Kellylynch Hall, and reside in Bath. Anne still loves Frederick and regrets her decision. She makes the best of her circumstances by spending time with her sister Mary, who is married to Charles Musgrove, the squire of Uppercross Hall. The renters of Kellylynch Hall are Admiral Croft and his wife, who happens to be Frederick Wentworth’s sister. Anne eventually encounters Frederick Wentworth when he visits his sister. He greets Anne curtly, making little eye contact. Anne’s pain is further compounded when Mary’s two sisters-in-law aggressively pursue Frederick. Can Anne hope for a reconciliation with Frederick, or will he become interested in one of Mary’s sisters-in-law? Read this novel to learn if Anne has a second chance with Frederick.
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