In Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey, the two heroines, Elizabeth Bennet and Catherine Morland, encounter many individuals who guide their development throughout the novel. Specifically, the two antagonist, Lady Catherine and General Tilney who try to undermine the heroines. Jane Austen use antagonists who perceive themselves of having control over other individuals, especially the heroine. From their encounters with the antagonist, the heroines develop their independence and learn to choose their own happiness, so they can marry for love, regardless of the repercussions and the antagonists’ disapproval. In both novels, the two antagonists speculate they can influence the heroines based on their treatment of the heroines. From General Tilney’s agreeable attitude towards Catherine, he deduces he can control Catherine’s decisions. After conversing with John Thorpe, …show more content…
Elizabeth develops her during her conversation with Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine asks Elizabeth a couple of nosy questions during their meeting at Rosing Parks. Elizabeth replies, but does not directly answer her questions. Lady Catherine reacts with astonishment and Elizabeth perceives she must be the first person “who dared to trifle her” (128). Lady Catherine’s surprised reactions convey that a lower-class individual has never undermines her power before. Lady Catherine believes her status authorizes her to ask anything she wants and to expect an answer back. By choosing not to answer some of Lady Catherine’s questions, Elizabeth demonstrates Lady Catherine has no control over her alluding to the development of her independence. She is not letting a higher-class woman force her to share information she is not comfortable in discussing. She decides herself if she wants to share the information. In short, Elizabeth’s conversation with Lady Catherine aids Elizabeth in developing her