Jane Austen Research Paper

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, England. Part of Hampshire County, Steventon remains a small rural village similar to the settings of Austen’s novels. Austen grew up living in the village rectory - her father, Reverend George Austen, ran the local church. The father of seven children, George Austen also worked a small farm to help provide for his family. Austen’s mother, Cassandra Austen, played a traditional role in taking care of her children. Of her 6 siblings, Jane Austen would become closest with her brother Henry Austen. Henry’s role in Austen’s career will be discussed later in this summary. The Austen family was tight-knit and each parent encouraged their children to practice and learn the arts. To pass the

Accompanied there by her sister Cassandra, she received what was then considered an appropriate education for a young woman. This meant schooling in French, music, dance, and other areas of the domestic social scene within which British ladies were expected to participate. However, the Austen sisters stay at boarding school would be cut short: apparently due to an outbreak of typhoid fever which forced the girls to return home. Austen’s education at home took a different turn from that of her former school. Her father opened his library to her. Austen was able to gain an important education in writing and literature by reading on her own. George Austen also encouraged her to write when she began to show interest. George Austen, in this respect, was much unlike fathers of this period, who generally disapproved of their daughters pursuing “men’s”

What might be called her childhood works survive to this day. Her Juvenilia (childhood stories and sketches) would eventually see publication, and have become of scholarly interest. By the end of Austen’s childhood, she was in full pursuit of becoming a published author. Her family excluded her from most chores so that she could pursue her passion. In this early period, she became enamoured with young law student Tom Lefroy. Sadly, what could have been an engagement fell through when Lefroy’s family intervened. They did not consider Austen to be a suitable match as she did not have much to offer in terms of wealth. The role of wealth and class would become constant in Austen’s novels dealing with love and marriage. It is probable that her disappointment over this brief romance affected the content of her writing. Austen would continue on as a single woman in full pursuit of a professional writing career. Even when tempted with offers of marriage, Austen remained a single lady. Just before turning 27, she received a marriage proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither, who was wealthy and had just graduated from Oxford. She initially accepted the offer due to her family’s financial situation and figured that the marriage could provide them with stability. However, she immediately called off the engagement the next