Jane Austen Research Paper

Jane Austen was one of the best female authors of the early nineteenth century. She is one of few novelists in world literature that is not looked at as a “classic”, but is widely read about. Austen catches the delicacy of human nature and social interaction with satiric wit and a precise and elegant style. Jane Austen is known for her childhood, her family, education, and her literary works of the nineteenth century.

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 to Reverend George and Cassandra Austen, in a “professional middle class” (people.brandeis.edu), in Steventon, Hampshire. She was the seventh out of eight children. Her father, George, was the town rector, a preacher, and was a scholarly man. In their home, George had a large library and

She too, is in love with her selfish sister-in-law’s brother, Edward Ferrars. Both are [muted] in their expressions of their feelings; Elinor out of modesty and a sense of propriety and Edward because he is secretly and unhappily engaged to another woman favored by his snobbish mother. Elinor does not pout or suffer, but believes that her hopes of marrying Edward are impossible. Their eventual union is happy and full of emotions.” (Magill 116)

The seconds book, Pride and Prejudice, is known was one of Austen’s “best six novels and ranks amongst her finest work.” (Magill 115) Just like Sense and Senseibility, the story centers two sister, Elizabeth and Jane Bennet. “[The book keeps] the ongoing one, Elizabeth more in the foreground, while keeping the silent suffering one, Jane, much more in the background.” (people.brandeis.org)

“Jane falls in love early in the book with the amiable, wealthy Charles Bingley. Bingley returns her sentiments but it temporarily persuaded to abandon the romance at the urging of his friend, Mr. Darcy, who does not detect love in Jane’s discreet manner.” (Magill

Both are intelligent and forthright, but their initial impressions blind them to the qualities in each other that will eventually form the basis for their love. Darcy is indeed proud and does himself above the less refined country families in whose company he finds himself during his visit to Bingley. Elizabeth’s mother, a vain, silly woman who is often a source of embarrassment to her daughter, is also an object of Darcy’s scorn.” (Magill 116)

Elizabeth hears Darcy talking about her and her family and she is hurt and she starts to believe the lies that is being told to her about Darcy “by the charming, deceitful Wickham” (Magill 116).

“As time passes and their interest in each other continues, both Elizabeth and Darcy begin to see beyond their original judgments of the other’s personality and character.Both possess a measure of pride and prejudice that must be overcome before they will fully understand one another, and Elizabeth’s younger sister, Lydia, is unintentionally a catalyst for the change. [She] runs away with Wickham and it is only Darcy’s intervention that the two are married and the Bennet family is saved from disgrace.” (Magill 116)

“Elizabeth [learns] the truth behind Wickham’s slander towards Darcy and Darcy’s willingness to help her family despite her own singing refusal of his proposal offers her a glimpse of the true nature of his character” (Magill