Jane Austen Research Paper

Jane Austen was a wonderful author in the 18th century. All of the works she created have become timeless classics. The novels have been successful and popular even now, two centuries after her death. Jane Austen created novels that used romantic, light hearted, and tragic themes, to create stories that depicted the manners of her era. (Harris) Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, England. She was one of eight children. The father, Reverend George Austen, was the one who was a scholars. George Austen encouraged learning to all of the children. Austen’s family was lively and very close knit. This family, and the world around her (the village, the neighbors, the visits to the Baths in london, etc.) where the things

There were eight children in the Austen family. Jane and Cassandra were the only girls. The other six children were boys. (Canuel) Both of the two ladies never married. Cassandra drew and watercolor of her beloved sister Jane in 1810. This drawing is in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Several critics have even suggested that the two women might have been in a romantic relationship together. (Canuel) Cassandra was somewhat of a guardian angel to Jane. When Jane passed away, Cassandra destroyed many of her private letters. Critics believe that these letters could have contained information about the love between the to sisters. She could have actually been protecting herself. Even through the letters were destroyed, we still see, through her novels, that she understood the experience of love. (Kobra) Since she never married, this is why they believe she romantically loved her

I have already mentioned the fact that many critics believe the way she experienced love was in the romantic relationship with her sister. She also had experiences with men that could have eventually turned to love. These relationships could be where she got her inspiration to write about the lack of love. In 1802 Austen agreed to marry a man by the name Harris Bigg-Wither. Bigg-Wither was a 21-year-old heir of a Hampshire family. (Manupin) It has been said that the next morning when Austen woke up she changed her mind and called off the engagement. The information has not been proven to be completely true, but several other stories have been told of Austen falling in love with different men, all of whom died tragically.