Student Name 1
Student Name
Mr. Cook
English 11
October 26, 2008
Pride and Perfection: Jane Austen’s Legacy Continues
Introduction: Jane Austen dedicated much of her life to writing novels that have become influential classics. Austen’s romantic literature was widely reproduced in both print and adapted in movies and television shows, making her works mainstream in modern culture
(“Jane”). Austen’s work continues to be read by all generations as movie adaptations such as Pride and Prejudice , Sense and Sensibility , and Emma revive interest in her novels (Kort). Austen composed six major novels that have never been out of print since they were published beginning in 1811 (Kort). She also wrote additional minor works.
All of Austen’s writings are comprised of a similar style that was influenced by her upbringing and the time period in which she wrote. Through a closer examination of
Austen’s life, her literature can be better interpreted.
Transition to biography section.
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, England. Her parents were George and Cassandra Austen. George was an Anglican clergyman and the rector of
Steventon. The family, which included two daughters and five sons, lived comfortably
(Lauber, “Austen”).
The boys of the family were tutored at home in preparation for university while
Austen and her sister, Cassandra, were formally educated by attending the Abbey School, a boarding school in Reading, at age eight. Austen also learned to sing, play piano,

Student Name 2 embroider and dance (Lauber, “Austen”). After completing school, Austen’s education never ceased because she avidly read the books provided in her father’s library. Her love for literature and learning developed from the “environment of open learning, creativity and dialogue” that she was nurtured in (“Jane”). She was especially encouraged by her father who freely provided materials for Austen to write and express herself with. She was also influenced by her family’s common form of entertainment, performing plays and reading literature out loud together (“Jane”).
In her twenties, Austen began to put more effort into her own works, which included poetry and stories. In 1795 Austen fell in love with Tom Lefroy, the nephew of a neighbor, who often visited Steventon (“Jane”). The two became close and were eventually separated due to Lefroy’s family’s discouragement (“Jane”). Austen was not from a prominent family and therefore wasn’t an advantageous match for the student, who was supported by his family.
Austen began to write manuscripts that would later become her beloved classics.
Her first draft for Pride and Prejudice was completed in 1799 and was know as First
Impressions (“Jane”). Soon after she began work on a novel that would transpire into
Northanger Abbey .
In December of 1800 Austen’s family moved to Bath after her father announced retirement from the clergy (“Jane”). This move generated many of the life situations that would greatly influence her works. In 1802 Austen was proposed to by Mr. Bigg-Wither.
Although the marriage would be beneficial to her, Austen revoked her former acceptance the next day (“Jane”). She felt no affection for Mr. Bigg-Wither and deemed the that

Student Name 3 they were incompatible. This decision to only marry for love becomes an example and theme throughout her novels.
On January 21, 1805 Austen’s greatest supporter, her beloved father passed away
(“Jane”). Austen and her sister and mother remained in Bath for two years on a dwindling income before finally settling in a cottage in Chawton that her brother Edward had provided them (Lauber, “Austen”).
In Chawton, Austen would continue to work productively, revising three novels in addition to writing three novels (Lauber, “Austen”). She attempted to write in secrecy, as she preferred her authorship to be unknown and her novels would remain anonymous until her death (Lauber, Austen). In 1811 Sense and Sensibility was published by
Thomas Egerton and soon after Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813 (“Jane”).
Both novels were successes and therefore Mansfield Park , Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Emma were also published. In her lifetime Austen’s works would earn her £600, which was a significant amount for a woman during that time period In 1816 Austen’s health began to decline steadily until her death on July 18 th
, 1817 in Winchester After her death Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published and her authorship was publicly announced for the first time in her brother’s preface to the novels (Lauber, “Austen”).
Through her works, which have evolved into modern day classics, Austen’s legacy continues. Transition to literary section.
Austen’s style of writing and her plots were influenced by her life experiences and by other authors. Austen’s own family inspired some of her characters, her two brothers enlisted in the Navy, which inspired navel references in both Mansfield Park and
Persuasion (Lauber, “Austen”). Her personal interest in dancing also appears in many

Student Name 4 ballroom dancing scenes. Additionally her family’s tendency to act out plays appears in
Mansfield Park . Austen’s favorite author, Dr. Samuel Johnson also impacted her works and he is quoted in her novels (“ Pride
”). Her plots also bear resemblance to author
Samuel Richardson’s works, such as
Pamela , as characters confront social hierarchy
(“
Pride
”).
All of Austen’s novels contain similar plots and themes. Her novels are fiction, and have an “appreciation for intelligence and natural beauty that aligns with romanticism” (“
Pride
”). The plots always consist of a young woman protagonist who is intelligent, generally accomplished, and of age to marry. During this time period it was essential that women marry and Austen’s novels illustrate this need as protagonists struggle on their quest to marry for love. Her novels are written from a feminist viewpoint, as she portrays women as “rational creatures with a right to education and opportunity, and that marriage must be more than a financial transaction” (Kort). Her novels also incorporate class structure and are told from the privileged and middle class point of view (Lauber, “Austen’s”). Additionally, the young heroines attempt to find love in higher or equal social classes. Austen’s novels although wonderfully crafted, lack emotion (Lauber, “Austen’s”). Scenes within her romantic stories lack passion and strong feelings, even within the heartbreaking and loving scenes in Sense and Sensibility , fervor is absent.
Sense and Sensibility was Austen’s first published novel (Lauber, “Austen). The original manuscript for the novel was written as an epistolary, and was told through letters (Lauber, Austen”). The book underwent many changes before being published in
1811. The title is derived from two sisters, Elinor and Marianne, and their misfortunes in

Student Name 5 love and their ways of coping, both with sense (Elinor) and sensibility (Marianne)
(Lauber, Austen). The story is primarily told from Elinor’s point of view and intertwines
Marianne’s story. After Mr. Dashwood, the girl’s father, dies the two young women and their mother stay with their half brother John. While living with John and his family
Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars (“ Sense
”). However the couple is separated when the family moves to Barton Park.
At Barton the family finds a comfortable living and makes new acquaintances, including John Willoughby who becomes Marianne’s suitor after rescuing her from a sprained ankle while going for a walk (“ Sense
”). The two become close and court until
Willoughby departs to London on business and Marianne is devastated by the abandonment. Lucy and Anne Steele arrive to visit Mrs. Jennings at Barton Park. In confidence, Elinor learns through Lucy that she is secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars.
The two sisters travel with Mrs. Jennings to London. Marianne encounters
Willoughby at a party and he ignores her and leaves her a letter stating he never had feelings for her (“ Sense
”). She soon discovers that Willoughby is engaged to Miss Grey, who is very wealthy. Marianne falls ill and eventually Willoughby visits seeking forgiveness however Marianne determines that Willoughby didn’t treat her fairly and becomes more apathetic towards him (“ Sense
”). Later she becomes engaged to Colonel
Brandon and Elinor marries Edward Ferrars after Lucy marries his brother Robert instead. This romantic story concludes happily, a recurring element in Austen’s work that also appears Pride and Prejudice .
Arguably Austen’s most famous work, Pride and Prejudice was her next installment in her collection. Pride and Prejudice centers around Elizabeth Bennet, who

Student Name 6 is an intelligent young woman. Elizabeth’s town of Longbourn receives a new member when Mr. Bingley, a wealthy young man, arrives to live at Netherfield Park (“ Pride ”).
Mr. Bingley hosts a dance in which he becomes acquainted with Jane, Elizabeth’s sister, and dances with her several times throughout the course of the evening. Elizabeth, however, doesn’t find the night as enjoyable after Mr. Darcy refuses to dance with her.
Although she herself did not extend the invitation, she still feels belittled by the arrogant
Mr. Darcy.
While visiting Mr. Bingley, Jane catches a cold and stays with the Bingley’s until recovery. During her illness, Elizabeth joins Jane at Netherfield, where Mr. Darcy is also staying. He becomes increasingly intrigued by Elizabeth through their interactions. Soon after, the Bennet’s receive a visitor to their home, Mr. Collins, a clergyman, to whom their estate has been entailed (“ Pride ”). Mr. Collins asks for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage but is immediately rejected.
The militia is stationed in town and the Bennet girls all become interested in the young men. Elizabeth meets Mr. Wickham, who had grown up with Mr. Darcy, and he claims that Darcy denied him his inheritance (“ Pride
”). Bingley and his party unexpectedly return to London leaving Jane and their prospects of marriage behind. Mr.
Collins marries Elizabeth’s friend Charlotte and Elizabeth visits her in her new home.
Mr. Collins patronage is Lady Catherine de Bough, Mr. Darcy’s aunt (“ Pride
”).
While Elizabeth visits, she encounters Mr. Darcy, who proposes to her and she rejects his hand while providing him reasoning behind her decision. She states her opinions of Darcy, exclaiming that he is arrogant, how he forced Bingley to move to keep him away from Jane and how he stole Wickham’s inheritance. Darcy explains himself

Student Name 7 through a letter and Elizabeth’s opinions of Mr. Darcy’s character change (“ Pride
”).
Elizabeth travels with the Gardiners and visits Mr. Darcy’s estate in Pemberley, where the two acquaintances meet again.
After Darcy saves Elizabeth’s family from great disgrace when Lydia eloped with
Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth’s opinions are greatly altered (“
Pride
”). Mr. Darcy again asks for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage and she accepts after finally understanding that Mr.
Darcy has reasons to be proud, and that her initial judgment that he was arrogant was inaccurate. Jane and Mr. Bingley are also married. This story of Lizzy Bennet and Mr.
Darcy’s complicated love has accumulated many fans and developed into a beloved classic that continues to influence the literature and cinema today.
Jane Austen’s notability and influence has never ceased since her works were published, in fact her popularity has grown as her classic works continue to be revisited, becoming a “truth universally acknowledged . . . that over the years just about everyone has taken a crack at Austen” (Yardley).“A revival of interest in her work began in the mid-1990s” and continues today as movie adaptations including Persuasion , Emma
Thompson’s adaptation of
Sense and Sensibility , Emma and Pride and Prejudice and novels based on her works are produced (Kort). Additionally PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre also broadcasted adaptations (Kort). Austen also inspired the recent films, Becoming Jane and The Jane Austen Book Club (Kort).
Jane Austen’s literary excellence endures and is still acknowledge today as
Austen’s “feisty women protagonists continue to demand attention” (Kort). Austen’s six major novels were inspired by her life experiences. Her works have become widely revered classics that influence aesthetics in our modern culture.

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Works Cited
“Jane Austen Biography.”
Janeausten.org
, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2009.
Kort, Melissa. “Jane Addiction.” Liberty Media for Woman . 1 Jan. 2008: 60. e Library.
Web. 21. Oct. 2009.
Lauber, John. “Austen’s Comedy.” Twayne’s Authors Series,
1993.
Web. 19. Oct. 2009.
Lauber, John. “Austen: The Life and Work.” Twayne’s Authors Series, 1993.
Web. 19.
Oct. 2009.
“
Pride and Prejudice
.”
Sparknotes, n.d. Web. 21. Oct. 2009.
“ Sense and Sensibility
.”
Sparknotes , n.d. Web. 21. Oct. 2009.
Yardley, Jonathan. “Pride, Prejudice, Perfection.” Washington Post. 8 Aug 2009. eLibrary . Web. 21. Oct. 2009.