Jane Austen
Text: Wei Susu
Jane Austen is probably the writer that every girl with a "Cinderella" dream has to be familiar with. Her "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Mansfield Manor", "Northangjue Temple", "Emma", and "Persuasion" all present readers with a dramatic and transformative England with their witty satire and unconventional plot. The idyllic life scenes in the book are constantly reproduced into film and television works to present to the audience, and its vivid character image is full of eternal vitality.
Pride and Prejudice
Mansfield Manor
There are many literary research topics about the writer Jane Austen, and the details of the life of the 19th-century British gentlemen and ladies reflected in his works all attract the attention of readers. Through the very real but trivial scenes of aristocratic life in 19th-century England, such as staggered dinner parties, dressed balls, and casual strolls, Jane Austen writes about loyalty and betrayal, purity and shame, trust and lies, and other eternal topics that go deep into human nature.
At the same time, readers are also curious about the low-key and silent female writer. Her family situation, looks and temperament, range of friends, etc. have always been the focus of Jane Austen researchers. Among them, the more personal but also the most concerned question for readers is why this female writer who is proficient in gender relations finally chooses to be single.
Steventon – the gestation period of happiness and abundance
Jane Austen was born in Steventon. Her two older brothers, Henry and Frank, and older sister Cassandra and younger brother Charles were all born in this small village surrounded by fields and forests. Jane's father, George Austen, was a village priest with a beard. Although this position did not bring huge rewards, it could also win George Austin the respect and courtesy of people, including some aristocrats. This is because British clergy must have an Oxford or Cambridge degree. His father's position provided Jane with an opportunity to participate in and observe the social circles of high society, while the talent of her mother, Cassandra Austen, gave Jane a literary passion that was particularly different from that of her siblings. The clever, lovely, reasonable mother Cassandra Austin, who runs the day-to-day affairs of the extended family, is also keen to borrow books from the mobile library in Basingstock and recite the poems in her mind aloud to the children. Jane and her siblings grew up in such a relaxed and pleasant family atmosphere.
Life in Steventon is fun and evocative. Several handsome and lively brothers often invited friends to go out hunting together. James was obsessed with theatrical performances, often pulling his younger siblings along to perform improvisation at home. Cousin Eliza Di Fred occasionally participates in a show. The mature and charming cousin Eliza not only impressed James and Henry, but also fascinated the young Jane. Jane often watched intently as her brother James and Henry indulged in Eliza's demeanor and good conversation. This scene may feel familiar to the reader. In the novel Mansfield Manor, Jane depicts a group of young people at Mansfield Manor who, at Henry's strong suggestion, starred in the famous play "The Lover's Oath". And the heroine Fanny "although she does not participate in the performance, she feels that she has the same pleasure from it." Henry Crawford acted well, and Fanny crept into the theater to watch the first act of the rehearsal, and although she was somewhat disgusted by some of Maria's lines, she was pleasant. She thinks Maria is acting well too – too. After one or two rehearsals, Fanny was left alone in the audience, sometimes telephoning to the actors and sometimes watching from the sidelines—often usefully. In her opinion, Mr. Crawford was definitely the best actor: he was more confident than Edmund, more judgmental than Tom, and Mr. Bietz was gifted and appreciative. She didn't like him as a person, but had to admit that he was the best actor. Not many people disagreed with her on this point. "Some of the memories of my youth are always particularly profound. In this scene, Jane, with her keen observation, vividly expresses the euphoria of young men and women in public to express their inner desires and the timidity of being a noble man and woman who consciously feel bound by the norms of etiquette.
Stills from Becoming Jane Austen
When she learned that her sister Cassandra was going to Oxford with her cousin Jane Cooper to attend a class with the former Chancellor, Mrs. Cowley, Jane, at the age of seven, insisted that her father let her accompany her sister Cassandra. Mrs. Cowley, young widowed and childless, has always been known for her rigorous and unsympathetic approach. Later, Jane moved to Southampton with her sister Cassandra and cousin Jane Cooper with the stern Mrs Cowley. Unfortunately, Jane and her sister Cassandra contracted typhus in Southampton. Jane was ill and was at one point dying. Cousin Jane Cooper immediately wrote to her aunt Cassandra Austin in Steventon. Under the meticulous care of Mrs. Austin and Mrs. Cooper, the Austin sisters were out of danger and gradually improved. But Mrs. Cooper died of typhoid fever.
Jane and her sister Cassandra have been recuperating at home. But in the blink of an eye, her sister Cassandra had reached the age to master the talents that a girl should have. Jane, who could not live without her sister Cassandra, once again begged her father to let her accompany her sister to school. Mother Cassandra Austin lamented the sisterly love between the two, and even joked that if her sister Cassandra cut off her own head, sister Jane would not hesitate to follow suit. So at the age of nine, Jane accompanied her sister Cassandra into the convent school. But the following year, George Austin returned Jane and Cassandra to their home because they couldn't afford the girls' tuition. George used the tuition saved to give his youngest son, Frank, access to the Naval Academy in Portsmouth. But that doesn't mean the English gentleman has a preference for his son. In 19th-century Britain, as far as women were concerned, most of the opportunities for education fell to noble ladies. Only families with sufficient status and financial resources can provide their daughters with access to education. Even so, reading and reading was not the main business of these aristocratic ladies. The girls at Austin did not abandon their studies. In particular, After returning from the monastery school, Jane read and studied a large number of books by herself, and when she had doubts, she asked her father for guidance.
In the continuous learning, Jane's little head is full of whimsical ideas. She told her sister about these fantastic ideas in the bedroom she shared with her sister Cassandra. With the encouragement of her sister Cassandra, Jane wrote the stories into three volumes of manuscripts, collectively referring to them as Boyhood. Jane was only twelve years old at the time.
As she grew older, Jane watched her brothers and brothers leave home one after another. The eldest brother James was given the post of assistant priest of the nearby parish. James later married Anne Matthew and gave birth to Anna. Two years later, Anne died. Anna was sent to Steventon to be cared for by her grandparents and two aunts. Henry, who joined the army, married his cousin Eliza, who had become a widow at the time. Just after Henry became a banker and military representative in London, Eliza fell ill. Although Jane had been with Eliza to take care of her in the last few months, Eliza had passed away. Jane Cooper, who had studied with Jane and her sister Cassandra, was married to a brilliant naval officer. Cassandra also received a marriage proposal from her father's former student, Tom Fore. Cassandra readily agreed and prepared her wedding dress with great joy. However, as fate suggests, Tom died of an illness while accompanying his relative Lord Cleven to the West Indies on a military expedition as a private priest. Cassandra silently put away her wedding dress and has since devoted herself to helping her mother, Cassandra Austin, to take care of the extended family and no longer consider getting married. Time flies. In this series of joys and sorrows, Jane slowly emerged into a bright and lively, beautiful and moving big girl.
Jane and her sister Cassandra have been guests at private balls and auditorium balls. The Austin sisters had their own social circle and acted as an "essential green leaf" in high society. Jane was thus able to experience first-hand the joys of aristocratic intercourse, and it was here that Jane had a different relationship with a gentleman of the same age than her brothers. At a Christmas ball, Jane meets Tom Refrey from the Parish of Ash. He is the nephew of George Refrey, the Parish priest of Ash. Jane had befriended the priest's wife, Anne, at an early age, and often visited them in the parish of Ash, and the two families had a friendly relationship. In a letter to her sister Cassandra, Jane said that she had laughed at Tom Refrey so much that she had danced with him frequently at the ball, but that Tom Refrey had avoided herself. Then, Tom left. Jane has a different experience of gender relations in the disapproval of her sister Cassandra. Subsequently, Jane set out to work on the first version of Pride and Prejudice. As we all know, the first name of this novel is called First Impressions. Jane read it aloud to her family. Father George Austin was so moved by the story that he even contacted publisher Thomas Keddell for his daughter, but the manuscript was returned intact. Jane didn't care, and began to try to revise the manuscript, renaming it Illinois and Marianna, which was later first published, Sense and Sensibility. Often, readers and even critics will correspond between the two heroines of "Sense and Sensibility" with their sister Cassandra and sister Jane. One theory is that between Jane and her sister Cassandra, Jane is lively and alert, and her sister Cassandra is calm and generous.
Bath – A boring sedimentation period
Due to the decision of his seventy-year-old father, George Austin, to retire, Steventon's teaching position was passed on to his eldest son James. As a result, Jane and her sister Cassandra had to move with their parents to Bath, which is located in the basin. Bass, known for his ore, had a glorious period but died before Jane moved in with her parents. Today Bath is known throughout the country for its mineral water. Elderly and sick people believe that the water here can treat rheumatism. Bath's mediocre men and women and dull dances are uninteresting. One theory is that during her years in Bath, Jane never created. But in the novels Northange temple and Persuasion, the reader can still see the inspiration that Bass's life brought to Jane.
"Sense and Sensibility"
The Austins settled in Bath with their daughters. Soon, the family went on vacation to the shaded town of Lem Regis. The town is full of political and military pasts. This history piqued George Austen's interest and Fascinated Jane. In the novel Persuasion, Jane's passionate depiction of the town can be seen: "... The boulevard to the stone road, which surrounds a pleasant cove, is made to life by changing cars and tourists during high season. The ancient monuments and newly built buildings of the Stone Road itself, the graceful lines of the cliffs that extend to the east of the town, are the places where strangers' eyes seek..." Not only that, but the Stone Road has also become the place where the "Lyme Accident" in the novel "Persuasion" takes place. In the novel, Louisa jumps from the stone steps desperately to show her intimacy with Captain Wentworth, but unfortunately Captain Wentworth does not catch her as promised, and poor Louisa is unconscious. Everyone panicked, and only Anne calmly directed everyone to rescue and call for an ambulance. Anne's composure and determination, simplicity and kindness overwhelmed Captain Wentworth, and the two reconciled. Jane Austen's novels always have a good ending. Yet reality is always harsh. Unfortunately, after this delightful trip to Lyme, his father, George Austen, fell ill and died a few days later.
While her parents were settling in Bath, Jane and her sister Cassandra visited relatives and friends' homes. There was nothing that pleased Jane the most than returning to Steventon. The eldest brother James and sister-in-law Mary, who settled in Steventon, received the Austin sisters warmly. Jane then traveled with her eldest sister Cassandra to Maniton, not far from Steventon, to spend a few weeks in a country house with her friends Catherine and Aleshi Bigg. It was here that Jane made the most important decision of her life. She received a marriage proposal from Catherine and Aleshi's brother, Harris Bigwether, and accepted it, but changed her mind after a night of insomnia. Early in the morning, Jane and her sister Cassandra quickly left Maniton and returned to Steventon. Immediately, despite the chagrin of their brother James's disruption of his trip, the Austin sisters returned to Bath under James's escort.
Today Bath is known throughout the country for its mineral water, and elderly and sick people believe that the water here can treat rheumatism.
One theory is that at that time, the girlfriends and friends around her successively entered the marriage hall, and Jane was seduced by the "rich husband" and "comfortable life" before agreeing to the marriage proposal. But the rebellious idea in her bones prevents Jane from marrying a man she can't really fall in love with. Jane's view of love marriage is that it is wrong to marry just for money, but it is also foolish to marry without thinking about money at all. To this day, many young female readers quote Emma, the young and wealthy heroine of the novel Emma, who says: "... It is only poverty that makes single life subject to the scorn of a magnanimous public! A single woman with an extremely limited income is bound to become a ridiculous, unlikable old girl, the object of ridicule by boys and girls! But a single woman with a lot of assets is always respected, can be as reasonable and likable as anyone! ..."To flaunt his singleism. But jane Austen is by no means a woman writer who preaches unmarriedism. On the contrary, she has spent her whole life searching for her soul mate. She has also actively advised the female relatives and friends around her, making sure that they have a marriage based on love. She also firmly believes that the choice of lifelong partner is inwardly followed by her heart. If a woman who wrote to her for advice on emotional choices had taken her advice completely, she would have felt that it was not true. In an era when single women have no status, Jane's own lifelong unmarried can only show her fidelity to love and the rigor of marriage. Unable to have a huge dowry, she did not know how to find a rich and powerful Ruyi Langjun. Just as in Pride and Prejudice, the heroine Elizabeth is not happy to be proposed by Mr. Darcy, who is from a wealthy background, on the contrary, she is prejudiced against Mr. Darcy and ruthlessly rejects the suitor. Elizabeth could not stand Mr. Darcy's superior arrogance and would not allow the marriage proposal. Jane Austen couldn't stand the world's standards of money calling herself a "defective" and "low-price selling." She expects to marry a man who truly loves her and sticks to this principle for the rest of her life. This seriousness cannot be said not to be a warning for the men and women who are flashing marriages and divorces at the moment.
Stills from Sense and Sensibility
Chatton – A period of harmony and peace
After Bath lost his father, George Austin, his mother, Cassandra Austin, had to take the Austin sisters to a cheaper home. A few years later, their brother, Captain Frank, invited them to live in Southampton. Subsequently, his brother Edward gave a cottage to his mother, Jane, and Cassandra. This small cottage in Chaton was chosen by her mother, Cassandra Austin. Born in the countryside and raised in the countryside, the Austin family lived in Chalton very peacefully. In this joyful house, Jane spent the rest of her life.
Jane, who is over thirty years old, lives a stable life of self-sufficiency with her mother and sister. Her mother, Cassandra Austin, still grows many crops. Sister Cassandra would also go to take care of her nieces and nephews from time to time. The brothers also come to visit Xiaozhu from time to time. In addition to housework, Jane can work with peace of mind. She took out her novels First Impression (Pride and Prejudice), Susan (which some critics consider Austen's most outrageous novel), and Northang temple to read to her family. Her family encouraged her to publish the novel. The first to be published was Sense and Sensibility, the original Illinois and Marianna.
Jane didn't stay at Chatton all the time. She also left for London to visit her brother Henry. It was in London that Jane revised a reprint of Sense and Sensibility and contacted publishers to publish the novel Pride and Prejudice, making her famous and becoming a low-key and mysterious writer. Just when the outside world is speculating, the brother Henry can't help but reveal to his friends that his sister Jane is the author of the novel. At this point, Jane Austen herself finally emerged from the literary world. In the years that followed, Jane and her brother Henry traveled back and forth to Godomo Sam, the seat of her older brother Edward. During this period, Jane also successfully completed the novels "Mansfield Manor" and "Emma".
In her later years, Jane's health deteriorated. Her sister Cassandra had accompanied her to Cheltenham, hoping that the mineral water there would cure Jane's illness. However, later scholars have said that Jane's illness at that time could only be effectively treated forty years after her death. The Austin sisters traveled back and forth between Cheltenham and Chaton, and Jane's health went up and down. After receiving the communion given to her by her brothers Henry and James, Jane Austen put down the unfinished manuscript of Sanditon and passed away.
Throughout her life, Jane Austen was strictly religious of Christian doctrine, and she demanded of herself as a highly educated high-society lady. In her works, harmonious family life, brothers and sisters who are close to each other, and couples who support each other are the basic demands that are carried out throughout. The various subjects described by Jane Austen are tinged with personal emotion. The female writer rarely describes how grand or magnificent the scene is. But it is through this extremely life-like dialogue, a seemingly insignificant young man and woman love story, Jane Austen presents the reader with a "reunion" ending that takes responsibility with love and morality. Such delicate and contagious text easily opens the reader's heart and inspires them in the unique atmosphere of 19th-century England. There is no doubt that Jane Austen has also suffered all kinds of criticism in real life. But this criticism is precisely the biggest driving force for her creation. This female writer who was at the forefront of the times was the first to recognize the creativity that women should be recognized for, so that people could see the value of women who are different. She has always insisted on demanding people and even herself with love and responsibility, and has spent her life in mutual care with her family and friends.
(This article was first published in Oriental Culture Magazine, No. 2, 2017)