103 pages • 3 hours read
Jane AustenNorthanger Abbey
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1817A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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The Journey from Innocence to Experience
Like many of Jane Austen’s other novels, Northanger Abbey hinges on the central question of whether a young person will become a good judge of other people’s character and see the world as it really is. As Catherine meets new people and experiences new things, she has to learn how to discern other people’s true motivations and to become better at regulating her own imagination and feelings. Catherine has some instincts of her own regarding what is proper versus improper conduct, but by and large she is over-reliant on what other people think of her, which initially leaves her vulnerable to Isabella’s flattery and ignorant regarding General Tilney’s motivations. Eventually, Catherine learns that part of becoming an adult is making decisions for oneself and being more discerning as to other people’s motivations and conduct.
As Catherine becomes more experienced, she also learns to see her own flaws more clearly. She recognizes how she has misjudged others: Isabella’s manipulation in trying to get her involved in a reconciliation with James finally opens her eyes to how false a friend Isabella really is, while the conduct of General Tilney helps her recognize that his apparent kindness was based only on his belief that she was a wealthy woman. However, she also learns that she too is guilty of distorting things in her own way: Her overactive imagination leads to her believing that the General has killed his wife, until she finally realizes that her conduct has become improper and disrespectful towards the very people she is supposed to care about. Ultimately, the novel demonstrates that while experience does not automatically make one wise (as Mrs. Allen’s behavior shows), a young lady ought to pay attention to what she learns from her experiences, as that knowledge will help her mature both in her own conduct and in her relationships with others.
The Difference Between Fantasy and Reality
One of Catherine’s defining features is her deep love for gothic novels, which in turn leads her to blur the lines between fantasy and reality a little too often. Throughout Northanger Abbey, Austen satirizes gothic conventions by consistently showing how wide the gap is between Catherine’s melodramatic fantasies and the humdrum realities of her actual existence. What is more, Catherine’s fixation on false threats leaves her blind and vulnerable to the real pitfalls that surround her.
Catherine gradually learns that her imagination is not an accurate substitute for reality—this is the central lesson she must learn in the novel. While Catherine is highly creative in trying to find gothic mysteries and elements where none exist, she is far too literal-minded in her dealings with others, thereby revealing her emotional immaturity and inexperience. She takes what Isabella says at face value even when Isabella’s conduct openly contradicts her words; she misunderstands Henry’s humor and sarcasm. As the novel progresses, Catherine gradually learns to distinguish between fantasy and reality more easily, which leads to her becoming more mature. For example, in the final chapters when Henry explains why his father expelled her from the Abbey, Catherine realizes that while she was mistaken in thinking the General was a murderer, she was not entirely wrong in thinking that he was manipulative and cruel. She learns from this that people are nuanced in surprising ways and that in order to judge their character, she has to look beyond the surface level of what they say and do—in other words, she must learn to “read” people instead of only reading stories.
The Importance of Love and Loyalty
Throughout Northanger Abbey, there is a persistent contrast between the characters who value genuine love and loyalty, and those who do not. As the novel progresses, Catherine moves away from those whose professed loyalty is a lie towards those whose intentions and feelings towards her are genuine. In the novel, true-hearted characters prove their loyalty through their actions, while insincere characters claim loyalty only in their words.
Isabella’s behavior towards both Catherine and James is the novel’s most significant example of false love and loyalty. While Isabella makes effusive claims of affection, she is selfish and can easily change her “affections” the moment she believes it is advantageous to do so. She never actually loves James—rather, she wants to take advantage of his perceived wealth. When she learns the truth of his financial status, Isabella casts James aside so she can flirt with Frederick instead, since she knows his family is wealthy. Love and loyalty also matter little to her even in her friendships: She pretends to be loyal to Catherine only for as long as that loyalty helps her get her way, quickly reverting to manipulation and lies in an attempt to control Catherine whenever Catherine refuses to do as she wishes.
In contrast, Henry’s conduct represents genuine love and loyalty. While he is patient in guiding Catherine, he never seeks to control or manipulate her for his own ends. Most importantly, when his father expels Catherine from the Abbey, Henry proves his loyalty through his actions: He immediately goes to Catherine in Fullerton to explain the situation and proposes to her in defiance of his father’s orders. Henry’s actions prove the sincerity of his feelings and his reliability as both a man and as a partner, revealing how, by the novel’s end, Catherine is now entering into a marriage with someone she can truly value and trust.
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