Appreciating Jane Austen

By Kaitlyn Donato

It is remarkable when older novels transcend time and connect with readers of modern audiences. As a cornerstone of classic English literature, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and other works still resonate with countless young readers today. 

Jane Austen, born in Hampshire, England, in 1775, did not have the same privileges many young women experience today. Although modern women are hopefully encouraged to pursue their occupational ambitions, Austen lived in a time where the ideal woman was often submissive to a man’s wishes, and was responsible for household tasks and child care instead of earning a salary herself. 

While the time period presented unique challenges for women, Austen disagreed with the notion that women could not care for themselves. As someone who never married, Austen was a highly unconventional female author for her time. Despite living in an era where many of her contemporary female novelists felt compelled to use male pen names to conceal their gender, Austen not only refused to shy away from her identity as a woman, but also created stories focusing on female perspectives. Her first novel, Sense and Sensibility, was even authored under the name “A Lady.”

Her female characters dealt with timeless challenges: fighting for their happiness, their futures, their right to choose their own paths.

Although Elizabeth Bennett may come from a different time than current generations of young women, teens continue to admire and relate to her courage, wit, and vivacity. Elizabeth taught me to be more confident, value my opinions, and recognize that while we all have flaws, we are capable of change— characteristics that are fundamental in shaping the minds of young girls. Through her strong characters and elegant prose, Jane Austen is still able to resonate with readers across centuries. Learning about female perspectives from Jane Austen’s time is crucial to understanding the full scope of history and English literature. 

SOURCES:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jane-Austen 

https://janeaustens.house/who-is-jane-austen/