Continuing the challenge with Northanger Abbey

"It was a dark and stormy night..." begins each story from the top of a doghouse. Who knew Snoopy was a Gothic writer?

Gothic novels and those who read them are one of the centerpieces of this month’s Jane Austen challenge, Northanger Abbey. Now, to clarify upfront “Gothic” carries a different meaning today than 200 years ago. Today when someone says “Gothic” or “goths” we think of young people wearing black, lots of eyeliner, and piercings. Two hundred years ago, “gothic” described a form of novels with dramatic storylines, usually involving the supernatural, set in spooky castles (on dark and stormy nights!), involving often a women in distress, a powerful and impulsive man, and forbidden romance.

Catherine Morland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, is a young women submerged in gothic novels. She enjoys the mystery and drama of dark mansions with secret passages usually haunted by the ghost of a long-dead mistress of the manor. Catherine is a tomboy, the oldest daughter of a country parson, who is straightforward but immature and always sees the best in others.

When she is invited by her neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Allen to go with them to Bath to enjoy the winter society, Catherine’s social naviety gets her into trouble. Because she doesn’t know anyone in town, she is quick to take up with the first young woman she meets. That young woman is Isabella Thorpe. She and Catherine quickly become inseparable. Catherine believes they are best friends, however, she cannot see Isabella’s self-centered manipulation and truth-twisting. Isabella believes Catherine and her family are wealthy, and she puts herself in the right place to meet Catherine’s brother, James, who is also visiting Bath. Isabella also goes to a great effort to connect Catherine to her own brother, John, a foul-mouthed braggart.

Through all these manipulations, Catherine mostly misses Isabella’s insincerity and cannot find the inner confidence to stand up to John’s aggressive attitude - until she meets Henry Tilney. In contrast to the obnoxious John, Henry is intelligent, forthright and very funny. He gently teases Catherine for her unsophisticated views and reading choices while admiring her fresh attitude and honesty. Henry’s dry commentary on the social scene of Bath, relationships, and even the quality of muslin (!) is definitely the humor highlight of the book.

As Catherine and Isabella spend more time together, Isabella catches James’ eye. He falls in love with her and they become engaged. At first, Catherine is thrilled that Isabella will become part of their family. She begins to see her differently when Henry’s older brother, Captain Frederick Tilney, arrives in Bath. With James away to buy an engagement ring, Isabella flirts openly and often with the charming Captain. Catherine becomes very concerned and begins to realize the insincerity of her “best friend”.

Catherine also meets Henry’s sister, Eleanor. Eleanor becomes a kind and mature friend to Catherine - a sharp contrast to Isabella. Catherine quickly is attracted to Henry and takes every chance to spend time with him and his sister. When they invite Catherine to spend time with them at their family home, Northanger Abbey, she quickly accepts.

Not only is Catherine thrilled to spend time with Eleanor and Henry, but she is also very excited to see the old abbey. Finally, she will see the dark corners and the halls full of whispering ghosts of her beloved novels.
“And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors that a building such as ‘what one reads about’ may produce? Have you a stout heart-nerves fit for sliding panels and tapestry?”

During her visit, Catherine becomes better aquainted with Henry and Eleanor’s father, General Tilney. He is a harsh and angry man who keeps everyone in the house quiet and subdued. Only when the General leaves for a visit to London can Catherine, Henry, and Eleanor really enjoy their visit.

At first, the abbey appears to be a disappointingly average, huge, historical home. Then Catherine begins to talk with Eleanor about her late mother and the suite of rooms belonging to her. These rooms are off-limits since her death - a mysterious death, in the opinion of Catherine. Her gothic fueled imagination begins to create the story of a murdered wife (possibly at the hands of her husband!) and of dusty rooms holding the secrets of the family.

What Catherine eventually does discover about the Tilney family - and about others in her life - teaches her that the truth often is not as exciting as gothic fiction, but many times is just as tragic.

So far, this is one of my favorites in our Jane Austen challenge. The hilarious asides between Jane and the reader, the innocence of Catherine, the intelligence and gentleness of Henry, are all wonderful. Henry Tilney is the most interesting and well-written hero, in my opinion.

Drop everything and read this one.

Which has been your favorite book so far? With which heroine would you most like to spend a girls’ weekend?

And one movie note: I watched the Northanger Abbey film version released in 2007, starring Felicity Jones as Catherine and J.J.Feild as Henry. This one I found on Youtube. Really, really good.

The screenplay is very close to the book. Felicity Jones plays the naive Catherine with just the right touch - not too ditsy or dimwitted. And J.J. Feild is dry and witty without arrogance. Watch it this weekend.


Next up: Sense and Sensibility