In the second chapter of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, the reader experiences the farewell between Catherine and her family. Instead of enduring a tearful, heartfelt good0bye full of crying and promises of writing, rather, Catherine is merely told to wrap up warm at night by her mother and given ten guineas by her father. "Every thing indeed relative to this important journey was done, on the part of the Morlands, with a degree of moderation and composure, which seemed rather consistent with the common feelings of common life, than with the refined susceptibilities, the tender emotions which the first separation of a heroine from her family ought always to excite" (Austen 9).
The journey to Bath has only one minor misunderstanding, but it is quickly rectified and the trio (Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Catherine) arrive at their intended location without any further commentary on the journey by the author.
Once in Bath, Mrs. Allen and Catherine did a little shopping in preparation for the entertainment of the Upper Rooms. During her first gathering in the Upper Rooms, Catherine is disappointed by the lack of dance partners, conversations, and acquaintances. Where Catherine is disappointed, Mrs. Allen is distressed on behalf of the lack of dancing that her young charge is able to do. The whole night long, Mrs. Allen seems to begin and end each sentence with "I wish we had a large acquaintance here" (Austen 12). Towards the very end of the party, they sit and exchange a few words at tea, but nothing noteworthy occurred until the very last moment.
On the last page, just as everyone is leaving, Austen remarks, "now was the time for a heroine, who had not yet played a very distinguished part in the events of the evening, to be noticed and admired" (Austen 13). Certainly with a comment like that, the reader can expect some great man to make himself known, but all that Austen allows the reader to be contented with is a simply a comment in passing: "two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl" (Austen 13).
With an observation like that, Catherine "immediately thought the evening pleasanter than she had found it before – her humble vanity was contented …" (Austen 13).
Catherine's Character Chapter 2
ReplyDeleteHere we are able to see Catherne's true self. Austen writes, "her heart was affectionate, her disposition cheerful and open, without conceit or affectation of any kind…her person pleasing, and, when in looks, pretty - and her mind about as ignorant and uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is." Catherine was excited to out into the world, mind you she has been sheltered her entire life, so this s a huge stepping stone for her.
As Catherine leaves she doesn't a heart-felt goodbye with her mother, like we'd hope. Her mother does show her worry and her father gives her a large sum of money for her trip. I like to see this as their way of showing their care and worry for her. They aren't able to put it into words, but they are able to give her something stable.
This chapter is very exciting for we are awaiting for the protagonist to be let out into the world, defying social expectations of being a tomboy and being completely fine with it.