Chapter V brought fine weather, and the hope of seeing Mr. Tilney again, "for a fine Sunday in Bath empties every house of its inhabitants, and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk about and tell their acquaintance what a charming day it is" (Austen 23). Catherine looks everywhere she can imagine him being, and yet, he is nowhere to be found.
Austen spends the rest of the chapter discussing Catherine and Isabella's blossoming friendship and novel reading. "The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm, and they passed so rapidly through every gradation of increasing tenderness, that there was shortly no fresh proof of it to be given to their friends or themselves" (Austen 24).
Austen seems to take a break from the story on page 25 and devote herself to discussing novels. "For I will not adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel writers, of degrading by their contemptuous censure the very performances, to the number of which they are themselves adding – joining with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works, and scarcely ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine, who, if she accidentally take up a novel, is sure to turn over its insipid pages with disgust… I cannot approve of it" (Austen 25).
Catherine: Jumping into Society?
ReplyDeleteCatherine and Isabella continue to spend more time together, and Catherine finally tells her about Mr. Henry Tinley. It's here where Isabella is in her element: the latest crushes and flirtations are her world. It is Isabella who encourages Catherine's relationship with Henry.
These two women finally have something of excitement to discuss, not only that they share both share a passion for reading. The friendship continues to blossom, but is Isabella good for Catherine? Catherine is still growing up, and doing her own share of discovering and it seems as if Isabella has already gone through that stage. This does not seem to cross Catherin's mind for she is very content to have a companion around.