Chapter 8 shows the reader Isabella's intentions with Mr. James Morland. At first it seems that she will stick with Catherine and be a steadfast friend, but Austen quickly makes the reader aware of her true colors.
"Nothing, she declared, should induce her to join the set before her dear Catherine could join it too" but three minutes later, "when Isabella, who had been talking to James on the other side of her, turned again to his sister and whispered, "My dear creature, I am afraid I must leave you, your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin; I know you will not mind my going away, and I dare say John will be back in a moment, and then you may easily find me out" (Austen 40).
Catherine is abandoned for the rest of the night by Isabella in favor of her brother Mr. Morland. This leaves Catherine in a position to attempt to dissuade the company of John Thorpe.
Catherine stuck in a complex dancing situation:
ReplyDeleteCatherin goes to the ball and is very excited about have a prearranged guest. She finally doesn't have to worry about herself in that area, she has someone- she's grown up.
Catherine is still in search of Henry of course. It is as if she is quite confused with her feelings when it comes to men. She is excited to have John there, yet she does not want to be tied down be him (sounds like many women today, right?). Once Henry is spotted, and asks Catherine to dance, she must decline due to her prior arrangements- this is upsetting, she finally has another chance with him, yet she must throw it away for agreeing to go with John. Ultimately the night turns into a sour one, when Isabella doesn't pay attention to Catherine's situation and would rather go off and flirt with her brother.