Northanger Abbey Volume II Chapter I Plot Overview

Jane Austen begins her second volume of Northanger Abbey with a visit by Catherine to the Tilney residence. "Catherine's expectations of pleasure from her visit in Milsom-street were so very high, that disappointment was inevitable; and accordingly, though she was most politely received by General Tilney, and kindly welcomed by his daughter, though Henry was at home, and no one else of the party, she found, on her return, without spending many hours in the examination of her feelings, that she had gone to her appointment preparing for happiness which it had not afforded" (Austen 105).

Isabella Thorpe was slightly jealous that Catherine wanted to further her relationship with the Tilney's. Thankfully, "Isabella's opinion of the Tilney's did not influence her friend; she was sure there had been no insolence in the manners either of brother or sister; and she did not credit there being any pride in their hearts" (Austen 106).

In this chapter, Captain Tilney is introduced. Captain Frederick Tilney is the older brother of Henry and Eleanor Tilney. He is in Bath on leave from his duties in the military. He is immediately taken with Isabella, and she is charmed by him. This is the beginning of problems in James' and Isabella's engagement.

In one funny bit of dialogue, Catherine is confused and remarks, "I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible" (Austen 108). Henry replies, "an excellent satire on modern language" (Austen 108). This was a small comedic break in the seriousness of this chapter.

When Isabella receives a letter from James regarding the postponement of their marriage due to funds, Isabella gets a little upset. She is upset about the money and that they will be poor, but Catherine is naïve and "she endeavored to believe that the delay of the marriage was the only source of Isabella's regret; and when she saw her at their next interview as cheerful and amiable as ever, endeavored to forget that she had for a minute thought otherwise" (Austen 111).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter XV Plot Overview

Chapter 15 brings bittersweet news to Catherine Morland. Her brother is to be married to Isabella Thorpe.

Isabella's "heart and faith were alike engaged to James" (Austen 96).

While Catherine was happy for her brother, she "secretly acknowledged to power of love; for though exceedingly fond of her brother, and partial to all his endowments, she had never in her life thought him handsome" (Austen 97).

"The agitation which she had herself experienced on first learning her brother's engagement, made her expect to raise no inconsiderable emotion in Mr. and Mrs. Allen, by the communication of the wonderful event. All that they felt on the occasion was comprehended in a wish for the young people's happiness, with a remark, on the gentleman's side, in favour of Isabella's beauty, and on the lady's, of her great good luck" (Austen 102).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter XIV Plot Overview

Jane Austen brings happiness back into the plot when Catherine is finally able to go on a walk with Mr. and Miss Tilney.

When Catherine apologizes for her love of novels, Henry Tilney counters with, "The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all of Mrs. Radcliffe's works, and most of them with great pleasure" (Austen 86). Catherine is exceedingly pleased at the news of Mr. Tilney's love of books.

Their relationship has progressed to the stage of teasing in a very short time. Even Miss Tilney remarks on his attitude: "'Henry,' said Miss Tilney, 'you are very impertinent. Miss Morland, he is treating you exactly as he does his sister. He is for ever finding fault with me, for some incorrectness of language, and now he is taking the same liberty with you'" (Austen 87).

On their walk, the Tilney's began discussing the view from an artist's perspective. Catherine was completely naïve regarding the topic.

Austen injected this belief into the story: "I will only add in justice to men, that though to the larger and more trifling part of the sex, imbecility in females is a great enhancement of their personal charms, there is a portion of them too reasonable and too well informed themselves to desire anything more in woman than ignorance. Catherine did not know her own advantages – did not know that a good-looking girl, with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind, cannot fail of attracting a clever young man, unless circumstances are particularly untoward" (Austen 90).

When Mr. Tilney became aware of Catherine's ignorance to the subject of art, he was happy to inform her. "A lecture on the picturesque immediately followed, in which his instructions were so clear that she soon began to see beauty in every thing admire by him, and her attention was so earnest, that he became perfectly satisfied of her having a great deal of natural taste" (Austen 90).

When the topic of conversation returned to books, Catherine commented on a new work soon to be published. Miss Tilney misunderstood and was immediately teased by her brother. "'Miss Morland has been talking of nothing more dreadful than a new publication which is shortly to come out… my stupid sister has mistaken all your clearest expressions. She immediately pictured to herself a mob of three thousand men assembling in St. George's Fields'" (Austen 92).

Catherine was a little shocked at Mr. Tilney's teasing, but Miss Tilney quickly put her at ease again. "'You may as well make Miss Morland understand yourself'" (Austen 92). She told her brother to stop teasing, but all Mr. Tilney said in reply was, "'I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with [his odd ways]. Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much that they never find it necessary to use more than half'" (Austen 92).

The walk was a great success, and Catherine was able to become better acquainted with the Tilney's just as she had hoped.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter XIII Plot Overview

In Chapter 13, Sunday brought turmoil again into Catherine's usually peaceful life. Moments after confirming the next day's plans of a walk, with Miss Tilney and her brother, Catherine was bombarded by Isabella, John, and James' plea to drive to Clifton the tomorrow. Catherine stood firm in her refusal of the activity insisting that she had plans with the Tilney's. This time she was determined to not be thwarted in her plans.

Isabella tried different ways to make Catherine agree to her plan. "Isabella became only more and more urgent; calling on her in the most affectionate manner; was addressing her by the most endearing names… Isabella then tried another method. She reproached her with having more affection for Miss Tilney … Catherine though this reproach equally strange and unkind" (Austen 79).

Not only was Isabella against Catherine's plans, but James was too. "This was the first time of her brother's openly siding against her and anxious to avoid his displeasure, she proposed a compromise" (Austen 80). Unfortunately, nobody agreed to her straightforward request of waiting one day longer, and instead they all tried to cajole her into changing her plans.

While she was walking in an uncomfortable silence with Isabella and James, John went off and talked to Miss Tilney. Unbeknownst to Catherine, he postponed her plans with the Tilney's until Tuesday.

When she found out moments after the Tilney's left, Catherine was not happy. "'This will not do,' said Catherine; 'I cannot submit to this. I must run after Miss Tilney directly and set her right.' Isabella, however, caught hold of one hand; Thorpe of the other and remonstrance soured in from all three" (Austen 81). Catherine felt completely upset that Mr. Thorpe would meddle in things he had no business changing.

Catherine broke away and ran after the Tilney's. "If I could not be persuaded into doing what I thought wrong, I never will be tricked into it" (Austen 81).

Luckily, Catherine was able to talk to the Tilney's and straighten everything out; they were even able to confirm their walk the next day.

"Catherine… though sorry to think that Isabella should be doing wrong, felt greatly relieved by Mr. Allen's approbation of her danger of falling into such an error herself: (Austen 85).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter XII Plot Overview

In Chapter 12 Catherine Morland was able to talk to Mr. Tilney for a little while and apologize for her rude actions the day before regarding the walk. Being a gentleman, he insisted that there was no snub incurred and everything was fine between them.

While talking to Henry Tilney, Catherine noticed John Thorpe talking to General Tilney, Mr. Tilney's father. When he returned from his discussion with the General, and Mr. Tilney had slipped out for a few moments, Mr. Thorpe told Catherine that "the General thinks you the finest girl in Bath" "Catherine, … was much less gratified by his admiration than by General Tilney's" (Austen 77).

"That General Tilney, instead of disliking, should admire her, was very delightful; and she joyfully thought, that there was not one of the family whom she need now fear to meet" (Austen 77).

Austen thankfully allowed this happy scene for the heroine (and the reader) to enjoy before tormenting her any further.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter XI Plot Overview

Chapter 11 brings such tension and deceit into the plot that this author was greatly upset over Catherine Morland's distressful situation. The morning starts off dreary with a sort of foreshadowing for the coming events, but Catherine, ever the optimist, prefers to look at the weather differently. "A bright morning so early in the year, she allowed would generally turn to rain, but a cloudy one foretold improvement as the day advanced" (Austen 65).

When the rainy day postpones Catherine's plans of a walk with the Tilney's, she is understandably upset. "At half past twelve, when Catherine's anxious attention to the weather was over, and she could no longer claim any merit from its amendment, the sky began voluntarily to clear" (Austen 66). With the clearing of the weather, Miss Morland hoped that her plans for a walk with the Tilney siblings would occur just as they had originally planned. Unfortunately, Isabella and John Thorpe, and James Morland drove up in the open carriages to "drive directly to Clifton and dine there" (Austen 67).

Catherine excused herself from the excursion allowing her original plans to take precedence. Very un-friend-like, Isabella, John, and James put up a huge fight and insisted she come. When John finally told her that he saw the Tilney's riding out of town in a phaeton only a few minutes before, Catherine decided that she should go since they obviously hadn't planned on meeting up with her as she originally thought.

Moments after getting in the carriage and starting on their journey, Catherine saw the Tilney's walking in the direction of the Allen's house, clearly going to meet with her. Catherine was very upset that John lied and insisted he stop the carriage immediately, he behaved like a cad and only urged the horse faster, promptly ignoring her vehement protests.

"How could you deceive me so, Mr. Thorpe? – How could you say, that you saw them driving up the Lansdown road? – I would not have had it happen so for the world – They must think it so strange; so rude of me! to go by them, too , without saying a word! You do not know how vexed I am – I shall have no pleasure at Clifton, nor in any thing else. I had rather, ten thousand times rather get out now, and walk back to them . How could you say, you saw them driving out in a phaeton?" (Austen 70).

Catherine was justly angry at the deceit, and John Thorpe was an idiot, and continued to talk of himself as per usual.

The topic of James' monetary situation came up and Catherine did not try and deceive John of James' lack of great funds. "'Morland is a fool for not keeping a horse and gig of his own.' 'No, he is not,' said Catherine warmly, 'for I am sure he could not afford it.' 'And why cannot he afford it?' 'Because he has not money enough'" (Austen 71).

Austen ends the chapter in a very fitting manner: "And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch, which is the true heroine's portion; to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears. And lucky may she think herself, if she get another good night's rest in the course of the next three months" (Austen 72).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter X Plot Overview

At the beginning of Chapter 10, Isabella refuses to speak to Mr. Morland for the rest of the evening at the theatre, "'Now, Mr. Morland,' for he was close to her on the other side, 'I shall not speak another word to you all the rest of the evening; so I charge you not to expect it.'" (Austen 55). Just a few moments later, however, "Isabella smiled incredulously, and talked t rest of the evening to James" (Austen 56).

The next day, at the pump-room Catherine had one experience she didn't enjoy. "Catherine immediately took her usual place by the side of her friend. James, who was now in constant attendance, maintained a similar position, and separating themselves from the rest of their party, they walked in that manner for some time, till Catherine began to doubt the happiness of a situation which confining her entirely to her friend and brother, gave her very little share in the notice of either" (Austen 56).

The new goal of conversing with Ms. Tilney was finally reached when Catherine was able to talk to her for a little while and find out a little about Mr. Tilney. "They parted – on Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge of her new acquaintance's feelings, and on Catherine's without the smallest consciousness of having explained them" (Austen 58).

Ms. Austen interrupts her plot once again to inject a thought: "Every young lady may feel for my heroine in this critical moment, for every young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation. All have been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger of pursuit of some one whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of some one whom they wished to please" (Austen 59). In Catherine's case the person to avoid was John Thorpe, and the person to whom she had certain affection was Mr. Tilney.

Thankfully Miss Morland was able to dance with Mr. Tilney that evening. This caused her such joy that "she danced in her chair all the way home" (Austen 64).