Symbols and Gothic Lit.

Austen wrote this book out of her own experiences with society. er knowledge of coming out and social standing are all critical in the workmanship of the novel. Austen, choosing to write a Gothic novel, puts in an old torn down Abbey, supporting it's theme, and creates an eerie affect. Using an abbey shows its holy nature, and who used to live there. For Catherine the abbey is ideal. She is so enveloped in Gothic novels that when she goes to the Abbey herself it is in her nature to find out some twisted story.

Youth

The theme of youth is evident throughout the novel. The main characters are young and just starting their lives. They all mature in one way or another, especially Catherine and Isabella.
Catherine grows from a young girl, to a young woman who is ready be married and live her life.
Isabella on the other hand goes int he opposite direction, reverting a more in a dishonorable way. The contrast of youth a growing up is something that her readers are able to understand. If we were to take a look at the relationship between Catherine and Henry we'd see how Austen plays the maturity roles against each other. Catherine the innocent against the older and more experienced Henry. Throughout the novel, we as readers are able to sympathize with Catherine as she matures.

Isabella Thorpe

Isabella start off as the kind friend, guiding Catherine through her day to day activities and bringing her out of her sheltered life. She knows a lot about society and the current social standings and gossip. It seems that she has been out in society for most of her life, and that is all her attention will consume. So, being the kind friend that she is, she talks to Catherine and helps her out.

Little do we know that Isabella's true nature is to get to Catherine's brother through Catherine herself. She makes it quite clear that she likes her brother, yet it goes over Catherine's head.
Isabella's character is that of one who changes dramatically in every situation that she is in.

Henry Tinley

Henry opens up a whole new world for Catherine. His easy banter and way of criticizing society set her mind at ease. Henry is often amused by Catherine's naivete, and goes along with her ideas in conversation. Henry has a gentle nature, caring for his sister, and for Catherine as well.

Catherine: The Innocent One

Catherine, the protagonist, is very innocent and naive when it comes to society. She has been sheltered her whole life, and seems to be lost when it comes to society's banter. Throughout the novel Catherine was able to mature in many ways. To start off, when it came to the simple (and I use that word lightly) topic of men, she had no idea what was going on.
She meets Henry early on in the novel, and is automatically consumed with his sense of humor and the way he makes fun society. It puts her at ease. It is almost like Henry is letting her know that it is perfectly fine that she has been sheltered her whole life, because it's not like she was missing out on anything great. Henry's soothing ways and sense of humor draw Catherine right in.
Once Catherine meets Henry and starts to develop feelings for him, she has no idea what to do...this is a form of her development into society and into woman hood. She is coming across new feelings and trying to adapt to them.

Catherine shows her naivete continuously throughout the novel. For example, when Isabella and her brother spend more time with each other, and flirt continuously, Catherine has no idea. She is very annoyed with their behavior, and taken back by their notions. Her sweet innocence is in the way of what is going on around her. She tries to learn from people such as Isabella of what is going on in society, but it only seems to help her a little.
Catherine's growth is quite evident throughout the novel, as she climbs the latter in society.

Northanger Abbey Volume II Chapter XVI Plot Overview

Chapter 16 is a happy affair.

"Mr. and Mrs. Morland's surprise on being applied to by Mr. Tilney, for their consent to his marrying their daughter, was, for a few minutes considerable; it having never entered their heads to suspect an attachment on either side; but as nothing, after all, could be more natural than Catherine's being beloved, they soon learnt to consider it with only the happy agitation of gratified pride, and, as far as they alone were concerned, had not a single objection to start" (Austen 210).

Eleanor married first. Then, a year after they had met, Mr. Henry Tilney and Miss Catherine Morland were married, "the bells rang and every body smiled" (Austen 212).

The books ends with: "To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen, is to do pretty well; and professing myself moreover convinced, that the General's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their knowledge of each other, and adding strength to their attachment, I leave it to be settled by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience" (Austen 213).

Northanger Abbey Volume II Chapter XV Plot Overview

In Chapter 15, Catherine's mother noticed her listlessness. When she commented on her inability to keep to a task, Catherine tried harder. "Catherine said no more, and , with an endeavor to do right, applied to her work; but, after a few minutes, sunk again; without knowing it herself, into languor and listlessness, moving herself in her chair from the irritation of weariness, much oftener than she moved her needle" (Austen 203).

While her mother went on a search for a book she felt Catherine should read, the Morland's received an unexpected visitor – Mr. Henry Tilney.

He was very embarrassed, and said that the only reason he came was to ensure Catherine arrived home safely, that she was well, and that she wasn't too upset at him for what occurred in his absence at the Abbey.

"On his return from Woodston, two days before, he had been met near the Abbey by his impatient father, hastily informed in angry terms of Miss Morland's departure, and ordered to think of her no more. Such was the permission upon which he had now offered her his hand" (Austen 205).

Henry told Catherine that the reason she was turned from the house so suddenly was that the General had discovered in London that she came from a family with no wealth, as he had at first assumed.

"Henry's indignation on hearing how Catherine had been treated, on comprehending his father's views, and being ordered to acquiesce in them, had been open and bold. Usually not one to anger the General on purpose, or even argue with what he said or insisted, Henry Tilney stood up for his feelings for Catherine.

"He felt himself bound as much in honor as in affection to Miss Morland, and believing that heart to be his own which he had been directed to gain, no unworthy retraction of a tacit consent, no reversing decree of unjustifiable anger, could shake his fidelity, or influence the resolutions it prompted" (Austen 208).

Thus being said, he proposed.