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).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter IX Plot Overview

In Chapter 9, author Jane Austen begins with a very disheartened Catherine. "The progress of Catherine's unhappiness from the events of the evening, was as follows. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with every body about her, while she remained in the rooms, which speedily brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home" (Austen 47).

The next morning, Catherine planned to meet with Ms. Tilney and extend her acquaintance with her brother at the pump-rooms. However a half hour before she planned to depart, two carriages pulled up to the Allen's residence with Isabella and John Thorpe, and her brother, James. They had planned to ride out of Bath for a couple hours drive. Being split up from Isabella and kept in John's close companionship for a little over three hours was definitely not her idea of a jolly good time.

The entire ride, John talked only of himself, how clever he was, and what a good judge of horse and carriage he was. He was very conceited, "the rest of his conversation, or rather talk, began and ended with himself and his own concerns" (Austen 52).

"Catherine listened with astonishment she knew not how to reconcile two such very different accounts of the same thing; for she had not been brought up to understand the propensities of a rattle, nor to know to how many idle assertions and impudent falsehoods the excess of vanity will lead" (Austen 52).

When they finally returned to Bath, Mrs. Allen informed Catherine that she spent a very pleasant afternoon with Ms. Tilney, Mr. Tilney, and Mrs. Hughes, the chaperone. Catherine was very disappointed that she missed such a perfect opportunity to create a new friendship with Ms. Tilney and to get better acquainted with Mr. Tilney.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter VIII Plot Overview

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.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter VII Plot Overview

Chapter 7 brings two new characters into Austen's tale: John Thorpe and James Morland. "Catherine… received her brother with the liveliest pleasure; and he, being of a very amiable disposition, and sincerely attached to her, gave every roof on his side of equal satisfaction, which he could have leisure to do, while the bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly challenging his notices" (Austen 33).

As noticed in the above quote, both men begin to create a problem for Catherine Morland.

Catherine's brother, James Morland is clearly taken with Isabella, and she with him. This may prove to distract Isabella Thorpe from her new found friendship with Catherine, and leave Ms. Morland without companionship.

John Thorpe is a very odd fellow, one who is incredibly full of himself. Catherine didn't really appreciate his lack of manners, but she was flattered at first by the attention.

"Had she been older or vainer, such attacks might have done little; but, where you and diffidence are united, it requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl in the world, and of being so very early engaged as a partner, and the consequence was, that, when the two Morlands, after sitting an hour with the Thorpes, set off to walk together to Mr. Allen's" (Austen 37).

This chapter seems to contain clues to problems that may emerge later on in Ms. Austen's story.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter VI Plot Overview

In the first sentence of Chapter 6 Austen clearly lays out the purpose of the chapter: "The following conversation, which took place between the two friends in the Pump-room one morning, after an acquaintance of eight or nine days, is given as a specimen of their very warm attachment, and of the delicacy, discretion, originality of thought, and literary taste which marked the reasonableness of that attachment" (Austen 27). The rest of the chapter contains a silly conversation between Catherine Morland and Isabella Thorpe.

At one point the conversation gets serious for a moment when Isabella insists her loyalty, "There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not in my nature. Mu attachments are always excessively strong" (Austen 28). She then goes on to talk about a friend of hers who is "insipid" (29).

Catherine appears very naïve in this conversation, especially when she does not grasp the reasoning behind Isabella's decision to leave immediately after the two young men. When Catherine does comment on their leaving, Isabella says, "I have no notion of treating men with such respect. That is the way to spoil them" (Austen 31).

The relationship between the two girls seems to be getting along beautifully, this author was especially happy that Catherine has found a good friend in Bath.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter V Plot Overview

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).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter IV Plot Overview

The few days that passed between Chapters III and IV were quite a disappointment for Catherine. Mr. Tilney had not made another appearance, though she had made sure to be at every gathering place in the city so as not to miss bumping into him again. Catherine is understandably upset for a little while, and quietly laments the possibility that she read too much into the situation at the Lower Rooms.

Again Mrs. Allen constantly utters the same phrase over and again regarding the lack of acquaintance in the city. Luckily a new day brings some delightful new friends into Mrs. Allen and Catherine Morlands' vacation in Bath, successfully putting a halt to her complaining over the lack of friends. Mrs. Thorpe and her daughters (chiefly the eldest, Isabella) latched on to Mrs. Allen and Catherine immediately. Ms. Isabella Thorpe and her sisters recognize Catherine's last name and exclaim over the good fortune of meeting the sister of one of their brothers' school friends, Mr. James Morland.

Catherine and Isabella got along splendidly: "Catherine was delighted with this extension of her Bath acquaintance, and almost forgot Mr. Tilney while she talked to Miss Thorpe. Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love" (Austen 21).

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter III Plot Overview

On the first page of Chapter III, Catherine Morland is formally introduced to Mr. Tilney in the Lower Rooms. During their short conversation Mr. Tilney teases Catherine about her supposed journal. He tells her he believes she will say that she "was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense" (Austen 15) and then goes on to state what he WISHES her journal to read: "I danced with a very agreeable young man, introduced by Mr. King; had a great deal of conversation with him – seems a most extraordinary genius – hoe I may know more of him" (Austen 16). They talk of her imaginary journal for some time bantering back and forth regarding the reality of its existence.

Mr. Tilney pays a compliment to the female sex only to rescind it in a backhanded manner. He concludes the topic of writing by leveling the playing field once again, saying "In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence is pretty fairly divided between the sexes" (Austen 16). The two young people seem to be getting along splendidly especially on Mr. Tilney's part when he says, "for now we shall soon be acquainted, as I am authorized to tease you on this subject whenever we meet, and nothing in the world advances intimacy so much" (Austen 18).

The reader gets the feeling that they part on good terms with the feeling of future intimacy. In the last paragraph we never find out exactly who dreamt of whom or if any dreaming even occurred, but Austen certainly hinted at some hopeful thinking in Ms. Morlands mind.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter II Plot Overview

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 Morland: Naive and Ready for the World?

In Chapter I of Northanger Abbey the reader is introduced to the book's "heroin" Catherine Morland. She is seventeen years old and has spent all of her life in the rural area of Fullerton. She is seen as not being very beautiful, intelligent, or wealthy: she is simply average. Austin writes in a way that it seems that Catherine is oblivious to all these things. She is quite content with who she is, and pays little attention to what is going on around her.

Catherine's naivete is most striking. She has a passion for reading novels, which is not a very proper thing for her to be doing at this time, but she cannot read people. Her sweet, caring nature helps to cover some of her inexperience in the world.

In the beginning of the novel Catherine is invited to travel to Bath, of course she is overly excited for the conquest, as her mother is more indifferent to the idea. Catherine sets out to explore the world. We first see her in a large setting of people at a ball, where she dances with no one. And to the reader's dismay, Catherine is quite happy. She feels that just by presenting her self in the
"lady-like" fashion out in society was teh ultimate goal. It does not matter to her at all that she did not interact with anyone besides the people in her party.

It is also at thestart of the novel that the reader really gets to know about Catherine's passion for Gothic novels. She often compares people around her to things in her books. She has a very vivid imagination, yet does not have enough common sense to know is someone is flirting with her or not. One would think that due to the fact that she is quite the avid reader, she would be a better reader of people, or at least more observant.

Northanger Abbey Volume I Chapter I Plot Overview

Northanger Abbey is Jane Austen’s first novel. During the course of the book, Austen seems to be playfully mocking gothic novels while at the same time trying to relay the moral of the story.

The author develops an apparently flawed character in Catherine Morland, imperfect and yet likeable, in the first five chapters of her book. Differing greatly from the common novel heroine (perhaps a great beauty with an unmatched intellect who finds a grand adventure), Austen’s leading lady is only attractive in the most generous meaning of the word. As for her intelligence, Ms. Morland is not entirely stupid, but has no desire to excel in the world of academia. While it is very Modernistic of Austen to write such a “real” character as Catherine Morland, the reader will discover later on in the novel that stark Realism is not the theme of the book - playful Romanticism is.

In chapter I the reader is introduced to Catherine, who, at 17, is the eldest girl in a family of ten. Described by her parents as “almost pretty” (Austen 5), Catherine’s physique changed gradually from that of a “thin awkward figure, sallow skin without colour, dark lank hair, and strong features” (Austen 3) to a girl whose “complexion improved, her features were softened by plumpness and colour, her eyes gained more animation, and her figure more consequence” (Austen 4). A neighboring family, the Allen’s, were heading to Bath for Mr. Allen’s health. His wife invited Catherine along, “probably aware that if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad” (Austen 7).