Are Jane Austen's Novels Regressive?
The Importance Of Context And Age In Interpreting Classic Literature
Hello, my lovely bookish friend!!!
Welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet where I talk all things books. Have you been reading this week?
Recently, I was at my grandparents’ place. My grandmother has a lot of books, and of course, as soon as I got there, I went exploring her shelves. I took out a book I’d already read, meaning to re-read the parts I like. That book was Jane Austen’s Emma.
I was reading, and my aunt came in. She saw the book and said, oh, Jane Austen. Extremely regressive.
I honestly was so baffled, it took me a whole few minutes to process her words. I’ve never heard anyone call Jane Austen regressive before, nor have I ever felt so myself. I was at a loss for words, so much so that I thought, does regressive mean what I think it means (it does)?
But then I felt like I also could understand her point, like it wasn’t some absolute nonsense I could just laugh off. So, in the end I said, well, you have to think of it in the context of the time it was written. Back then, women didn’t really have other options. And my aunt went, yes that’s true. But still, that is regressive, and especially reading them at the age that I did. So I asked her how old she was when she read Jane Austen’s works, she said thirteen or fourteen.
Now, I’m not the biggest Austen fangirl so I’m using Wuthering Heights to be fair. I absolutely, absolutely love that book, I’m obsessed with it, but I’m also very grateful I didn’t read it as a teenager. I’m pretty sure I would’ve taken the wrong message from it.
So, I think I understand my aunt’s point.
I, too, read books when I was younger. I loved those books and the things they depicted as ‘good’ or ‘desirable’. Later on, growing older, my views shifted and now, I definitely would have a few negative things to say about those stories.
I understand from my aunt’s life experience, why she wouldn’t be too fond of Austen’s novels where the heroines’ lives are being sorted by getting married to a man in the end. I can’t vehemently say she’s wrong for thinking that way.
But also, I think it’s possible to interpret every book the wrong way, and thus a point can be made that those books are spreading harmful ideas, especially if you’re reading them at a young age. I think it’s up to adults to look back at the thoughts and beliefs they held when they were young and re-evaluate them. It's easy to blame an outside influence, but it's also important to remember and acknowledge that we ourselves were not our wisest selves back then.
So, in the end, if I try to think objectively, if Jane Austen is regressive, I don’t think I can agree, but also I can’t disagree. I think sitting in 2024, Jane Austen is regressive to some extent. But I think it’s important to remember that those books were written over two centuries ago, and judge them accordingly.
What about you? Have you ever thought Jane Austen's stories regressive? Don’t forget to let me know.
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That’s it for today, I'll be back in your inbox next week.
Until then,
Joyie 🌻
Funnily enough, I am actually reading a Jane Austen novel at the moment, Mansfield Park! I have also just purchased Northanger Abbey as I have not yet had the pleasure of reading it yet.
I understand where your Aunt is coming from and when I read old books from years ago I always think in the same way too, that you have to think of it in the context of the time it was written and how the people lived back then. Instead of not reading the books we can read them and learn about that time, but also know that that's not how we live now. I just adore Jane Austen's way of writing and her story plots! 😊
A really thought provoking post, thank you for sharing. 🤗