To what extent do you agree with the view that it is Eleanor rather than Catherine who is closer to the stereotypical Gothic heroine?
There is always a heroine in the Gothic novel, and she is usually subjected to terrors unimagined. It is extremely important to consider the tropes of a stereotypical Gothic heroine which include being young, inquisitive, pure, intelligent and often described by society as a ‘timid creature.’ In particular Gothic heroines are unable to adapt to all the horrors they are exposed to. She should lack initiative and is therefore helpless in dangerous situations. Gothic characters such as the Gothic heroine are stereotypes which is criticised and noted in the novel Northanger Abbey.
From the very beginning, Jane Austen portrays her heroine, Catherine, in the most ordinary terms possible. She is not the ravishing heroine of the Gothic novels but an ordinary, rather pleasing and “matter of fact” young girl. Austen contrasts her protagonist with a submissive Gothic heroine by letting her character develop and mature as the novel progresses. Catherine is described as being an unlikely Gothic heroine, shown in the very first paragraph of Northanger Abbey ‘Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother; her own person and disposition, were against her’ Austen’s characterisation of Catherine as an active young woman suggests that freedom is a big part in Catherine’s childhood and that she wasn’t restricted of simply being a normal child. On the hand, it could be seen that Eleanor wasn’t given the freedom that she wanted as she is restricted to go some places without her father’s permission showing that she in a sense she is trapped and locked away from what she wants to do.
A Gothic heroine is thought of as having a bad and dramatic upbringing whereas Catherine had none of this. However it could be argued that Eleanor did have this. As at a very young age her mother passed away due to a sudden illness. She was very young when her mother parted, which became an obstacle in Eleanor’s life like many Gothic heroines, which she had to overcome. This evokes sympathy for Eleanor On top of this she had to live with an overpowering and controlling father which contrasts between Catherine’s mother who ‘lived on’ after 9 children showing that Catherine had a great deal of loss and unhappiness.
Catherine Morland the Gothic heroine of the novel can be perceived as the unconventional Gothic heroine according to the omniscient narrator in the very beginning , as she in her infancy is described as ‘inattentive and occasionally stupid’ which seems to against the gothic tropes of a stereotypical heroine and contradicts what society believed a Gothic heroine. This makes the reader question that Gothic heroines are stereotypically intended to already be born with qualities true Heroine posses. Catherine’s appearance is described as ‘a thin awkward figure’ and ‘sallow skin without colour’. This certainly does not fit the tropes of a Gothic heroine. The heroine of the Gothic novel is usually described as beautiful and attractive when compared to the rest. On the contrast, Eleanor is described as ‘young, attractive’ Eleanor’s. She is beautiful and simple which fits the Gothic tropes of a heroine.
On the other hand it could be argued that Catherine indeed possesses the qualities of a Gothic heroine which is greatly emphasised throughout the novel by her expanding infatuation for reading novels, ‘from fifteen to seventeen she was training for a heroine’ she read all such works as heroines must read above all the work of Anne Radcliff seems to interest her a great deal, for when she is introduced to ‘Mysterious of Udolpho’ by her ‘Dear friend Isabella she wishes to ‘spend her whole life reading it’ showing her love of the Gothic work expanding throughout the novel and highlighting that her passion for reading mounting to a greater extent.
Austen uses Elenors character as a device to mock the Gothic heroine. By having Eleanor, a nice if somewhat uninteresting character, perfectly match the criteria for a Gothic novel heroine, Austen might be implying that Gothic novel heroines are submissive and plain when compared to more dynamic characters like Catherine.
From the very beginning, Jane Austen portrays her heroine, Catherine, in the most ordinary terms possible. She is not the ravishing heroine of the Gothic novels but an ordinary, rather pleasing and “matter of fact” young girl. Austen contrasts her protagonist with a submissive Gothic heroine by letting her character develop and mature as the novel progresses. Catherine is described as being an unlikely Gothic heroine, shown in the very first paragraph of Northanger Abbey ‘Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother; her own person and disposition, were against her’ Austen’s characterisation of Catherine as an active young woman suggests that freedom is a big part in Catherine’s childhood and that she wasn’t restricted of simply being a normal child. On the hand, it could be seen that Eleanor wasn’t given the freedom that she wanted as she is restricted to go some places without her father’s permission showing that she in a sense she is trapped and locked away from what she wants to do.
A Gothic heroine is thought of as having a bad and dramatic upbringing whereas Catherine had none of this. However it could be argued that Eleanor did have this. As at a very young age her mother passed away due to a sudden illness. She was very young when her mother parted, which became an obstacle in Eleanor’s life like many Gothic heroines, which she had to overcome. This evokes sympathy for Eleanor On top of this she had to live with an overpowering and controlling father which contrasts between Catherine’s mother who ‘lived on’ after 9 children showing that Catherine had a great deal of loss and unhappiness.
Catherine Morland the Gothic heroine of the novel can be perceived as the unconventional Gothic heroine according to the omniscient narrator in the very beginning , as she in her infancy is described as ‘inattentive and occasionally stupid’ which seems to against the gothic tropes of a stereotypical heroine and contradicts what society believed a Gothic heroine. This makes the reader question that Gothic heroines are stereotypically intended to already be born with qualities true Heroine posses. Catherine’s appearance is described as ‘a thin awkward figure’ and ‘sallow skin without colour’. This certainly does not fit the tropes of a Gothic heroine. The heroine of the Gothic novel is usually described as beautiful and attractive when compared to the rest. On the contrast, Eleanor is described as ‘young, attractive’ Eleanor’s. She is beautiful and simple which fits the Gothic tropes of a heroine.
On the other hand it could be argued that Catherine indeed possesses the qualities of a Gothic heroine which is greatly emphasised throughout the novel by her expanding infatuation for reading novels, ‘from fifteen to seventeen she was training for a heroine’ she read all such works as heroines must read above all the work of Anne Radcliff seems to interest her a great deal, for when she is introduced to ‘Mysterious of Udolpho’ by her ‘Dear friend Isabella she wishes to ‘spend her whole life reading it’ showing her love of the Gothic work expanding throughout the novel and highlighting that her passion for reading mounting to a greater extent.
Austen uses Elenors character as a device to mock the Gothic heroine. By having Eleanor, a nice if somewhat uninteresting character, perfectly match the criteria for a Gothic novel heroine, Austen might be implying that Gothic novel heroines are submissive and plain when compared to more dynamic characters like Catherine.