Our narrator Jane, was born and raised in Steventon, Great Britain. Jane dreams of being a novelist, for only men can have that occupation as a living during that time period. She has 1 sister, Cassandra and 6 other brothers. Jane is going to tell the reader two experiences that altered her life. The first experience was set in December 1800. Jane's parents are moving from Steventon to another city called Bath. Jane was surprised and didn't want to believe it. Jane is not fond of Bath because it is too loud and full of pollution. In 1805, Jane's father George was very ill and his last words before he passed away is that she has to get one of her novels published. The income will go down and soon the Austens cannot afford to pay their home. Edward, Jane's brother, had multiple houses that he owed and his mother was hoping that she and her daughters can live in one. Edward said no, but he still give them 100 pounds per month. The mother thinks that his wife, Elizabeth doesn't approve them living in one of the cottages. So, Jane's other brother Frank and his wife Mary wanted Mrs. Austen, Jane, Cassandra and the family's friend Martha to live with them at Southampton. While living there, Mrs. Austen thought that live could be different if one of the daughters get married. One day, Jane's brother Henry wanted him and her to visit another city called Lyme. There, the siblings went to the Cobb, a stone jetty that has a good view of the sea and the cliffs. While going up the stairs, she lost her footing, waving backwards which will result in tragic fall. Fortunately, someone caught her. The person who saved her is named Frederick Ashford. The trio exchanged greetings. From that incident, Henry met his colleague, Charles Churchill, who is friends with Ashford. Then on, there is a romance between Ashlford and Jane. The reader can realize that by Ashford declaring that he would risk his life for Jane. They both like the same authors and novels and started a discussion on them. After that, Ashford wanted to have a picnic with Jane and the Churchills. However, that event did not happen because there was an emergency at his hometown Derbyshire. The second experience that Jane had started in 1802, when her father was still alive. Jane had friends, the Bigg-Wither family, at Mandydown Park and she was going to visit them. In the family, there is a shy brother named Harris and during dinner, he tries to impress Jane by ordering special food for her. Later that night, Harris told her that he is the heir of Mandytown Park and that he needs a wife. So, he proposed to her. Jane, during that time Jane is 26 years old and Harris is 21 years old. Jane said yes to the proposal but when she thinks about it again, she realizes she doesn't really love him and accepted for property and money reasons and she can't live like this. So in the end, Jane rejected the proposal. After that flashback, we come in the present in 1808 and we learn that Edward's wife Elizabeth has past away and after that, Edward made an offer to the Austen women of a house at Chawton. Cassandra went to Edward's place to console the children.
Quote:
"Take him and trust to love after marriage," insisted my mother (James 82).Reaction:
This quote was said by Mrs. Austen with Jane in discussing whether Jane should marry Nathan. From this quote, I was questioning if back then in England, if there were still arranged marriages. Also, I wonder if couples marries each other because of wealth and money and property. I think Mrs. Austen thinks that to live a good, one needs to have great wealth so one won't worry about being poor or broke. Jane believes in true love and she doesn't want to waste a marriage in which she can't be happy or be satisfied with her decision. I wonder if she will find true love after all.
do you enjoy the shifts in narrative time, flashbacks and forwards?
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