Jane Austin's novel Northanger Abbey incorporates many different themes and topics to discuss. One topic that stood out to me the most so far was gender norms. The passage I chose, from chapter 6, is when Catherine and Isabella are talking about books and eventually get to the topic of Isabella's friend Miss Andrews and how men don't admire her,
"I think her as beautiful as an angel, and I am so vexed with the men for not admiring her!- I scold them all amazingly about it.'
'Scold them! Do you scold them for not admiring her?'
'Yes, that I do. 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 my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong. I told Capt. Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter, that if he was to tease me all night, I would not dance with him, unless he would allow Miss Andrews to be as beautiful as an angel. Men think us incapable of real friendships you know, and I am determined to shew them the difference" (Austen 39).
Catherine in this passage is shocked to hear that Isabella scolds men who don't find Miss Andrews beautiful. Isabella clearly doesn't care, and in this part and others in the book it is more evident that Isabella speaks her mind, and doesn't exactly fall victim to the norms that women should follow. Isabella is a very bold character who doesn't let people push her around. Most women in this book are polite and cautious of men's feelings(?). Of course time period comes into play, yet Isabella's actions are a big standout to the other female characters. I feel like her character is a big contrast to Catherine, who at times kind of follows what other people think or what other people tell her to do. Her reaction to Isabella's words are some proof that she is afraid to speak out at times. I think that Catherine's pushover nature is a big obstacle to the goals she desires, and will probably play a bigger part in the chapters coming up.
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