Northanger Abbey - Week 1

When reading Northanger Abbey, a passage that sticks out to me comes in chapter thirteen, in which that John, James and Isabella attempt to persuade Catherine to cancel on Miss Tilney and to go to Clifton with them. After growing tired of not making progress, John becomes irritated and goes to the Tilney residence and makes an excuse for Catherine to not have to go on the walk. "Do not urge me, Isabella. I am engaged to Miss Tilney. I cannot go." (115) ... "Well, I have settled the matter, and now we may all go to-morrow with a safe conscience. I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuse." (118). This attributes to the general theme of Catherine and John's relationship throughout their relationship in the novel. John thinks way too highly of himself in regards to Catherine, thinking she has no interest in Henry. Catherine on the other hand is oblivious to John's intentions in liking her, she does know that she herself finds every part of John not to her liking, despite her brother and Isabella constantly talking it up. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the novel pans out between John and Catherine after the detail of John being interested in marrying Catherine before his departure from Bath. In similar fashion to their behavior before, John is sure Catherine wants to marry him and Catherine has no clue about John's true feelings.