Limitations and Definitions: A Pride and Prejudice Review

            In Stuart Tave’s critical review of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of his main points of discussion is Austen’s chronology. He discusses how although not explicitly stated, Austen consistently includes details that reveal time within the novel. For example, the Netherfield ball is given no specific date upon it’s first mention in the novel; however, as one continues to read there are clues that tell the reader that the ball was on Tuesday, November 26. Furthermore, the entire novel covers a period from October to October of the year she turns 21. Because the time period of the story is not very long, Austen focuses on little events in Elizabeth Bennet’s life and emphasizes their importance by mentioning the time, the day, and/or the month that they occurred. Also, the dates make it simpler for the reader to follow the story, it’s characters, and all of their actions. There are many subtle details throughout the story that illustrate time and this is a strength of Austen’s writing because it provides the reader with a sense of time but not in an overly obvious manner.

            In addition to time, Tave discusses the value of the small scope in which Pride and Prejudice takes place. While some critics may disagree with Austen’s choice to use a very narrow setting, Tave praises it because it is “enormously exhilarating and liberating; it offers to those who are capable of exerting themselves to discover its meaning the control of the essential qualities of their lives [and] it challenges our own narrowness” By limiting the scope, Austen is able to delve deeper into the characters and fully develop the relationships. These relationships then provide insight into the society of the time and allow the reader to compare his/her world to the world of the Bennet’s.

"Happiness": What Does It Really Mean?

Happiness is a word with many different meanings and the emotion can be brought on by many situations. Different things can make someone happy, but what truly is happiness? I am curious to see if all of the present-day uses of the word are correct and how many different meanings there really are. It seems like such a ubiquitous word, and sometimes it can even seem insignificant because of its overuse; but I want to learn what its true meaning is. To me it seems like such a trivial word used to express joy, whose full effect has been lessened, but I think that happiness is a vital aspect to a balanced life. Another reason the word is so interesting to me is the fact that happiness is an intangible concept and therefore it is interesting to learn more about its origin.  Happiness is such a simple word, yet does anyone really know what exactly they are saying when they use it? Because it is such a common word, I want to understand its exact meaning.

Ellen Moers: Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother

5-point Summary:

1. Mary Shelley was one of few female writers of her time who was a mother. This perspective made her able to create Frankenstein in a different perspective than her male contemporaries. She brought birth to fiction writing as Gothic fantasy
2. Gothic novels allowed for female heroines because within the confines of an indoor, Gothic castle, the female was free and allowed to experience the adventures of her male counterparts
3. Rather than focusing on the joyous aspect of childbirth, Shelley focused on another common quality: postpartum depression. Although, she herself never experienced the anxiety and depression that sometimes accompanies childbirth, Shelley was more aware of this effect than male writers of the time. This trauma experienced by Frankenstein after the “birth” of his monster explains his abandonment, which was not completely uncommon in the 18^th century. The idea of parental abandonment is very prominent in this novel. Like in Shelley’s own life (her mother died during childbirth), Frankenstein abandon’s his child. The idea of a child “raising” his/herself stems from Shelley’s personal experiences, which is largely influenced by her being a female
4. Death and birth were mixed. Mary Shelley had many children who died shortly after their birth and her mother died during Mary’s own birth. This combination of death and birth are carried into Frankenstein when Victor creates his monster from the remains of the deceased. And this feature is also represented in Frankenstein’s hope to “bestow animation upon lifeless matter.”
5. Mary Shelley viewed her novel as her “hideous progeny” and this is similar to how she portrayed the monster in Victor’s eyes. The view of one’s child as a monster stems from her own experiences because she lost many children shortly after they were born. The idea of a mother’s hatred towards her daughter is further exemplified through Justine whose own mother did not like her