JANE AUSTEN (12/16/1775 to 7/18/1817): A League In Her Own Write
“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” J. Austen
It’s hard to imagine that Jane Austen wrote her tongue-in-cheek novels about gender inequality, social class, and the perils of marriage over 200 years ago, when feminism lay like a doormat and women were defined by their marital status. Yet, Jane who died at age 41, never married.
Where then, did her witty insights, humorous foresights and ironic commentaries come from? If you ask Virginia Woolf, she’d tell you that Jane got her material from the same place all writers get theirs; “parties, picnic and country fairs.” No really, Jane focused on the simplicity of everyday life and because she had the language skills, money and time to write them down, heads turned. People listened, and many fans are still hanging on her every word.
As an author of many novels, such as Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility and Emma, Jane has had three statues chiseled in her likeness. The reason people love to etch her in bronze is because of her strong female characters they can relate to such as Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, and Anne Elliot. Men are also fond of her males characters; Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightly and Captain Wentworth continue to be fan favorites to this day.
Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan. Yet. I know, don’t shoot me I’m just the messenger of my own likes/dislikes. However, I am enjoying the “Lizzie Bennet Diaries” on YouTube. Jane has been on my list of “Books I Hated In High School But Need To Reread” so my opinion may change.
But if you’re a fan, you might want to visit one of her statues to show support. You can find them in Basingstoke, Chawton and Winchester. England. But before you go, you need to know that there’s some controversy about whether or not Jane deserves three statues while other equally deserving women don’t have any. I’m not a naysayer on this topic- if people want to erect statues of women, I’m happy. The more the merrier. Jane is a great addition to the blog. She’s had a lot to say and her writing style is easy to digest. And, unlike many authors of yesteryears, she’s still relevant today, which is no small feat considering the divisiveness of our current world As a writer, she had the writing chops to speak her mind as she described and commented on societal rules, patriarchal mandates and economic disparities. Writers, playwrights, and actors continue to emulate, reimagine, remake, update and quote her.
In Janes own words- “The person, be it gentlemen or lady, who had not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
My sentiments exactly. And that is why Jane Austen rocks.