Jane Austen
So I just went and saw Pride and Prejudice...again. And I have decided to pen out my thoughts on her work:
I think that one reason why Jane Austen's work are still popular today is because she appeals to emotions and ideas that are not confined to a single time period. Every woman dreams of love. Every woman is embarresed by her family, worries for friends, feels shame and guilt. You don't need to know what a pinnafore is to understand what the main character is feeling. It is universal.
Another reason is the excellency of her characters. One main point I wish to dwell on is the individualism of them. Some authors, after writing more than one book, begin to run out of character traits, and their heroes and heroines seem to mold into the same character. Not so with Jane Austen. The character of Elinor can only be found in Sense and Sensibility, just as the character of Emma can only be found in the book Emma. Beyond that, however, her characters are all so interesting. Even the ones I don't like I have to admit are interesting.
Furthermore, Jane Austen is the master of subtle humor. Indeed, so much so that I at least am not capable of perceiving it all with only one reading of the book. Each time I read any of Jane Austen's books, I pick up a new bit of irony or personality quirk that I had not realized the last time I read it. The humor itself is of the highest quality. She never needs to resort to vulgarity to get a laugh, nor even outright jokes. Her humor is of a finer quality, which fits her books. The delicacy of it only makes the reader appreciate it more.
Finally, I think one of the largest reasons why women love Jane Austen's books is because of something I call 'the wish factor.' Jane Austen's works are all clouded by idealism. There can be no doubts that Austen's works are fictional. Every woman realizes the fact that, to be perfectly frank, the stories are practically impossible in any society, past or present, and that nothing of the kind would ever happen to her, that the books are dreams...And yet, they are dreams that every woman possesses in the depths of her heart. Dreams of happiness, comfort, and love. And, for that reason, the realism can never quite be totally discounted, because in the hearts of every woman, true love and complete happiness are real.
I think that one reason why Jane Austen's work are still popular today is because she appeals to emotions and ideas that are not confined to a single time period. Every woman dreams of love. Every woman is embarresed by her family, worries for friends, feels shame and guilt. You don't need to know what a pinnafore is to understand what the main character is feeling. It is universal.
Another reason is the excellency of her characters. One main point I wish to dwell on is the individualism of them. Some authors, after writing more than one book, begin to run out of character traits, and their heroes and heroines seem to mold into the same character. Not so with Jane Austen. The character of Elinor can only be found in Sense and Sensibility, just as the character of Emma can only be found in the book Emma. Beyond that, however, her characters are all so interesting. Even the ones I don't like I have to admit are interesting.
Furthermore, Jane Austen is the master of subtle humor. Indeed, so much so that I at least am not capable of perceiving it all with only one reading of the book. Each time I read any of Jane Austen's books, I pick up a new bit of irony or personality quirk that I had not realized the last time I read it. The humor itself is of the highest quality. She never needs to resort to vulgarity to get a laugh, nor even outright jokes. Her humor is of a finer quality, which fits her books. The delicacy of it only makes the reader appreciate it more.
Finally, I think one of the largest reasons why women love Jane Austen's books is because of something I call 'the wish factor.' Jane Austen's works are all clouded by idealism. There can be no doubts that Austen's works are fictional. Every woman realizes the fact that, to be perfectly frank, the stories are practically impossible in any society, past or present, and that nothing of the kind would ever happen to her, that the books are dreams...And yet, they are dreams that every woman possesses in the depths of her heart. Dreams of happiness, comfort, and love. And, for that reason, the realism can never quite be totally discounted, because in the hearts of every woman, true love and complete happiness are real.