“Pride and Prejudice”, “Sense and Sensibility”, and “Emma” are three of some of England’s classic novels written by the beloved Jane Austen. Jane’s novels have been treasured since their first publications in the early 19th century England and whose publications have since spread throughout the world. But what is the basis for the public’s long appreciated love of Jane’s novels? For surely a simple novel cannot survive over a span of almost 200 years without some unique aspect with which to endear itself to its readers forever.
Jane Austen was a realist. Her writing reflected the joys and problems of a middle-class society while having an antidote of a happily ever after for the heroines and heroes. “Sense and Sensibility” for example, describes the fictional life a widowed mother and her three daughters who, upon their fathers death, are forced to live on a meager salary endowed on them by their brother. However, amidst their lack of fortune, the two elder daughters are able to marry for love to wealthy men who can take care of them and their mother and younger sister. This scenario from “Sense and Sensibility” reflects Austen’s life in a way that when her own father died, she and her mother and sister were dependant on her brothers for support. Unlike her books however, Jane’s life did not necessarily have a novel ending. Her fictional heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, and Elinor Dashwood, were able to marry for love despite age and financial barriers. Austen on the other hand had only one marriage proposal. A man of good fortune whom Jane had known for some years asked for her hand in marriage, but Jane did not love him and rejected his offer. Jane lived mostly a quiet life, unknown by the public by her real name, she received little public recognition for her writings. Unfortunately, in 1816 Jane began to suffer an illness, which she tried to ignore, but in August of 1817, Jane Austen died at the age of 41.
In conclusion, many movie adaptations have been made of Austen’s novels and today in the 21st century, Austen’s works are still being read and enjoyed by a new generation raised in a totally different culture. But Jane’s tales of love overcoming the odds are still inspiring. Apparently, Jane Austen’s lasting literary classics will last until the world stops reading.
