Why we still read Jane Austen in 2004

“It is a truth universally acknowledged” that Jane Austen was a great novelist, but she did not always command such respect. During the years of her writing, Austen often had difficulty getting her works published; two of her novels and several of her short works were published posthumously. Although her stories were certainly read then, they became even more popular long after her death. Now, over 200 years later, Jane Austen is a name familiar in almost every household. Her books have found their way into college classrooms and high school curriculums. Each one of her novels can be found on film, some even have several different renditions. So why do we continue to love Jane Austen in 2004? It is Austen’s timeless themes that continue to draw readers to her stories centuries after her books were first published. Although we no longer wear petticoats, have servants to light the fire each morning or travel by carriage, some things are the same in 2004 as they were in 1804.
One of Austen’s themes that we still deal with today is reason versus the passions. Even though the Enlightenment and the Romantic periods have long passed, humans will forever be struggling to control their emotions and live rationally. Like Marianne, many young girls hearts are led astray only to return wounded, yet wiser. Many young women can relate to Marianne’s pain over losing her first love and to Elinor’s conscience as she learns to exercise her reasoning and good judgment in situations that are nearly out of her control. Bombarded by television and film, and with access to the lives of movie stars and famous musicians, Austen’s readers are also aware of the trials of being led by their imaginations, like Catherine Morland, and the dangers that are involved with attempting to make life something more than it really is. Austen helps remind us that reality is where we all really want to live and of the fulfillment that can be found in leading a rational life. But there should be a balance. As one of Austen’s most beloved heroines, Elizabeth Bennet is also a character that contemporary readers can relate to. Like Elizabeth, many of us have been guilty of forming hasty judgments and relying too much on what we believe is good sense but what is better described as prejudice. Although we do not want to completely rely on our emotions, being too rational or misusing our reasonability might cause us to miss how we really feel.
Friendships and families similar to those of Austen’s characters are also alive and well today. Like Elizabeth Bennet or the Dashwood sisters, we are often embarrassed by our relations. Just about everyone will admit to having either a crazy aunt or a wayward cousin; and many youth are hesitant to bring their friends home to meet their parents. But also like Austen’s characters, even though we might disagree with our relatives or find some of them odd, we should still respect them and value their position in the family as a whole. Mrs. Dashwood seems to contribute more to her daughters’ sufferings than she does to alleviate them, but both girls remain loving and dutiful daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are often the cause of great humiliation to Jane and Elizabeth, almost costing the girls their marriages, but neither daughter fails to include them in weighty decisions or to seek their approval. Austen readers can also relate to the bond between sisters in her novels or the friendships her characters share. Like Elizabeth, many today have a Charlotte Lucas, a friend who we love and cherish despite her seemingly foolish decision; and like the Dashwood sisters or Anne Elliot, we also have acquaintances that we would prefer not to spend time with but do anyway, whether it is because it is our duty or because of mutual friends. Jane Austen reminds us that no matter how agreeable or disagreeable we find our family or friends, it would be difficult to live without them.
Jane Austen’s greatest theme, and the one that is most surprisingly still common today, is that of love and marriage. Relationships today are much different than they were 200 years ago, as are the lives of those that form them. Austen’s stories are about a young woman’s quest for a man who can love her unconditionally and provide for her safety and happiness, and they also tell of the trials and difficulties that arise from such a search. Today, the means of procuring such a match have altered greatly, but the underlying principles remain the same. Although men like Wickham or Willoughby may have their pleasure for a season, it’s the Darcy’s and the Brandon’s of this world that young girls are really searching for. Despite the ease with which modern society falls in and out of relationships, despite the increase of pre-marital sex and despite the rise of the divorce rate, young women are still looking for the lifelong love and stability that the heroines of Austen’s novels discover by the end of their stories.
Although much of Jane Austen’s stories may seem too traditional or outdated, her principles and themes are very contemporary. Centuries after the Enlightenment, young people continue to seek knowledge and wisdom, and they are still learning to control their passions and submit to sound judgment. Two hundred years after Austen’s novels were written, families and friendships still play an important role in our lives. Although, at times, they may be incredibly embarrassing, completely infuriating or totally useless, like Austen’s characters we still love them and appreciate what they do for us. Most importantly, even though love and romance have undergone extensive transformation over the past several centuries, their underlying principles remain the same. Despite what modern society or academic authorities try to tell us today, young men and women of 2004 are no different then those of 1804- they still long for a the perfect match of mind and heart and the love and stability inherent of this beautiful union of marriage.