Introduction
Humanities is an extensive field of study that concentrates on the examination of human culture and its contributions to society. Thus, the study of this area of knowledge has a special value. The humanities encompass a wide range of fields, including art, dance, music, and poetry. In the field of literature, the works of the great English writer Jane Austen made an exceptional contribution. Her works “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma” touch on complex topics that any reader can relate to and reveal the most profound characteristics of the human personality.
Biography of the Writer
Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most famous English writers, and her popularity has endured to this day. Before proceeding to the study of her main contribution to literature and the humanities, it is necessary to pay attention to her biography. She is a prominent author who has touched on topics such as societal norms and relationships. It is even stated that “the Bank of England confirmed the modern cultural currency of Austen’s celebrity when it placed her portrait on its ten-pound note” (Barchas & Looser, 2019, p. 355).
Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire, and was the seventh child in the family. Her father was a priest, which determined the entire household charter of the Austen family. Jane received a good education and religious knowledge, which provided her with a unique sense of observation. From an early age, Jane Austen began writing short stories and plays, which she presented only to her family members.
At a later age, she began to publish her works anonymously, as women writers were not in demand at that time, when it was believed that a woman’s primary duty was to run a household and raise children (Friedman, 2021). The author’s works were imbued with deep feelings and experiences, as well as the simultaneous restraint she derived from her traditional upbringing. Throughout her life, Austin wrote six novels that brought her great success and recognition. Additionally, she has written numerous short novels. The writer died in Winchester; the cause of death was Addison’s disease.
Pride and Prejudice
It is safe to say that Pride and Prejudice is the first novel that comes to mind when Jane Austen is mentioned. This well-known work, written in 1813, remains popular, is studied in educational institutions, and has inspired a large number of movie remakes (Little, 2023). Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the sisters’ lives as they navigate societal expectations, marriage prospects, and personal growth. The primary feature that alters the perspective on this aspect is that the action takes place in England during the 19th century, a time when values and worldviews were vastly different from those of modern times.
The focus of this novel is the story of Elizabeth Bennet. The girl begins to develop feelings for the wealthy and enigmatic Mr. Darcy, but pride and prejudice prevent lovers from being together (Austen, 2020). Readers follow a story in which the author conveys all the experiences, misunderstandings, and clashes of the main characters, which ultimately lead to a happy ending. A unique feature of the novel is the witty and ironic portrayal of the collision between female characters and social norms, which lends the story a distinctive charm and appeal for the reader. Special attention is paid to the topic of marriage and the place of a woman in society, which she finds by binding herself to a man. This is because, as mentioned earlier, more traditional views prevailed at this time, considering an unmarried woman unsuitable.
It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the title of the novel is, as it were, a predisposition to what will be the central topic in it. Pride and prejudice are the main issues that not only hinder the main characters but also permeate the entire society in the book. Mr. Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice become obstacles to their mutual understanding, contributing to various difficult situations that arise between them (Sørbø, 2018).
However, due to these aspects and a thorough study of personal growth and interactions, which reveal character traits, the writer explores and learns about the nature of a person’s personality and the factors that have the most significant importance to them. Therefore, Pride and Prejudice becomes a relevant commentary on topics such as relationships, self-awareness, and social norms.
Emma
Another novel that brought fame to Jane Austen is Emma. This work was written in 1815, shortly after Pride and Prejudice, and touches on many similar topics (Little, 2023). The main character of this novel is Emma Woodhouse, who comes from a wealthy and well-meaning family. She considers her main merit to be the ability to matchmake, a skill that forms the center of the novel Emma (Austen, 2023). Interesting and sometimes funny stories reveal topics such as marriage and relationships between men and women. However, in the process of pimping, Emma realizes that she herself has become a victim of romantic feelings. It is through falling in love that a girl begins to understand the people around her and herself better, and this personal growth becomes the primary focus of the story.
As already mentioned, in the novel Emma, Austin examines such topics as relationships and social norms. Through the matchmaking of the main character, the writer explores the complexity and nuances of this process, revealing the features of marriage in the 19th century. In addition, the novel also explores themes such as self-delusion and the consequences of interfering in others’ lives. Excessive confidence in her actions and a lack of awareness of the potential harm of interfering in someone else’s romantic relationships lead Emma to misunderstand the emotions and desires of those around her (Austen, 2023). Additionally, it is only when faced with undesirable consequences that she realizes her activities do not always bring good results.
Thus, the reader gradually pursues the main character on her way to empathy and self-awareness. First, one of the lessons that can be learned from the novel Emma is that it provides an example of what interference in other people’s relationships can lead to. Blind confidence in her abilities and an understanding of what people who surround her can experience led the main character into a difficult situation.
Faced with romantic feelings herself, she realized the value of relying on her own feelings and desires without outside interference (Austen, 2023). In addition, Emma’s story is revealed as a narrative about self-discovery and personal development, which occurs through gaining experience through mistakes. Therefore, the novel Emma is one of the most famous works of Jane Austen, which, with the help of humor and wit, reveals serious and important topics.
Conclusion
Jane Austen is a critically important person who has made a significant contribution to literature and the humanities in general. The works of the writer continue to be read, interpreted, studied, and adapted for film to this day. The topics that she analyzes in her literary works can be applied to modern society, despite being written two centuries ago. It is worth noting that Austen’s novels have also positively influenced the study of areas such as literary criticism, gender studies, and sociology. In her novels, topics of social norms and worldviews were often explored, providing scientists with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the society of that time and its prevailing values.
Jane Austen’s works made a valuable contribution to the exploration of the role of women in society. This was especially important for a society in which the only role for them was to maintain home comfort and care for their children and husbands. In other words, the author explored topics such as societal constraints on women, class distinctions, and marriage as a social institution (Mandell, 2019). In this way, Austin provided a clearer understanding of the difficulties and problems faced by women, especially those who thought outside of social norms.
This aspect also made a significant contribution to the feminist movement that was emerging at that time. It is for these reasons that Jane Austen is a person who needs to be considered a significant person in the field of the humanities. Jane Austen’s impact on the humanities is also based on her skill in portraying the nuances of human conduct and relationships, while simultaneously questioning established social conventions.
References
Austen, J. (2020). Pride and prejudice. The Griffin Classics.
Austen, J. (2023). Emma. apebook Verlag.
Barchas, J., & Looser, D. (2019). Introduction: What’s next for Jane Austen? Texas Studies in Literature and Language, 61(4), 335-344.
Friedman, E. C. (2021). Must anonymous be a woman? Gender and discoverability in the archives. Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, 40(2), 359-371.
Little, O. (2023). I do: Historicizing marriage and courtship in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Emma (1816) and their screen adaptations. William & Mary.
Mandell, L. (2019). Gender and cultural analytics: finding or making stereotypes? Debates in the Digital Humanities 2019, 3-26.
Sørbø, M. N. (2018). Shades and Nuances. In Jane Austen Speaks Norwegian (pp. 81-94). Brill.