Let's Talk About Jane

When you think of pure romance and classic love stories in English Literature, probably one of the names that will pop in your head is Jane Austen. Her works have reached into the hearts of many hopeless romantics throughout the years and today, her legacy is still very much alive in the many adaptations and spin-offs of her beloved novels. Despite the fact that many criticize her work and call it boring or outdated, they cannot deny her strong influence on many popular films such as Clueless, which was one of the pioneers of chick flicks and Bridget Jones' Diary.

Portrait of Jane Austen. Image from gotaz.com.br

I remember a friend of mine once told me that having a favorite author is not just appreciating the style of writing and the plot but having a connection through the written word. It's as if you share a little secret with him or her which he or she transforms into a story. I could say that it's the same feeling I have whenever I read Austen's novels. Since I was in the latter years of grade school, I have been an avid Janeite which started with Pride and Prejudice, influenced by my sister. I fell in love with the tempestuous romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Probably almost every Janeite can say that they all want a Mr. Darcy of their own and I'm not an exception. After that, I strove to finish all the six novels and ended with Mansfield Park which became another favorite. Fanny Price is a very relatable heroine because of how her character matures from a mousy girl to a strong woman with independent thought. 

Jane Austen's Six Novels

Jane Austen Book Collection

During Austen's time, women were confined to quiet lives at home. An authoress wasn't exactly encouraged, especially if she was single but it didn't stop her from doing what she wanted. She had a mind of her own and didn't allow society to dictate her actions. Her mind was very sharp along with her words which can be seen in one of my favorite quotes from her: 

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."

In each of her heroines, she plants a different part of herself which makes them very human with their own flaws and virtues. Though one thing is common among them, they are independent in their own way and in the end, still have their fairytale ending. Even if she didn't have the same ending, she was able to give happiness to her characters and readers during the final words of each novel.