PRAY
“Pray, pray stop, Mr. Thorpe. I cannot go on. I will not go on. I must go back to Miss Tilney.” But Mr. Thorpe only laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd noises, and drove on; and Catherine, angry and vexed as she was, having no power of getting away, was obliged to give up the point and submit. Catherine Morland, Northanger Abbey, Chapter 11
I can feel Catherine’s fear and anxiety in this passage. She has become an unwilling passenger in John Thorpe’s carriage, careening down the streets of Bath at breakneck speeds, pleading to be let off, watching her friends Henry and Eleanor Tilney fade away with the passing distance! Afraid, ashamed and angered!
Northanger Abbey is a novel filled with youthful discovery and decisions. Through peer pressure, Catherine has been bullied into setting aside other social commitments and agreed to a carriage ride that her best instincts tell her not to accept. This is a great example of how Jane Austen places our young heroine in peril because of natural choices made based on her inexperience in society.
Pray stop! How quickly one regrets a decision made against our better instincts.
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These are such wonderful reflections on the language. I recently subscribed to the RSS. Today’s fits so well with a discussion I am going to be leading with a group of teen girls. At an up-coming Girls’ Night I will be using the A&E/BBC Pride and Prejudice to spur discussion on relationships, dating, and so forth. Your entry today has inspiried me to look to Northganger Abbey for peer pressure. Catherine’s journey in the novel parallels the challenges many of the girls face today.
Thank you for your thoughts. I look forward to each day’s installment.
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Hello J.D., thank you for your comments. Of all of Jane Austen’s novels, NA is so perfect for younger ladies because of it’s energy and themes. You might also want to explore Catherine’s feelings and reactions to her parents after she returns home from her travels. She is quite put out by their request to do chores etc, which can be a common teen theme, even today! Good luck with your group. Best wishes, Laurel Ann
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That’s an interesting observation! I’ve definitely felt like Catherine before, swept onwards when having to go through the consequences of a not-so-wise decision. But that’s when experience comes along. :)
Thanks for starting this blog!
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Hello Jennifer, thank you for stoping by and joining in the homage! When I read Northanger Abbey, I feel like I am re-living my youth! It always makes me shudder, & then smile!!! I look forward to hearing from you again. Best wishes, Laurel Ann
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