This master thesis examines Jane Austen´s representation of morality and conduct in her two novels Mansfield Park (1814) and Persuasion (1818), as these two novels reflect the notion of the named aspects during the English Regency Period and Victorian time. Morality is a term describing the inner, partly learned notions. Conduct describes the shown behaviour of a person, determinable by their actions. Thus, this thesis examines the human inner and outer values during the English Regency and the Victorian period.
The heroines of said novels, Fanny Price and Anne Elliot, are Austen´s two heroines not appearing strong and autonomous from the beginning on, but developing to become so. This is the reason for these two Austen novels being chosen. By their use, the behaviour and expectations towards other people during this period are shown. A view upon the notion of women´s nature in those times is given from time to time to complete the picture. This is necessary to examine if the notion of a woman´s conduct is aimed to be understood.Men and women possessed conducts, standards and moralities to accept and to live after, these being examined in this thesis.Various conduct-books of that time are used to prove the novels to be exemplary for the conduct and morality during the Regency period, one of them being Sermons to Young Women by James Fordyce, the book Mr. Collins uses to read to and bore the Bennett sisters in Austen´s Pride and Prejudice (published 1813). Another conduct book used is An Enquiry to the Duties of the Female Sex by Thomas Gisborne (1801), a book given to Jane Austen by her (often rather conservative) sister Cassandra. A Father´s Legacy to His Daughter by Dr. Gregory (1774/2012) was so well known in Austen´s time that other authors of various conduct-books assumed the knowledge of this book for their writings. There is a good case to believe that this book was a part of Austen´s father´s bibliography. The Habits Of Good Society: A Handbook for Ladies And Gentlemen, written by an anonymous author (1872/2012), provides a different, because broader view on the topic.
The different situations where morality and conduct may differ in the said novels are divided into love, family, faith, conduct and the public life to achieve lucidity in this thesis.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Morality and Faith
3. Morality and Conduct
4. Morality and Public
5. Morality and Love
6. Morality and Family
7. Conclusion
8. Austen´s Morality and Conduct in School
Research Objectives and Themes
This master thesis aims to analyze Jane Austen's representation of morality and conduct in her novels Mansfield Park and Persuasion, examining how these works reflect social values during the English Regency and Victorian periods. The study investigates the tension between inner moral values and outer social behavior, specifically focusing on the development of the heroines, Fanny Price and Anne Elliot, within the rigid expectations of their time.
- The influence of Christian principles and conduct books on Regency society.
- The conceptual distinction between inner morality and public conduct.
- The representation of gender-specific roles and expectations regarding marriage and love.
- The impact of social status and class boundaries on individual agency and reputation.
- Pedagogical approaches for teaching these historical moral frameworks in modern secondary education.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Morality and Conduct
Bad society, then, may be divided into three classes: 1. That in which both morals and manners are bad; 2. That in which the manners are bad, be the morals what they will; 3. That in which the manners appear to be good, but the morals are detestable. The first is low, the second vulgar, and the third dangerous society. (Anonymous, 1872/ 2012: 23)
A woman in the Regency period was expected to be the way Fanny, the heroine of Mansfield Park, is described to the reader (Austen, 1814/1966: 213): a small, shy and not very robust woman, and “almost as fearful of notice as other women are of neglect” . “It is this peculiar propriety of female manners of which I intend to give you my sentiments, without touching on those general rules of conduct, by which men and women are equally bound” is what Dr. Gregory (1774/ 2012) writes in his conduct book.
This special femininity is supposed to consist of modesty, virginity, shyness and demure restraint (Brosch, 1984: 27). At the same time, the big mental weakness of a woman is ascribed to the superiority of her feelings, but this mental inferiority was seen as an advantage. Here, Austen´s revolutionary view and her modern heroines are emerged.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the thesis, defining morality and conduct within the context of the Regency period and introducing the primary texts and supplemental conduct books.
2. Morality and Faith: This section examines the role of Christian principles in guiding character behavior and the social consequences for those who deviate from these moral expectations.
3. Morality and Conduct: This chapter analyzes societal expectations for femininity and masculinity, exploring how characters adhere to or subvert notions of modesty, shyness, and proper deportment.
4. Morality and Public: This chapter discusses the necessity of maintaining appropriate behavior in public spheres and the consequences of violating social norms, particularly regarding reputation.
5. Morality and Love: This chapter investigates the connection between marriage, social status, and personal morality, focusing on how heroines navigate romantic expectations versus their own desires.
6. Morality and Family: This chapter explores familial responsibilities and the impact of parental guidance or negligence on the development of children's morality and social standing.
7. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, highlighting how Austen’s heroines achieve greater autonomy through a realistic and unsentimental understanding of their moral environment.
8. Austen´s Morality and Conduct in School: This chapter addresses the challenges of teaching these historical concepts to contemporary students and suggests methods for bridging the gap between Regency values and modern perspectives.
Keywords
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Morality, Conduct, Regency Period, Femininity, Social Status, Marriage, Christian Principles, Victorian Era, Autonomy, Reputation, Education, Conduct Books
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?
The work examines Jane Austen's portrayal of moral values and behavioral expectations in Mansfield Park and Persuasion during the English Regency and Victorian periods.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The research explores the intersections of morality with faith, public life, love and marriage, and familial responsibility, all analyzed through the lens of historical conduct literature.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The main goal is to understand how Austen’s heroines, Fanny Price and Anne Elliot, develop autonomy by reconciling their inner values with rigid social standards.
Which scientific or analytical method is utilized?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, pairing Austen’s novels with historical conduct books of the time to validate and contextualize the behavioral observations found within the fiction.
What is examined in the main part of the thesis?
The main body breaks down specific aspects of life—faith, social behavior, love, and family—analyzing how characters conform to or fail to meet the moral standards of their society.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Jane Austen, Morality, Conduct, Social Status, Regency Period, Autonomy, and Marriage.
How do modern teenage magazines compare to historical conduct books?
The thesis compares contemporary advice in magazines like Girl with 19th-century conduct books, noting that while the mediums change, the underlying insecurity regarding social expectations remains a consistent youth challenge.
Why is it difficult for modern pupils to interpret Austen’s work?
Students today often struggle to understand the nuances of status, reputation, and income that dictated the decisions of Austen’s characters, as modern youth value more personal, self-directed social interactions.
- Quote paper
- Svenja Strohmeier (Author), 2013, Jane Austen´s Representation of Morality and Conduct in "Mansfield Park" and "Persuasion", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/212358
