Jane Austen: Public and private space

Professor Kathryn Sutherland considers the depiction of public and private spaces in Jane Austen's novels. Filmed at Jane Austen's House Museum, Chawton.
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[@jrpipik]

One thing that seems to make Austen seem more current is that she at once uses the conceits of the dance and (at least to modern eyes) critiques its value as a courtship ritual. Yes, everyone is excited by the ball; and yes, the ball is described in loving detail; but we also get the sense that Austen questions the validity of a dance as the best way for young men and women to woo. This questioning of the norms of her day opens us to do the same in our own, particularly as concerns the roles women are expected to play in the "dance" of romance.

[@lepolhart9623]

These are good questions to ask but I think first and foremost Jane Austen's books are works of fiction and even though she did write about what she knew mainly middle and upper class society, real life was more harsh and her books are a rose tinted version of that period. I often find romance novels even though they are very enjoyable to read and watch the adaptations of them, are often too far removed from real life for me to take them seriously enough to see how they relate to modern day relationships because romance means different things to different people depending on your perspective, life experiences etc. I don't have much time for romance as I am working class and don't live in the same level of luxury or ease as others do. I'm not complaining just stating a fact. If I were to look at relationships in a romantic way and not look at them in a more pragmatic way I would land myself in hot water by dating someone who is incompatible.

[@tymanung6382]

@@lepolhart9623 Jane A usten writes about
1) interpersonal relations among different levels within larger gentry
mostly agricultural land owner class.
2) gender inequalities, especially potent
tial, being thrown into poverty due to.
previous male landowners entailing of
landed estates
3) racial inequalities, including W Euro
enslavement of W Central, SW and SE Africans, as in Mansfield Park, while she
mentions her favorite poet, ??? Cowper,
author of several popular anti slavery poems (see his website.) (Also, 1 of
Jane Austen s British Navy officer
brothers at 1 time was with the African
slave rescue squadron in Atlantic Ocean.)
Jane Austen combined all these themes
together
1) successful marriage = love + money.
(She shows how only for money and only
for love have major problem, echoing
England s majority opinion)
2) Male chauvinism and. racial chauvinism are major problems, which
at times have individual.solutions, but
in general need social solutions (in the
novels, this is? may be ? implied, though
more so in real life.)

[@RossiniSoprano]

This series is wonderfully put together! Dr. Sutherland has an easy, yet detailed, style that is great at communicating the many elements of Jane Austen's style. Thank you so much!

[@inessamaria2428]

It makes me want to read about it. Thank you for posting it.

[@inessamaria2428]

such a great subject!

[@tymanung6382]

But, did majority of artisans, workers,
farmers, domestics, small business, etc. have to strictly follow these same rules?
Or they could not be bothered ? Or did not care? Or ??

[@vickiamundsen2933]

Austen (and most other published writers of the time) wrote what she knew -- reasonably comfortable, middle class life and concerns. George Eliot did somewhat better with describing working class life, as did Charles Dickens much later. To answer your question more directly: those who aspired to someday being middle class, worked hard to imitate/hold to their social rules. Most working class people lived an existence with somewhat fewer and looser rules.

[@eighthkaname2744]

Bonjour

[@joseph3553]

Kylian san

[@crpk1497]

On est là 😂😂

[@eighthkaname2744]

@@joseph3553 c’est moi

[@mad9545]

i suppose the modern equivalent is going to the bar or club except i imagine much less successful :)