The transforming heroine: becoming a wife in the Austen marriage plot

<p>This thesis argues that through the use of character transformation in her heroines, Jane Austen uses marriage plot novels to romantically idealize the role of being a wife. In particular, heroines Catherine Morland, Marianne Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, and Emma Woodhouse lose autonomy and become more limited within their characters as they are influenced by the societies around them. The stories of Austen's other heroines offer dissimilarities in their trajectories that support the idea of achieving " happily ever afters" by exhibiting propriety in roles subordinate and dedicated to their future husbands. By imposing limitations on her heroines, Austen is suggesting that women should accept societal expectations and desire to become wives.</p>

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Jessica

• Austen
• heroine
• wife
• marriage plot
• marriage

Repository record dc:identifier

https://via.library.depaul.edu/etd/208

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:via.library.depaul.edu:etd-1223