They Blush Because They Understand: The Performative Power of Women's Humor and Embarrassment in Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma

In this project, I analyze women's humor in three of Jane Austen's novels: Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma. Using speech-act theory, I specifically examine Elizabeth's, Emma's, and Mary's utterances to demonstrate that in order for humorous utterances to be subversive, they must challenge societal or patriarchal constructs (religion, misogynist men, marriage, the feminine ideal) and do so artfully. An indirect speech act--a play on words, an insult, even a laugh--is often far more effective than a more direct one, especially when wielded by characters for whom a direct antagonistic speech act would have severe social consequences. When those socially-sanctioned and highly-regulated speech acts--marriages, wills, introductions, invitations, letters, titles--are less accessible or less beneficial to women, only indirect speech acts remain a viable option.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Department dc:contributor.department

English

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Lingo, Sarah Katherine

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Graham, Peter W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Powell, Katrina M.
• Metz, Nancy Aycock

• Jane Austen
• speech-act theory
• women's humor

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:8110

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/81276