Collage of Theobald van Oer's "Weimar's Courtyard of the Muse" (left), Jean-Victor Schnetz's "The Fight for the Hôtel-de-Ville, 28 July 1830" (center top), William Holmes Sullivan's "the Battle of Waterloo" (center bottom), and Gentille de Fabriano's "Adoration of the Magi" (right).
Northanger Abbey takes place between 1798-1799
The plot of Northanger Abbey takes place during a time of great anxiety in Europe. This is due to the three prominent historical events that were afflicting society:
1.) The Gothic or Medieval Period
2.) The Enlightenment
3.) The French Revolution & the Napoleonic Wars
The Gothic or Medieval Period (1300-1700)
The period of the Gothic or Medieval period was a time of sublime interest. During this time period, all aspects of society, including the architecture, reflected the Gothic. For example, Cathedrals and Churches in Europe had pointed arches, stained glass windows and high vaulted ceilings. Accordingly, Austen looks back to the Gothic in her novel when the plot switches from the ordinary life in Bath to the mysterious castle of Northanger Abbey. Austen’s switch in plot allows for a twisting of elements of regular life 18th century: “The Gothic should be placed and was beginning to be placed in relation to realism in literature and the visual arts and at the same time associated with fantasy and the fantastic, with the realms of imagination and desire” (Frayling 14). Thus, Austen, as well as the many other others of her time who brought back the Gothic in their novels, looked back to the Gothic era in her novel in her to create a “realm” for the “imagination” of the reader to escape in: “Northanger Abbey remains a witty and clever commentary on what young female readers saw in Gothic novels, at a time when real terrors were happening just across the Channel” (Frayling 13). The “terrors” Frayling refers to refers to the trauma of the French Revolution which is roaring in the backdrop of Northanger Abbey’s plot. As a result, readers in Austen’s time as well as in her novel, such as Catherine and Isabela, used the revival of Gothic literature as a distraction from real life terrors: “Gothic novels have become texts, above all other forms of fiction, where ‘the represses’ can return, where the ‘abject’ can be disguised, and where social and political anxieties can be displaced” (Frayling 18).
The Enlightement
The Enlightenment is known as the Age of Reason due to the fact that this time in history marked a move from emotion to reason. Austen’s novel takes place far after The Enlightenment. Yet, there are prominent features of the pre-Enlightenment, Romantic era within the text. The Bath section of Northanger Abbey is depicted as a revival of romantic traditions from the characters that inhabit it, such as Isabella, to the rules of conduct which all inhabitants of Bath must follow. For example, people came to Bath to see and be seen. People participated in events such as the theater, which was a perfect opportunity for people to view each other due to the small and intimate structure of the theater. Thus, Bath became a theater unto itself where people became the spectators as well as the actors. However, these aspects of Bath are all about aesthetics rather than reason. Thus, Bath is essentially outdated. Yet, there are characters within Austen’s novel that appropriately depict the time period in which they are in, such as Eleanor Tilney who is a reserved and reasonable.
The French Revolution (1789-1799) & the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815)
The French revolution was a major turning point in the history of Europe. It was fought over the struggle for political rights in Europe’s absolute monarchial government. Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey takes place during the exact time in history when the French Revolution was being fought. Thus, it makes sense as to why those in English society in addition to Austen’s characters take an interest in elements of the Gothic, the romance as well as the Enlightenment as oppose to facing the very true reality of the traumatic French Revolution.
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars that overlapped with the ending of The French Revolution. Beginning in 1799 just as the French Revolution was coming to an end, the Napoleonic Wars serve as a type of sequel to the novel, meaning that although the terrors of the novel end, the terrors of real life are only just beginning.
Works Cited
de Fabriano, Gentile. "The Adoration of the Magi." Painting. Uffizi Gallery Museum, Florence. Uffizi. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
Frayling, Christopher. Introduction. The Gothic Reader: A Critical Anthology. By Martin Marone. London: Tate Publishing, 2006. 12-20. Print.
Schnetz, Jean-Victor. "The Fight for the Hôtel-de-Ville 28 July 1830." 1834. Painting. Petit Palais, Paris. Icons of Liberty. Web. 8 Dec. 2014.
Sullivan, William Holmes. "The Battle of Waterloo." Painting. Bridgeman Art Library, London. Bridgeman Image. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
van Oer, Theobald. "Weimar's Courtyard of the Muse." Painting. Bridgeman Art Library, London. Wikipedia. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.