Seng 1

Catherine Seng

ENG 352

Auge

May 7, 2019

Entrapped in Authority

Jane Austen places the prominence of gender roles at the center of her writings and

Northanger Abbey is no exception. Through Catherine Morland, Austen puts into question the

“code of passive womanhood” as well as the concept of patriarchal authority. The concept of

cultivated passivity as explained by Ellen Pollock, describes a woman who is the “embodiment

of moral values exemplifying at her best a passive and contemplative ideal.” This novel poses an

interesting presentation of struggle that women of this era faced when it comes to passive

womanhood and patriarchy. Initially, Austen presents Catherine as the epitome of the code of

passive womanhood, she then begins to question, challenge, and even move outside of this code;

however it appears that ultimately Catherine remains entrapped in the inescapable social

construct of passive womanhood that is inherently connected to patriarchal authority.

Pollock further describes the nature of cultivated passivity as including characteristic

such as “modesty, meekness, compassion, affability and piety.” Initially these are all qualities

that Catherine possess. These traits are apparent through the way Catherine handles herself in

Bath while under the watch of the Allens. While in Bath, Catherine begins to experience things

she has never encountered before. In these situations, Catherine is cautious to not break the rigid

social codes of conduct and is careful in displaying perfect manners. The qualities that Catherine

possess that exemplify passive womanhood are the ones that she seems to slightly lose touch
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with throughout her journey in Bath. When she first arrives in this new place she lacks her own

voice. She is meek and innocent, following the guidance of those around her without using her

own judgement. She goes where she is told and she follows the rules set in place for her.

However, it becomes clear that the more time Catherine spends in Bath, the more she begins to

find her own voice and think more independently.

While in Bath, Catherine meets a man by the name of John Thorpe. While initially

Catherine is polite and respectful to this man, he soon begins to show her his true colors. The

encounters between the two of them are constantly centered around Mr. Thorpe. Catherine never

seems to be truly impressed with him due to his arrogant manners. John arrogantly brags to

Catherine about things that do not impress her in the slightest. He carries on about his coach, the

horses he bought and sold, and the numbers of birds he has killed. While John believes these

things will impress Catherine, they ultimately lead her to find him “not all together completely

agreeable” (Austen 70). This is an example of Catherine stepping outside the code of passive

womanhood. She moves past her meek and conservative thinking and begins to form her own

independent thought. John Thorpe was her best friend Isabella’s brother. Catherine’s brother,

James Moreland had even spoken highly of the man to her. For her to go against these two

approving judgements of John by finding him not agreeable is a big moment for Catherine. It

soon becomes clear that John desires nothing more than to control her. The scene in which John,

Isabella, and James try to coerce Catherine into abandoning her plans with the Tilney’s in order

to go to Clifton with them is a crucial moment for Catherine as she steps outside of the code of

passive womanhood. When Thorpe suggests postponing her walk with the Tilney’s, Catherine

responds, “No it would not be easy. I cannot do it.” He then tries to persuade her with flattery

which Catherine rejected by stating “That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure.”

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Catherine holds firm in her belief that abandoning her plans with the Tilenys is rude and

disrespectful and despite the incessant pleading of the Thorpes and James, she resists. This scene

presents a major change in Catherine. Her brother even takes note of this and comments, “you

were not used to be so hard to persuade, you once were the kindest, best tempered of my sisters.”

The qualities James describes Catherine to have line up directly with Pollock’s description of

passive womanhood. These characteristics are beginning to be less prominent in Catherine

because she is beginning to challenge and step outside of passive womanhood.

Passive womanhood is the accepted way of life for women of this time period. It is

common for a woman to enter into a relationship with a man based on his economic status. A

woman’s value is often judged by who she marries and how wealthy they are and typically,

relationships are centered around social status. Another way that passive womanhood is present

in this time period is through fact that most women are not highly educated. Pollock points out

that during this time, “while women were ‘spiritually the equals or even the superiors of men

they were ‘inferior in their intellectual facilities.’” However, Catherine seems to challenge this

common notion. She appears to be less interested in a Tilney’s economic status and more

intrigued by the idea of being with a man who she can learn from. This also demonstrates how

Catherine attempts to move outside of the notion of passive womanhood. Her relationship with

Tilney is not based out of his money or family status. What Catherine initially finds intriguing

about Henry is the way that he challenges her.

From the moment that Catherine and Henry meet, he begins to challenge her. Initially, he

comes off as arrogant, claiming to know exactly what Catherine will do after meeting him. He

arrogantly claims “I see what you think of me . . . I shall make but a poor figure in your journal

tomorrow. Yes, I know exactly what you will say.” Just from this initial meeting he is
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challenging her by claiming he can predict the typical things a woman would do after meeting a

man. Catherine however, seems intrigued by this conversation and from this point on she seems

to be consumed by the concept of Henry Tilney. As their relationship continues, Tilney continues

to find ways to subtly undercut Catherine and her knowledge. Their relationship begins to evolve

into what Lionel Trilling describes to be a “giving and receiving of knowledge.” Tilney is

constantly correcting Catherine on her use of particular words, even ones as small as “nice.”

However, when Henry does this, Catherine questions him. She questions him in a way that does

not seem to deny his knowledge, rather, she questions him with hopes that he will enlighten her.

The way that she openly seeks out information and is always eager to learn is a way she puts the

“code of passive womanhood” into question. Typical women of this era are not highly educated,

and are usually more concerned that a man can provide them with social status rather than

intellectual gain.

Catherine again steps outside of the code of passive womanhood as she begins to

question the General. The more Catherine engages with the General, the more suspicious she

grows of his actions. She picks up on the power and control that he has over his children and

notices the almost fearful behavior that Eleanor displays around the General. She noticed the

way he “called her (Eleanor) hastily, and . . . rather angrily back, demanding whither she be

going?” Catherine noticed small behaviors such as these quite frequently, however what caused

her to question the General in the most extreme way was his deceased wife. During her tour of

Northanger, the General seemed to shy away from the room in which his wife had passed away

in. Catherine became very curious about the circumstances of the room and her imagination

began to run wild. The thought crosses her mind that her death was not from illness as the family

had claimed, but rather was the result of the General locking his wife away causing her death.
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The thoughts about the General display how Catherine questions his patriarchal authority. When

Catherine expresses these suspicions to Henry Tilney, he is insulted and shocked stating, “Dear

Miss Moreland, consider the dreadful nature of the suspicions you have entertained. What have

you been judging from? Remember the country and the age in which we live.” Henry is appalled

that Catherine would accuse his father of such dark and criminal actions. His defense of his

authoritarian father supports the presence of his patriarchal authority. As her stay at Northanger

continues, Catherine continues to observe the General and form judgements about him. When the

group traveled to Woodston for a visit, Catherine was astonished with its beauty, but she noticed

that the General was not half as impressed. That evening, “She could not but observe that the

abundance of the dinner did not seem to create the smallest astonishment in the General” (241).

Catherine’s questioning of the Generals moral code challenges the concept of patriarchal

authority.

While Catherine displays growth from initially being the epitome of passive womanhood

into a more questioning and challenging state of mind, it appears that ultimately she is entrapped

in the code of passive womanhood and its tied to patriarchal authority. When looking at her

relationship with Henry, there are both positives and negatives displayed. It is true that through

this relationship, Catherine begins to step outside of the code of passive womanhood. Trilling

explains this as a relationship of “giving and receiving of knowledge” which in itself points out

how their relationship is a step outside of typical patriarchal relationships. However, this is what

their relationship seems to be at surface level. When examining the interactions between

Catherine and Henry, traces of patriarchal authority and codes of passive womanhood are still

present. Henry is constantly correcting Catherine, which on the surface seems to be beneficial to

Catherine because she seems to enjoy the knowledge and education he provides. However, this
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constant correction of Catherine often crosses the line of being constructive and becomes more

condescending. For example, Henry’s overreaction to Catherine’s claims of something horrible

having happened in London. He acts as if the claims she has made are impossible and seemingly

mocks her wild imagination for thinking such a thing, when in reality, her thoughts of what

might have happened are very legitimate. Instead of listening to Catherine’s explanation, he

takes the liberty of giving his own. He arrogantly states, “I will be noble. I will prove myself a

man, no less by the generosity of my soul than the clearness of my mind.” In instances such as

this, it is hard to see this exchange as a “giving and receiving of knowledge.” Henry seems to

have gained a sense of control over Catherine, by using his confidence and knowledge as a

means of manipulating her. Despite the arrogant tone he spoke to her in, “It was no effort to

Catherine to believe that Henry Tilney could never be wrong. His manner might sometimes

surprise, but his meaning must always be just” (126). The way that Catherine is obedient to

Henry and believes every word that he speaks limits the idea that Catherine has totally stepped

outside of the world of patriarchy and passive womanhood.

General Tilney is the perfect image of an oppressive patriarchal figure. Catherine notices

the authoritarian style in which he runs his household, which causes her to question his actions.

While Catherine questions General Tilney, she is still submitting to spending her life with his son

Henry. Henry is a much less overt example of patriarch authority than his father, however there

are similarities between the father and son in their arrogance and condescending natures. While

Catherine carefully observes the General and judges his commanding nature over his family, she

fails to realize that Henry possesses some of the same qualities that she has been critiquing.

Despite what she has seen, she still desires to marry into the Tilney family. Henry has formed
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Catherine into what he desires her to be and her adherence to this has caused her to fall victim to

his patriarchal authority.

The concepts of passive womanhood and patriarchal authority seem to go hand in hand.

A passive woman is described as meek, modest, and friendly, all in relation to a man. Initially,

Austen presents Catherine as the epitome of the code of passive womanhood. She is soft spoken

and rarely voices her own desires. She then begins to question, challenge, and even move outside

of this code. She displays this through her disapproval of Thorpe’s behavior, as well as through

her pedagogical relationship with Henry Tilney. However, it appears that through this

relationship with the Tilney’s she ultimately Catherine remains entrapped in the inescapable

social construct of passive womanhood that is inherently connected to patriarchal authority.

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Works Cited

AUSTEN, JANE. NORTHANGER ABBEY. BAKER STREET PR, 2019.

“Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic Revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae,

Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4.”

Lionel Trilling Sincerity and Authenticity, 1972, p. 82.