31st Annual Student Research Conference
Economy of Travel in Jane Austen Novels
Melissa A. Slemp
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
This paper surveys the way that Jane Austen relates form of, and ability to travel to socioeconomic status in Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Northanger Abbey. This paper argues that distance from family, members of a higher social standing, and friends affect one’s social status and happiness. In turn, the location of homes affects these as well. Austen uses distance and ability to travel as a way to establish a hierarchy of wealth. Distance is a tool that Austen uses to explain the intimate thoughts of characters through letters. The paper closes with an examination of Austen’s own relationship with travel, and why it is possible that she chose to have characters that she related to travel in similar ways.
Keywords: Pride, Prejudice, Emma, Northanger, Abbey, Distance, Travel, Austen
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 208-3
Location: VH 1010
Time: 10:00