Hello there! My name is Usama Asim and I am currently doing my Bs in English Language and Literature at International Islamic University Islamabad.

2. LIMITED RANGE OF JANE AUSTEN

3. Table of
Contents  Introduction
 Explanation
 Themes
 Irony and Satire
 Criticism on Jane Austen
 Her limited range defended
 Conclusion
 References

4. Introduction
• Family background
– 16 Dec 1775—18 July 1817
– 6 siblings
– Left school because of Tuberculosis
• One of the pioneers of novel
– Written 6 novels
– Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815),
Northanger Abbey (1818), Persuasion (1818)

5. Explanation
• One of the most read novelist of all time.
• Mainly highlighted family matters; love and marriages of daughters.
• Targeted “Patriarchal society”.
• Narrow canvas of writing
– Themes
– Characterization
Will be discussed in the coming slides

6. Themes
• Love and Marriage
– Usual theme
– The first line of “Pride and Prejudice” is the theme of all her novels
• Feminism
– Another limitation
– Represents “feminization of English Novels”
– Men in the company of women
• Information about Mr. Darcy through Elizabeth’s point of view
– No vulgarity, no obscenity in her novels

7. • Morality
– Social prosperity than individuals
– Personal interests subordinate to collective interests
– Also show, how social harmony disrupted by one’s selfish act;
• Elopement of Wickham and Lydia
– On the contrary, individuals can bring happiness to others, not only themselves;
• Marriage of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy

8. • Characterization
– Jane Austen takes characters of ordinary life.
– Both men and women are common people;
• Men with no flying ambitions
• Women accept their social background
– No villains, no saints, no inspiring characters
– Doesn’t talk about aristocrats or poor class, goes for the middle ones

9. Ironic point of view
• One of her prominent feature;
– Frequent use of irony
– Deals with those topics which can lend themselves to ironic treatment;
• Leaves the serious, tragic, passionate, humorous
• ANDREW H. WRIGHTremarks her irony as “….instrument of a moral vision….”

10. Criticism on Jane Austen
• Her limited range caused sharp criticism
• Confines her writing whatever fall within her range
• Her range of observation is not so wide that’s why her writing often referred as “a two inch
ivory” and “….three or four families….”
• Edward Fitzgerald says, “she never goes out of the parlor.”
• “she is quite capital in her circle…”, says Edward Fitzgerald
• Father of Romantic poetry, William Wordsworth, remarks, “her novels are
admirable copy of life…”

11. Her Limited Range Defended
• Though limited, yet defendable
• Realization of one’s limits is important
– Like she had, and written such exquisite/perfect novels
– her writing may be narrow but deep
• Sir Walter Scott comments; “That young lady had a talent for describing the
involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life…”
• Macaulay comments, “She has given us a multitude of characters, all, in a certain
sense, common place, all such as we meet every day….”

12. Conclusion
• Her topics may be trivial and writing limited, but her achievements significant
• Andrew H. Wrightsays, ““Working with materials extremely limited in
themselves, she develops themes of the broadest significance…”

13. References
 http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-v/english-literature/223-pride-prejudice-novel-limited-range.html
 http://maenglishnotespk.blogspot.com/2014/06/jane-austens-limited-range.html
 https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/jane-austen%E2%80%99s-limited-world/
 http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-v/english-literature/10283-pride-prejudice-jane-austens-moral-
vision.html
 http://maenglishnotespk.blogspot.com/2014/06/irony-in-pride-and-prejudice.html
 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, (A complete critical study), published by Famous

14. Thank you!
Presented by:
Usama Asim
Yawar Jalal