For today's class, I wanted to discuss the powerful impact Jane Austen has on readers today. Undoubtedly one of the most successful women writers of the nineteenth century, Austen--unlike Dickens--has actually been out of print, falling out of vogue in the decades immediately following her death (1820s and 30s) and returning to prominence in the 1850s with the introduction of cheap "Yellow-Backs."
Questions for discussion (please post in the comment box):
1) Why do you think Austen is still so popular today?
2) Why do you think Austen "fell out of favor" with Victorian readers?
1) I believe that Austen is popular today, because I feel her works are relatable and people are interested in the ways of the 1800s. In Pride and Prejudice (which was going to be called first impressions) you see a lot of "judging by the cover," so to speak. I think that this makes the book relatable, because a lot of people make first impressions that end up being completely off track. I think that the book is also relatable, because of the falling in and out of love. I think that many people struggle with finding a life partner and they are on and off with people a lot that many people see this in the reading and search for meaning in there life. While reading this book I always find myself interested in the ways and behaviors of the 1800s, because they are so different than today. For example, Men had to introduce women and call upon them, otherwise they would not be acquainted.
ReplyDelete2) I believe that Austen "fell our of favor," because there were new things being published by new authors and her works were becoming dated. People always want the new things, and I believe that people had heard Austen's stories and seen Austen's styles and were excited by something new.
Fantastic response Ivy! I really like the way you connected what readers enjoy is Austen's novels with yourself as an Austen reader. The book is incredibly relatable, as you point out, and yet it is also very, very different. Great observations.
Delete1) Why do you think Austen is still so popular today?
ReplyDeleteI believe Jane Austen is still so popular today because her works are based primarily on human interactions and behaviors when establishing relationships. Austen describes how situations could happen and how each character contributing to the storyline affects the outcome. We learn about the 19th century period and it's interesting to know her thoughts and reactions. She expresses her mind through her text which was very rare during the time she lived. Readers get to understand the women's mind set and the "female's gaze" which was refreshing for the male is usually the character that has a point of view.
2) Why do you think Austen "fell out of favor" with Victorian readers?
My educated for the falling out of Austen's storied is that her copies never entirely sold quickly and it was initially not her most famous work so when another story was published it was easy to let Pride and Prejudice leave the premises of best-selling literature.
educated guess*... Her thoughts are relatable.
DeleteWhy do you think Austen is still so popular today?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the entirety of the human race has an obsession with the thought of love. Love is a complex theory and because of this, we all think of it very differently. I believe that out ideas of what love really is, is formed through observation, literature, education, the media, and how we are raised. Books such as Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice give us a glance into the ideas of love through the eyes of Austen. I believe this is why Jane Austen is still so popular today.
Why do you think Austen "fell out of favor" with Victorian readers?
An educated guess on my part, is that Jane Austen fell out of the favor of Victorian readers during one of the many time periods where women were discouraged of reading. There have been many anti-reading-women movements throughout history, and I believe that Austen's subject matter being romance, her target audience was certainly towards women. Men were more likely to own books and read, therefore Austen fell out of favor, because her subject matter wasn't of interest to men. However, when the "Yellow-Backs" came about, and women weren't as discouraged of reading, her novels came back into favor, sparking the obsession with Austen we have today.
1) People love a good romantic comedy. It is one of the most popular genres in any medium. It appeals to some of the stronger and more appealing human emotions. Everyone like a good laugh and love.
ReplyDelete2) Perhaps the subject matter of the novel was "inappropriate" for the culture at the time (Romance couldn't be funny?). Jane Eyre was also about women empowerment during a period when a queen had just taken power (following a popular trend?). While the Georgian era was just a bunch of dudes named George.
1) I believe that Austin is popular today because, like many books, it is easy to become involved in her stories. Her characters are developed, interesting, and likable. The topics and themes she touches on can (arguably) be related or connected to any time period, including the present day. I think that readers enjoy Austin's ideas, humor, and wit that she so wonderfully includes in her writing.
ReplyDelete2) My educated guess as to why Austin fell out of favor with Victorian readers includes two factors. One, that reading was somewhat unpopular or discouraged among certain classes, or even women. Two, that Brontë's "Jane Eyre" and its style catered to readers more than the themes and writing style of Austin's "Pride and Prejudice."
1. I think austen is still popular today because her work today still interests people, and relates to people because her books talk about very real problems that people still have today. Austen's book's are just relatable and funny in general.
ReplyDelete2. Why I think Austen's books "fell out of favor" because her copies of books that she published weren't sold quickly enough. Or, the books that did sell weren't of best quality, so it wasn't appealing to people. Many history event's could have prevented her books being sent out everywhere.