Emulation of Author's Style

Characters

Jane Austen’s characters are strong women that typically are from the upper-middle class. These women are characters who have strong morals, have stark characteristics, and often undergo personal growth in the story. There are heroines in her novels too, Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse. These women are intelligent, humorous, and observant, however they do have flaws. However, some of her female characters are not heroines. These women in her novels can be manipulative, socially standing hungry, and deceptive, like Lady Susan. These characters are stuck on navigating in a world that is limited to them, and these characters have emotional complexity regarding marriage and social standings. Elizabeth Bennet possesses both strength and vulnerability, and they experience character growth through times of misjudgment, ego, and romance. Her male characters are unreliable and charming, or to themselves and have their principles.

Setting

The settings in Jane Austen’s novels are in the homes of the characters in England. These places in England are domestic, rural parts of England. There is an emphasis on the rooms, parlors, and gardens in the area of these villages or estates. Most of the time the settings take place in smaller rooms that are familiar, like rooms within houses that are very detailed. Also, outside of these settings the atmosphere has a strong, unspoken social contract. For example, in Pride and Prejudice, the book is based in a time frame where women are entirely dependent on men, and this setting has a jurassic role on the characters. Also, all of Jane’s novels take place in the 1800s, where there are large restrictions on what women can and cannot do. This plays the layout for what the strong women in Jane’s novel are constricted to, and what they want to overcome.

Plot/Structure

The plots in Austen novels are centered around romantic tensions mixed with societal limitations. Her heroines find what seems to be an eligible bachelor, encounter societal obstacles that differ them, the characters undergo growth and gain, and come to an understanding at the end of the novel, typically marriage. For example, in Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet finds Mr. Darcy realizes she cannot be with him due to his arrogance, and she doesn't feel equal respect through their companionship. So, she and Mr. Darcy undergo personal growth, and then they end up getting married. Through the structure that Austen uses, she is able to challenge real world issues regarding societal normalities, individuality, and companionship.

Emulation

It is a truth universally acknowledged, though seldom spoken aloud, that a single, young lady who possesses a quick witted sense of humor and serendipity must crave a wealthy husband, is what society believes.

Miss Eleanor Smith was raised to become accustomed to these statements. Her mother raised three daughters, who all possessed different variations of beauty, and had her mind set that these children would marry into comfort, if not mighty comfort. Eleanor was the oldest of the three, and her mother believed that she held the least amount of cultivation from her looks. This made her mother eager for her marriage.

The Smith Estate resided in rural England surrounded by a forest. This house contained a miniscule amount of elegance, and drew focus from the nature that engulfed the house. Outside of the house there were vines that wrapped around the entirety of the house creating a scenic view. Below the front windows there were large, stocked rose bushes that were perfect rectangle shaped bushes. The estate was located four miles from downtown Bath where an Arthur Williams returned from London with a fulfilling inheritance and seemed to be freshly tailored. He was young, unmarried, and wealthy which made him become the eligible bachelor to every woman of age in town.

The Montclairs, who lived a mile from the Smith’s, hosted a dinner where Mr. Williams made his first appearance. This house was of many dinners, and was well-enjoyed by most. Eleanor arrived with her younger sister Harriet and their mother, dressed in their finest ball gowns, that were two seasons old, and were newly pressed and trimmed. Eleanor kept her expectations tamed due to her previous endeavors of handsome, arrogant men.

Opposingly, Mr. Williams arrived with an inflated ego and confidence that was enunciated throughout the entirety of the ballroom. This feature drew the attention of all the women in the room. This gentleman was of a tall stature, fair skinned, and effortlessly strong suited. His laughs were careless, and he had the ability to target his compliments precisely where they demanded. Mrs. Smith was smitten, Hariet was rosaceous, and Eleanor was cautious.

“You must confide in me, Miss Smith,” he said as they were seated, “whether the roses in your garden bloom all year or only when admired by dashing eyes.”

Eleanor grinned with a quick response, “I find they best bloom when left alone to themselves.”

Mr. Williams let out a laugh in amusement. “A clever one. You will make me work for approval. I must be careful.”

“You are not the first man I’ve come across,” she replied snarky and continued to sip on her soup.

Mr. Williams’s mannerism was utmost, and he was a social being. However, Eleanor couldn’t understand his cunning, it was too natural, it seemed like an act. She tucked this thought into the back of her head, and continued with the night.

Another man approached Eleanor, and his name was Mr. John Quincy. In difference, Mr. Quincy was a character who remained in the shadows. He was well known, but was not known in the same way as Mr. Williams. Mr. Quincy did not have as high of a reputation as Mr. Williams did. He lived in the same town as Eleanor, and was the heir to his uncle’s estate and fortress. He was soon to receive the inheritance due to his uncle’s decline from consumption. Mr. Quincy’s wardrobe was the opposite of Mr. Williams’s. Mr. Quincy wore clothes that had purpose rather than material purposes. Mr. Qunicy was meticulous rather than impulsive and he only pursued when pressured. However, Mr. Quincy still was apt to make an appearance in social outings: Church, markets, and balls. Eleanor had only spoken with Mr. Quincy twice, and had no lasting impression from him. Mr. Quincy had the appearance of discomfort during these times.

Mr. Quincy made the journey out to the Smith Estate one afternoon during muck weather. Harriet cracked the door, trying to avoid letting rain into the house, and she greeted Mr. Quincy. However, Eleanor saw Mr. Quincy, and soon overtook the conversation.

“Mr. Quincy,” she quivered, “why are you out when the ducks seem reluctant?”

“I have business to attend to,” he said point-blank, “weather is not a hazard to me.”

“I see,” Eleanor said while smiling. Mr. Quincy remained focused on his agenda without the familiarity.

Their conversation lacked all charm and sparkle, but Eleanor found herself watching him walk away longer than she had before. Mr. Quincy contained no charm or cunning like Mr. Williams. However, Mr. Quincy was less superficial than Mr. Williams.

Within the next few weeks, Eleanor had many more conversations with each of the men. Mr. Quincy was said to have spent a weekend getaway with Miss Cristina Vitale, a very social and gorgeous woman in Bath. They would exchange glances, and have small meetings with each other, and Cristina took this opportunity to boost herself. She claimed that the two were almost a couple. Eleanor was not a fan of rumors, but she felt herself wanting to have the insight.

On the other hand, Mr. Williams became more sharp with his intentions to Eleanor. He would praise Eleanor for her beliefs and likes. For example, Eleanor expressed her love for poetry and Mr. Williams listened then further elaborate on his wants for life in the country. Eleanor could not make sense of this because Mr. Williams’s stays were not long enough to make impressions. Mrs. Smith saw their future in their words.

Eleanor still remained uneasy about both of the gentlemen. She saw through Mr. Williams’s facade that he constructed. His well-rehearsed play he was performing, and Eleanor was his puppet. However, Mr. Quincy was of silent nature, and not as boastful. Mr. Quincy remembered how Eleanor enjoyed her coffee-splash of milk with two sugars-, her fondness of literature, and her dislike of dirt. He would often go out of his way with flowers when he came to visit.

One afternoon, Eleanor wanted to confront Mr. Quincy about Cristina Vitale, and she heard gossip about the relationship between Mr. Quincy and Cristina. Eleanor felt insecure about the thought of confrontation, but she was curious about this.

“May I be blunt with you Mr. Quincy?” she proposed.

Mr. Quincy gave her a nod of approval to move forward with her question.

“I was told that you and Miss Vitale are to be made very happy soon. Is this the fact?” Eleanor asked.

“Miss Vitale misunderstood me,” Mr. Qunicy established. “I cannot marry a woman who I do not respect. Nor can a man be with a woman who wants to only look at herself in the mirror,” he starkly said.

Eleanor recognized this speech as the longest time Mr. Quincy has talked to her. Eleanor's face began to feel hot, and it turned pink from what was Mr. Quincy’s statement.

As more weeks passed, Mr. Williams grew eager and parted back to London. This was no surprise to Eleanor, as she expected this to happen. Before his departure, he grew distant then made his way over for his farewells to the Smith family. Cristina also began to fancy another gentleman, and started gossiping about her new companionship. Bath began to return to its original docile environment without loud, meaningless, disruptive distractions.

Mr. Quincy arrived at the Smith Estate one early morning on horseback. He pulled a cup out of his satchel and knocked on the door.

“Good morning Miss Smith, I hope it is not too much of a bother to offer you a hot coffee this morning,” Mr. Quincy said.

“No it is not, please come in Mr. Quincy,” Eleanor said as she motioned him in.

Explanation

In emulating Jane Austen’s style, I focused the most on reproducing her use of a character driven narrative, descriptive social settings, and romantic tension. I replicated the male characters in Pride and Prejudice through my emulation. I compared Mr. Williams and Mr. Quincy to Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy. Williams is a superficial character who is cunning but he lacks character while Quincy is calm, steady, and more respectable. These two characters also strongly embodied how Austen commonly tests her heroines’ judgment and growth via romantic tensions.

The setting that I create strongly follows Austen’s use of the 1800s time period. Eleanor has the need to marry a man for her future, and her mom is so eagerly pressuring her. This is similar to the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice because Elizabeth Bennet’s mom wants Lizzy to get married for her future and their family’s future. Additionally, the setting also follows Austen's use of rural England as a background for social pressure. In the emulation Bath and the Montclair’s reflect the country estates that are commonly in Austen’s works. These social places also create an emphasis on character’s reputation and social pressures. Just like Lady Susan in the novel Lady Susan, the setting is not only very descriptive, but it helps to create the plot and tone in the novel, like changes in states, mannerism, and companionships.

Finally, the plot structure emulates Austen’s pacing within her novels and what they focus on. Her plot is often based on romantic accelerations that focus on personal events rather than grand moments in the novel. The structure in the emulation is similar to the structure of Pride and Prejudice because the novel is outlined in a woman’s choice of her bachelor, and the growth she undergoes while on this mission, which is emulated through Eleanor’s journey of the man for her future. She undergoes a challenge to find which man, and grows as an individual while realizing her worth.

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