英语专业毕业论文范文2(5)

Austen satirizes the expected appearance of the hero to the heroine in Gothic fictions. Henry just appears on an ordinary ball and is introduced to Catherine by the master of the ceremonies in a normal way without any air of romance. Henry, at first, was even partly joking with Catherine about the same routing that young ladies share.

Later, Catherine makes friends with Isabella Thorpe, who is an elegant and fine young woman, and they both consider themselves as old friends. It is Isabella who opens the Gothic gate for Catherine by introducing to her tens of horrible novels; one of them is The Mysteries of Udolpho. After reading so many Gothic novels, Catherine‘s eagerness to visit and explore a real castle grows severe. Therefore, she feels extremely excited when General Tilney, Henry‘s father, invites her to visit their house, the Northanger Abbey.

Additionally, there is one point we should pay attention to, i.e., Jane Austen has adopted a new tactic of writing by addressing the readers directly. For example, at the end of chapter five, when Isabella and Catherine shut themselves up to read novels, the

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narrator clearly says that ―[novels] have afforded more extensive and unaffected pleasure than those of any other literary corporation in the world‖ (32; ch.5), and that novels are works

…in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language. (33; ch.5) 注意文学作品的引文格式要求：（页码; 章）。 Here Austen gives her own insight of the value of novels, and questions the social prejudice against novels. The directness with which Austen addresses the reader gives a unique insight into Austen‘s thoughts at the time. And her perspectives on novels are sharply in contrast with that of popular writers, especially the Gothic novelists of the time.

II. Parody of Gothic Characters

According to the common rule, Gothic novels not only have a set format in plot construction, but also share the same characterization. Below are some classified major characters around the heroine in Gothic novels: an aunt or another older woman of envy; a hero with an air of mystery; a female friend harbors evil intentions; a villain who is always bothering the heroine; a tyrant, usually cold and vicious, treats the heroine cruelly. We may find those familiar archetypes in Northanger Abbey as well, but we can also find a clear difference between them.

First of all, characterization of the heroine‘s aunt Mrs. Allen is quite striking: It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs. Allen, that the reader may be able to judge, in what manner her actions will hereafter tend to promote the general distress of the work, and how she will, probably, contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate wretchedness of which a last volume is capable – whether by her imprudence, vulgarity, or jealousy – whether by intercepting her letters, ruining her character, or turning her out of doors. (11; ch.2) 注意引语段的格式要求，以及文学作品的引文格式要求：（页码; 章）。 In Gothic novels, the heroine‘s misfortune is partly caused by her aunt‘s evil jealousy, but in Northanger Abbey, Mrs. Allen is not that evil or blood-hearted to Catherine. Mrs. Allen may truly be a little vulgar and careless. She has a great passion

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in dress and ―had a most harmless delight in being fine; and our heroine‘s entrée into life could not take place till after three or four days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn‖ (12; ch.2). We may say that she doesn‘t fulfill her responsibilities as a senior companion by carefully and whole-heartedly looking after Catherine, but we cannot say that she shows an evil or jealousy towards Catherine. She has nothing to do with what happened to our heroine later on, and this is entirely ironic when compared with the usual Gothic aunt.

In addition, Henry Tilney is different from the hero in Gothic novels. Generally speaking, a Gothic hero must at first be mysterious about his identity and later found born in the purple. But Henry was no mystery since his appearance in the novel. At the very night when they met, Mr. Allen learnt that he was ―a clergyman, and of a very respectable family in Gloucestershire‖ (23; ch.3). Moreover, Henry Tilney didn‘t fall in love with Catherine at the first sight nor did he ever hold a strong affection for her, which was really weird for supposed Gothic readers because ―no young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman‘s love is declared‖ (23; ch.3). As for why Henry finally fell in love with Catherine, the narrator said:

I must confess that his affection originated in nothing better than gratitude,

or, in other words, that a persuasion of her partiality for him had been the only cause of giving her a serious thought. It is a new circumstance in romance…and dreadfully derogatory of a heroine‘s dignity. (284; ch.30)

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