The Mysteries of Udolpho
Books
While in Bath, Catherine Morland is reading The Mysteries of Udolpho and discusses it excitedly with Isabella. Catherine loves to read novels, and Udolpho quickly becomes one of her favorite topics of conversation. John Thorpe’s dismissal of novels as insipid and Henry Tilney’s enjoyment of Udolpho help demonstrate the compatibility between Catherine and Henry. While Henry and Eleanor balance the enjoyment of the novel with good sense, Catherine is heavily influenced by the gothic mystery and begins to see evidence of horrors at Northanger Abbey. The novel’s influence leads her into her horrible suspicions about Captian Tilney that cause a conflict between Catherine and Henry.
Ann Radcliffe
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Fanny Dashwood’s Screens
Decorations
Elinor painted a set of screens for her sister-in-law, Fanny. Fanny had them put into frames and mounted in her drawing room to shield between a person and the fireplace. When John draws attention to the screens, the reactions of the group reveal their attitudes toward Elinor. John wants Colonel Brandon to admire them to convince him of Elinor’s suitability as a wife. Brandon admires them out of friendship. Fanny warns Mrs. Farrars that they are Elinor’s work so she dismisses them unkindly, illustrating her dislike of Elinor and her own bad manners. This leads to an outburst of emotion from Marrianne who feels Elinor’s pain as strongly as her own. The screens, which were a kind gift from Elinor to her sister-in-law, are used against her by Fanny and Fanny’s mother.
Elinor (Dashwood) Farrars
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Harriet’s Portrait
Paintings
Emma paints a portrait of Harriet because she believes it will draw Mr. Elton’s attention to Harriet. The painting embodies the misunderstandings that take place between the three of them when Mr. Elton praises Harriet with the intent of pleasing Emma. Mr. Elton compliments the painting because of Emma’s talent, but Emma is convinced that it is because of Harriet’s beauty. When Mr. Elton take her painting to London for framing, Emma is certain he is showing Harriet’s picture to his family, but his only interest is in pleasing Emma. The painting is one of several situations that Emma completely misunderstands when she is determined to set up Harriet and Mr. Elton.
Emma (Woodhouse) Knightly
Emma, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Robert Ferrar’s Toothpick Case
Accessories
Robert Ferrars is first introduced to the Dashwood sisters while he is making an order for a custom toothpick case. While the Dashwoods wait in line, he takes over fifteen minutes to examine all of the toothpick cases in the shop before finally designing his own made of ivory, gold, and pearls. His obsessive attention toward the toothpick case, at the expense of politeness toward the Dashwoods, reveals his vanity and his superficial nature long before Lucy preys on it. It is a symbol for frivolity, contrasting with his brother’s good sense.
Gray’s in Sackville Street
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Fordyce’s Sermons
Books
Mr. Collins chooses Sermons to Young Women by James Fordyce to read to his 5 female cousins for entertainment. He refuses to continue reading after Lydia interrupts and is offended that his cousins are not all receptive to his lesson. It not only illustrates his own pious airs, but also his intention to monitor the behavior of the young ladies whose estate he will inherit. He continues to write to their father about their affairs after he returns home.
James Fordyce
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Beronetage of England
Books
Sir Walter Elliot is fond of perusing his copy of the Beronetage to find his own name listed. When his daughters are married, he also takes pride in adding them to Elliot entry. As a man who does not care for reading, Sir Elliot’s affection for the two volume listing of nobility illustrates his vanity and pride in his rank, which he carries into his hopes for his daughter’s marriages. The attention Sir Eliot pays the Beronetage is contrasted with the attention the Musgrove daughters and others pay to the Navy Lists, illustrating the conflicting notions of social importance – noble birth and achievement.
John Debette
Persuasion, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Edward Ferrars’s Ring
Accessories
Edward’s ring is distinguished by the plait of hair at its center. Marrianne is the first to mention it, and though believing that her sister, Elinor, gave the ring to Edward as a token of love, she politely asks Edward if it is from his sister, Fanny. Not wanting to reveal that it is actually from Lucy, to whom he is secretly engaged, Edward claims that it is indeed from Fanny. Both Marrianne and Elinor privately believe it to be Elinor’s hair, though Elinor knows it must have been taken without her knowledge. When Lucy reveals to Elinor that she gave Edward a ring with a lock of her hair, Elinor’s memory of the ring proves to her that Lucy is telling the truth about her engagement to Edward. The revelation of the ring is a turning point in Elinor’s romantic hopes toward Edward.
Lucy (Steele) Ferrars
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Lock of Marrianne’s Hair
Personal Memorabilia
During a trip to Barton Cottage, Willoughby cuts a long lock of Marrianne’s hair from her head and puts it into his pocket-book. Margaret spies this action and the Dashwood women consider it as further proof that Marrianne and Willoughby are secretly engaged. As this is not the case, the gift is an illustration of Marrianne’s impropriety in her affection for Willoughby. Such a token is only appropriate for an engaged couple. When Willoughby returns the hair to her, it signifies the end of his and Marrianne’s attachment.
Marrianne (Dashwood) Brandon
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Mr. Darcy’s Letter
Personal Memorabilia
Mr. Darcy’s letter of explanation to Elizabeth is a turning point in their love story. After Elizabeth rejects Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal, he writes a letter that addresses two accusations she made against him – his treatment of Wickham and his separation of Jane and Mr. Bingly. After reading his account in the letter, she realizes that her impressions were entirely wrong in those two cases and many more. She lets go of her prejudices and begins to fall in love. He let go of his pride enough to explain himself to her.
Mr. Darcy
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Theater Curtains
Decorations
In order to transform Mansfield Park into a theater, the actors were adamant about needing a curtain. Mrs. Norris slaves over the creation of the curtain, claiming she is trying to help them save money, while actually becoming implicit in the poor decision to put on the play. She is proud to be helping until Sir Bertram arrives home to condemn all the actors. Then, she tries to act as if she had not condoned the behavior in his absence, but the curtains she made, essential to the play, demonstrate her bad judgment.
Mrs. Norris
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel