Not Just A Novelist! A Writer Comments on Women’s Rights and Roles and Duties
By Stephen Wilson, one of our reporters abroad
The English writer Jane Austen, along with so many other female writers, not only wrote witty, wise and brilliant novels. She also wrote works which might be viewed as a continuation of a philosophy by other means. She condemned the stunting and stifling oppression which crushed the talents and skills of so many women.
She was well ahead of her time in her condemnation oppression! Although her novels are certainly well-crafted entertainment, her works can be viewed as much deeper in a wide philosophical sense. Jane Austen remains a radical voice which reflects a sophisticated, subtle and authentic rhetoric. At a time when a crude rhetoric is used to manipulate and abuse people we need to ask ourselves what we mean by rhetoric, and how it is currently being used and abused. The novels of Jane Austen can help us in this quest.
How might people view Jane Austen novels? It is fair to claim not everyone warms to the idea of reading her novels. Some think they are dull, tedious, and devoid of real drama. They may begin a novel but never finish one. For instance, in one American film called 'You have Email,' a businessman cannot help suppressing a yawn while reading one novel. Not everyone has the inclination or patience to read those novels. What a pity! They don't know what they are missing.
Some people view her works as limited to the genre of the type of romantic novels published by Mills and Boon. My history teacher once told me “Jane Austen was the 19th century version of Mills and Boon.” With no disrespect to this publisher, I think her works are much more. She had a profound impact on inspiring women to stand up to injustice and not be afraid to assert and express themselves.
It took immense courage for a woman to write novels at the turn of the 18th century. Women were not supposed to write novels. It was almost a taboo thing. Women were largely viewed as being obliged to remain in the shadows of men, to have and bring up children, do household duties, and obey men. Some men presumed that women were 'intellectually inferior' and incapable of being great writers, artists and scientists. Married women did not have the right to inherit property or have their voice respected in their will. Many women were even denied the right to choose their marriage partner. They had to accept the will of their fathers who insisted on 'a marriage of convenience' which would be advantageous from a commercial point of view.
As the historian Roy Porter wrote, “In common law, wives had no rights over their children or to matrimonial property (though land could be held in trust for wives}. This was because “In marriage husband and wife are one person, and that one person is the husband,” as Sir William Blackstone deftly explained, glossing “the very being, or legal existence, of the woman is suspended during marriage.” As ‘Women In England,' an early 18th century book put it, “With all their moveable goods as soon as they are married are wholly in potestate viri, that is to say, at will and disposition of the husband.” Even a woman's “very necessary apparel, by the law, is not here in property.” A husband had the right to beat his wife, ruled a judge, “provided the stick was no thicker than a man's thumb” {see page 24 of Roy Porter's book “English Society in the 18th century,” 1990, London: Penguin Books}.
The results of this was that on the death of the father, the wife and daughters could even be forced to leave their home. We see this in the novels such as ‘Sense and Sensibility’ as well as in ‘Persuasion.’ If a woman refused to marry the suitor of her father's choice she could be evicted from her house. This is one of the themes of Austen's novel, Mansfield Park, when Fanny Crawford is forced to leave her home to return to her father's overcrowded and poor home in Portsmouth. Jane Austen believed that a person should marry for love. This love was based on her Christian principles. In one of her letters she wrote, “Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection. Nothing can be compared to the misery of being bound without love.” Some critics claim she was a secret radical. David Daiches claimed that Austen was 'a Marxist before Marx'.
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If indeed her works represent an implicit critique of unfair property rights and exploitation, this may be partly true. The Scottish philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre claimed that Austen articulates an Aristotelian view of life where everyone is under obligation to practise the virtues of honesty, integrity, and constancy. A person choosing a partner should not do so on the basis of passions and a spark but a degree of reason and reflection. A person should think with his or her brains as well as heart. Helena Kelly, in her book ' Jane Austen, The Secret Radical' (2024) stated there is no doubt pointers in her novels suggesting that Austen was opposed to slavery, the oppression of women, and the use of manipulative rhetoric to deprive women of their homes, reputations, and money.
But I think it is well worth looking at how Alastair MacIntyre views how some men and women use charisma as well as rhetoric, to deceive people. In ‘Mansfield Park,’ rhetoric is abused by the characters to gain their own ends.
It is also important to acknowledge that Jane Austen was a master of rhetoric. A striking and succinct example comes from her novel ‘Northanger Abbey.’ In this novel we hear her voice defending the novel against not only a tirade of critics but the novelists themselves. She laments this situation and thinks novelists and readers of novels should not feel shame. Concerning novels, Austen complains, “From pride, ignorance, or fashion, our foes are almost as many as our readers.’ She further protests that “There seems almost a general wish of decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour of the novelist, and of slighting the performances at which have only genius, wit, and taste to recommend them."
She further insists, “I am no novel reader; I seldom look into novels. Do not imagine that I often read novels- It is really very well for a novel." Such is the common cant. "And what are you reading, Miss,-?" “Oh, It is only a novel!" replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentarily shame." It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda," or, in short, only some work 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. {page 43-44 of ‘Northanger Abbey,’ Jane Austen.}
It is worth noting that around the late 18th century there were 100 female novelists in England. Although many of those writers wrote brilliant works they still remain in ill-deserved obscurity. Although Jane Austen has herself overshadowed those writers, I doubt she would have found it fair. Austen appeals to novelists to stick together and defend each other! She stated, “Let us not desert one another: we are an injured body.” This passage from ‘Northanger Abbey’ indicates how Austen was a master of rhetoric in the best sense of the word. She comes across as supportive of other struggling novelists.
In her work ‘Mansfield Park’ she exposed the empty rhetoric of charismatic characters. Characters such as Henry and Mary Crawford use rhetoric to deceive and fool impressionable people. As MacIntyre points out, “Henry Crawford is the dissimulator par excellence.” He conveys a counterfeit rather than authentic practise of virtues. Only the heroine Fanny Price has the acute sense to see through all the deception that is woven by the charismatic Henry Crawford. Unfortunately, as in real life as well as the novel, too many people are fooled by the false rhetoric of a certain charm. Many people can be gullible and over impressed by the false charisma of people. The deadly results can be seen in America at this time with the rising influence of demagogues who use use words to inflame prejudice and resentment.
We need to foster a philosophical culture where we have the courage to question everything including our own beliefs and notions. We have to return to a more profound and deeper view of rhetoric. Now at present, people have reduced rhetoric to simply the art of persuasion and arguing one’s own case convincingly in court, in parliament or in advertising. But this surely represents an impoverished view of rhetoric. The real meaning of rhetoric was a way with words which encompassed much more. Aristotle was against using rhetoric 'to bend the rod before using it as a measure.' Rhetoric was viewed as an art or craft which should not be based on non-argumentative persuasion which assumes the form of ignorance, prejudice, fear or stoking up prejudice. In contrast, we see a positive use of Rhetoric used by Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility when she defends the characters of Edward Ferrars and Colonel Brandon against the unjust slights of her sister.
Rhetoric encompasses many skills such as making speeches, writing a poem, letters, and telling a story well. It can also mean making polite and pleasant conversation. It also implies a degree of emotional intelligence where you are prepared to attentively listen to people who disagree with you. Of course, we can overrate the use of rhetoric. One of the points of ‘Mansfield Park’ is that though Fanny does not always excel in rhetoric and lacks charm, she practises the virtues and at least does the right thing. What is the use of rhetoric if it is devoid of doing good?
So if you want a writer who makes huge and insightful comments about women’s rights and roles and duties, Jane Austen is the one! Her fine work represents rhetoric in its best dramatic form then
Jane Austen is the one to read. Her works are a refreshing source of positive energy. In addition, she certainly had a way with wit!
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Some sources for further reading:
1. Roy Porter, ‘English Society in the 18th Century, 1990, London: Penguin Books.
2. Alastair MacIntyre, ‘After Virtue,’ 2004 edition, London: Ducksworth.
3. Jane Austen, ‘Mansfield Park,’ 2003 edition, Oxford and New York: Oxford World Classics/, Oxford University Press.
4. Jane Austen, ‘Northanger Abbey,’ republished in Moscow, by Izdatelstvoast, 2024.
5. Helena Kelly, ‘Jane Austen: The Secret Radical , 2024, London: Icon Books.