Northanger Abbey has all the themes of a gothic horror novel, gloomy architecture, supposedly sinister characters, mystery and so on, but Austen presents the reader with an anti-climax on regular occasions whilst Catherine, along with the Tilney's, is at Northanger Abbey. Before Catherine arrives she has great expectations of Northanger Abbey, she thought it to be a large, terrible, horrific castle. This was because the novels she read had made her believe that a place like Northanger Abbey had, In some way, to be haunted, preoccupied and spooky. Catherine certainly believes this as her conversation with Henry Tilney proves, firstly Henry knows what Catherine is expecting of the Abbey, so he takes advantage of her conditioned mind and fills it with ideas of what Catherine thinks is the most exciting thing in the world. Henry is like the voice of Jane Austen and he mocks gothic literature and the people who read and believe it. Austen constantly mocks gothic literature but indirectly, through Henry and also Catherine. However, she mocks it gently and compassionately, I think she, more than just mocking readers of gothic novels, is just trying to get her view across that she has read gothic literature and does see the excitement but, it’s those who take it too far, into reality that should be mocked, as in a sense they aren’t appreciating the true marvel of literature without interpreting it to be true and round the corner, as Catherine does with Northanger Abbey. In the scene where Henry teases Catherine, Austen uses various techniques to engage the reader. She uses strong imagery – ‘Will not your heart sink within you?’ and marvelous descriptions of the stereotypical gothic set up – ‘and the bed, of dark green stuff or purple velvet’. But what’s even more humorous is Henry’s reference to the novels Catherine and so probably the reader has read - “what one reads about” is Catherine’s response. A deliberate language use from Jane Austen, again to make gothic literature readers look terribly silly – ‘Oh! Mr. Tilney, how frightful! – This is just like a book! – But it cannot really happen to me – Well, what then?’ - in this section Austen uses exclamation marks to shows Catherine’s excitement and a statement that makes Catherine look very much naive and child-like, she gives the response that a person with mindful insight recognizing the purpose of novels, such as Frankenstein and Mysteries of Udolpho, would give but totally again makes herself look stupid by contrasting the sensible thing she just said by urging him on more - ‘Well, what then?’
A dominant feature or theme in gothic literature is mystery and secrecy, and Northanger Abbey is no exception. This tradition involves characters discovering secrets or concealed things. However, in Northanger Abbey this feature differs from normal gothic literature. The mystery really isn’t there but in Catherine’s own imagination. The character is curious to try and find out something about Northanger Abbey and the Tilneys. Given that Catherine is so normal it is no surprise that the circumstances in which she’s involved are also painfully normal. For example, when Catherine discovers a chest in her room and is overly intrigued with it and excited to discover the mysteries of the chest. Austen seems at her best at this point in the book as she un-noticeably slips in and out of free indirect speech still managing to parody both gothic novels and gothic novel readers. She uses description such as ‘curiously inlaid’, ‘mysterious cypher’ and ‘motionless wonder’. ‘Curious’, ‘mysterious’ and ‘wonder’ all give a sense of excitement in Catherine’s head. When Austen talks of how the handles of the chest were ‘perhaps broken prematurely by some strange violence’ she slips into saying what Catherine would be thinking, showing how determined the character is to find something dark and perhaps horrible about what is really only a tatty old chest used for keeping sheets in. Jane Austen is developing her character but also telling her readers how naive her character is. Catherine’s language also adds to this impression of Catherine when she questions the perfectly normal chest – ‘What can it hold?’ - ‘Why should it be placed here?’
In Northanger Abbey there aren’t that many occasions on which Catherine is fearful. There is usually a sense of excitement, or at most anxiety, but not fear. However when Catherine gets to the point of being able to open the chest Austen engages the reader by her description of Catherine and her fear/excitement/curiosity - ‘with trembling hands’ and ‘her fearful curiosity was every moment growing greater’ are among the descriptions used to engage the reader. But just as Catherine is opening the ‘immense heavy chest’ the maid came knocking at her door and bathos is used to create an anti-climax, which is a first hand, specific parody of gothic literature.
Throughout Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland is made to look inexperienced and foolish. However, she is still a likeable character. Catherine goes to Bath with Mr. and Miss Allen. Jane Austen lived in Bath for 4 years, so we know that the first half of the novel is a good insight into what life in Bath was like. When Catherine and Miss Allen first arrive they talk of wishing for acquaintances. The time they are in Bath feels like the most interesting part of the novel to me. In Bath Austen talks of ‘the Upper-rooms’ and the ‘Pump-room’ and it is in these parts that I feel Austen excels. Like some of her other works she writes of social circles, love interests, new acquaintances etc. The descriptions of minute details such as when Catherine has to hide her happiness and content, and other descriptions of meetings are what make Austen’s novels so compelling. For me this is the most ‘engaging’ part of the novel. Catherine often looks foolish and naive but I suppose she does learn something about herself, namely that her expectations about the world being like a fictional (gothic) story were wrong. The main conclusions of gothic mysteries involved heroic women winning battles with forces of darkness. Catherine Morland is engaging because she learns and Austen’s readers learn that the world is more complicated.
Austen captures and engages the reader in many ways during Northanger Abbey. Through parodying gothic literature Austen demonstrates her versatility and ability to write books of different genres. In true Jane Austen fashion, she retains the subject matters she’s famous for; this is why Austen is such a well-known, highly regarded writer, compared to others of her time. Austen uses techniques to keep you interested, like bathos, free indirect style and also pathetic fallacy, but what seems to be most gripping is Catherine’s journey of self-discovery; within the book we feel what Catherine feels. No matter how naive or inexperienced Catherine is, which she is, we feel the curiosity she feels; we connect with her happiness; we genuinely feel excited for her. Catherine’s stupidity, innocence and unlikely status as a heroine all contribute to why Catherine is such a thrilling and compelling character. All the contributions to the story line: Isabella Thorpe seeming to be flirting with Captain Tilney; General Tilney’s wife’s mysterious death; Catherine and Henry’s relationship, all urge us to read on, and this is why and how Austen engages the reader.