The Transactional Aspect of Marriage In Northanger Abbey

For much of early human history, the idea of marriage is rooted in the primal sense of companionship, a long-held social tradition aimed at legitimizing the relationship between a man and a woman, and any offspring that came from it. Over thousands of years, as human cultures progressed into clan-like societies and formed social hierarchies, marriage has evolved into a structured institution. Marriage is no longer a matter of personal affection, but now a multifaceted system that is shaped by economic, social, and oftentimes, political considerations. The role that marriage has extended far beyond legitimization, but is now a means of securing wealth, forging wider relationships, and reinforcing social orders. All of this can be summarized in the 1891 book, A Short History of Marriage by Finnish sociologist, Edvard Westermarck, a foundational academic study that was important to understanding the concept of marriage. But earlier in that same century, English author Jane Austen satirizes this view of marriage in her posthumous 1818 book Northanger Abbey, lamenting that marriage has become a form of business, especially one that disadvantages women. In her work, Austen expresses this view through the various characters in Northanger Abbey, their dialogue, and actions. 

The works of Jane Austen have always critiqued the practice of arranged marriages, often shining a light on the commoditization of young women in these situations. In Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland is constantly assessed based on wealth and social standing  rather than her own personal qualities, especially by General Tilney, the father of Catherine’s love interest. Throughout the book, General Tilney embodies a business-like approach to marriage, and through misinformation, he mistakenly believes that Catherine is a wealthy heiress, which motivates him to aggressively encourage Catherine’s courtship with his son Henry. He invites Catherine to a stay at the family’s residence, Northanger Abbey, and treats her with lavish offerings and hospitality. He views Catherine as a commodity, a perfect pairing for her son because of her perceived values, but not her personal characteristics. When it was discovered that Catherine’s wealth was exaggerated, General Tilney cruelly dismissed her because she did not possess the value that he had expected, as evidenced in the chapter 30 excerpt: “She was guilty only of being less rich than he had supposed her to be.” This characterization of Catherine as a form of product or item in a business transaction (marriage), and in line with most of Jane Austen’s view on marriage.

Unique to Northanger Abbey is Jane Austen’s satirization of gothic romanticism, a conventional genre popular during Austen’s time that idealized the view of a romantic, passionate love. This is done through Catherine’s characterization as a fan of gothic novels, with a romanticised view of a world of adventure and love of choice. Throughout the course of the book, Catherines fantasies would  be shattered as she learns that love in society, particularly English society is governed by wealth, and inheritance. In chapter 24, in a conversation with Catherine, Henry Tilney tempers down her idealized expectations and reminds her of the realities of English society, resulting in the excerpt: “They had reached the end of the gallery, and with tears of shame she ran off to her own room.”. Austen’s book offers a rebuttal of the ideas expressed in the Gothic genre, and rejects the notion of romance as grand adventure, through such lines throughout Northanger Abbey.

Lastly, scholars have often referred to Jane Austen as the “proto-feminist”, whose works have often highlighted that, like businesses, women are often at a disadvantage when it comes to marriage decisions, and this statement also extends to Northanger Abbey. In a conversation between Catherine, Henry, and a friend named Isabella, regarding marriage in Chapter 10, there is an excerpt that is essentially Austen’s statement to the reader: “man has the advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal”. This phrase highlights how little a woman’s role is in marriage decision-making, and instead, these plans are relegated to the men and their fathers, as illustrated by Henry Tilney and his father, general Tilney. 

The English society that Jane Austen grew up in is one that is marked by one of modernization, with the rise of industrialization and capitalism, with more rigid social structures and hierarchies, and presents another evolution in how marriage operates. The role of social considerations and wealth in marriage were at the utter forefront during this time period: cites such as Bath (a setting in the book) would become locations where young people socialize and meet, the Victorian era popularized debutante balls and the idea of presenting young women for marriage, and the rise of social classes shaped how Englishmen choose their wives. Northanger Abbey highlights the increasing transactional nature of marriage really well, through situations that emphasized Catherine Morland as a product for a marriage rather than a person, the illustration of how wealth governs marriage decisions, how women are often disadvantaged in these decisions. With all these points made throughout the book, Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey aims to highlight how marriage has become an institution akin to that of a business.

Works Cited:

Austen, J. (1818). Northanger Abbey. John Murray.

Westermarck, E. (1891). A short history of marriage. Macmillan.