“Who Needs a Hero? Redefining Female Agency in Jane Austen’s Novels”

Abstract

Written as a way of introducing the exceptionally talented mind of Jane Austen, this article explores the broad array of geniuses that she embodies. The article traces the development of her voice over the course of her novels, focusing on character perspective and creation. Austen also switches between multiple narrative perspectives (omniscient and internal monologues), providing depth to her characters within a unified story. It seems to me that this approach highlights a shining example of Austen using her language and perspective as tools, establishing an understanding that she is not merely an observer or recorder of social comment, but a text weaver. Moreover, the novels of Austen reveal a singular blend of conventional literary structure and its opposition. And as her novels of social comedy provide subtle arguments with contemporary society, and although she respects traditional forms and customs Austen also questions much of the prevailing standards of the time akin to how she pits tradition against individual growth more and more as becomes noticeable in each successive novel. This act of placing women, bold for the era given gender roles at the time, at the forefront of her narratives ensured Austen's place as a literary giantess and an early figurehead for the feminist novel. Excerpts from Austen's works, supplemented with scholarly arguments, illustrate the complexity of her narrative method and thematic investigations during the analysis. Overall, this paper contributes to the landscape of Austen adaptation as well as illuminates Austen's long-lasting ability to tell stories through English prose, all contributing to the trajectory of the novel.