Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
INDAH SRI HAYU RUKMIADI
Student Number: 064214073
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
INDAH SRI HAYU RUKMIADI
Student Number: 064214073
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
not see; the reward of this
faith is to see what you
believe.
Nama : Indah Sri Hayu Rukmiadi Nomor Mahasiswa : 064214073
Dalam pengembangan karya ilmiah, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS, SETTING AND PLOT IN FINDING THE THEME OF JANE AUSTEN’S NORTHANGER ABBEY
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada).
Dengan demikian, saya memberikan Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mengaplikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa meminta ijin kepada saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya. Selama nama saya tercantum sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Di buat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 16 November 2010 Yang menyatakan
advisor, Maria Ananta, S.S, M.Ed., for her patience and her guidance. My greatest thanks go to my co-advisor, Harris H. Setiajid, S.S, M.Hum., for giving suggestions and advices. I thank you for your criticisms and your force to
motivate me.
My enormous thanks go to my mommy Alexandra Jovita Poedjianti, my mama Irene Herawati and my aunty Sundari for all supports and prayers. You are wonderful women I have. Thank you for being my fences. I also give
thank to my brother, Michael Abraham ‘Jojok’, who always accompanies me with his patience, my lovely sister, Vera Ayu, who teaches me to survive, and all of my relatives who encourage me to finish this thesis.
I give my special thanks to my beloved daddy, Yosef Wahjoedie for all memories that strengthens me. Although he is in heaven, I know he never stops
holding me tight when I finish my study in English Letters. Love u dad…
My big thanks come to Mas Bowo, Mas Talok, and Rm. In Nugroho, who always give me motivation to finish my study. I miss every moment to meet
with you all.
I thank for all of the lecturers of English Letters of Sanata Dharma University and for all of the staff who also give me support to finish my study. My special thanks come to Mbak Ninik who helps me sincerely when I study.
Thanks to all friends in English Letters of Sanata Dharma University,
thesis, I thank you all. I also give thanks for my KKN friends; Thea, Fani, Dika, Tara, Rara, Vivin and Arga for the time to share knowledge.
For everyone who supports me in finishing my study, I thank you so much. I am so sorry if I cannot mention your names one by one. I will always
remember your lessons in my heart.
Finally, I give my deepest honor for Jesus Christ, my Almighty God in heaven. I praise Your name for all Your grace, Your power, and Your mercy for
You sent to me many wonderful people I mentioned to help me finishing my
study. In this part, let me present this undergraduate thesis for You and now, I am
ready to continue my life with You.
MOTTO PAGE………. iv
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW………. 6
A. Review of Related Studies……….. 6
B. Review of Related Theories……….. 8
1. Theory of Character and Characterization……… 8
2. Theory of Setting…….……….. 11
A. The Description of the Characteristics of the Major Characters 21 1. The characteristics of Catherine Morland………. 22
2. The characteristics of Henry Tilney……….. 26
B. The Description of the Setting ………. 28
1. The Setting of Time……….... 28
2. The Setting of Place……… 30
3. The Portrayal of the Society in Northanger Abbey…… 30
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………... 51
BIBLIOGRAPHY……….. 52
University, 2010.
Northanger Abbey is a classic novel that was written by Jane Austen and
published in 1817 in England. This novel is very interesting because it tells about the English social condition that is reflected by a love adventure of an uptown girl named Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney, a noble clergyman, in the city of Bath.
Two interesting problems will be discussed in the analysis. The first problems are; the description of the characteristics of the major characters, the setting, and the plot. In the second problem, the writer explains what the significances of those internal elements in finding the main idea or the theme of
Northanger Abbey.
This thesis is based in the library research as the methodology. There are theories on character and characterization, theories on setting and theory on plot that are used in answering the first problem formulation. In the second problem formulation, the writer uses theory on theme in finding the theme. To go deeper into the analysis, the writer uses the formalistic approach, which was analyzing the internal elements of the literary work. The approach supports the writer and the readers to get the value and the meaning of the literary work such Northanger Abbey.
Dharma, 2010.
Northanger Abbey adalah sebuah novel klasik karangan Jane Austen yang
dipublikasikan pada tahun 1817 di Inggris. Novel ini sangat menarik karena mengangkat kehidupan masyarakat Inggris yang digambarkan melalui petualangan cinta Catherine Morland, seorang gadis desa dan Henry Tilney, pendeta muda bangsawan.
Penulis akan mengangkat dua permasalahan dalam novel Northanger
Abbey. Permasalahan pertama adalah deskripsi mengenai karakteristik para tokoh
utama, deskripsi latar, dan deskripsi plot. Pada permasalahan yang kedua, penulis akan mengaitkan pengaruh dari analisa deskripsi dalam menemukan tema atau pokok pikiran dari novel tersebut.
Penulis menggunakan metode pustaka. Ada beberapa teori yang digunakan dalam penulisan tesis ini, yaitu teori penokohan dan karakterisasi, teori seting, dan teori plot yang digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan pertama. Pada permasalahan kedua, penulis mengaplikasikan teori tema untuk menyelesaikannya. Untuk memperdalam analisis, penulis menggunakan pendekatan formalistik yang menggali karya sastra melalui intrinsik elemennya. Pendekatan ini membantu penulis dan para pembaca untuk menangkap pesan dan pokok pikiran karya sastra itu sendiri, seperti halnya dalam Northanger Abbey. Meskipun Northanger Abbey adalah novel klasik yang ringan, namun isinya sangat kuat. Setiap intrinsik elemennya saling mempengaruhi. Penulis mengungkapkan bahwa tema Northanger Abbey adalah “status sosial dan kekayaan merupakan hambatan dalam suatu hubungan ”. Tema ini sesuai dengan
Northanger Abbey yang menceritakan perjuangan Catherine Morland dan Henry
A. Background of the Study
Reading a book opens knowledge and perspective. It also gives spiritual
experience for the readers. Literary works are part of reflections of human life.
They have meaningful values for the author even for the readers. In the literary
works, the author, share everything about some issues such as politics, humanity,
education, social, and even their life experience.
According to Wilfred L. Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approachesto
Literature, analyzing literature needs more than a pure pleasure. It has to maintain
the knowledge (1998:5). The readers perhaps are capable of predicting and
assuming such knowledge and the intelligent application of several interpretive
technique of a piece of literature.
In literature, it is very important and requires attention to other elements in
the story. Intrinsic elements of the fiction such as plot, character, message, setting,
atmosphere and symbols cannot be forgotten because those elements are
considered to lead the story into a good story. When understanding those elements
and realizing that they are connected each other, it will help the reader to find
theme that is offered in the novel.
In this analysis, the writer tries to find the theme. The focus is to find what
the story is about. The theme is interesting elements that enriching a fiction and
through the other device or elements of a fiction. Therefore, Stanton says in An
Introduction to Fiction that at finding the theme, the readers must find and go
deeper to the characters’ characteristics, the situation, and the plot (1965: 21).
Intrinsic elements have aesthetic values if the author can make it into a
beautiful idea. The author arranges her idea by presenting the characters. Without
the characters, the readers cannot enjoy it. They are like breath in a novel or
fiction. Sometime an author puts the characters on to the story to convey her
ideas, opinion, criticism or messages about life or social condition.
A novel is different. A novel picks and focuses on that. If it is an historical novel, it picks a theme that (hopefully) of the true historical era or the life central character and uses versions of actual historical characters (a few fictional ones, of necessary) to illuminate that theme.
(http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/solander theme character.htm _taken October 12, 2010)
Steven Pressfield explains that the theme of a historical fiction is
description of a relation between the character and historical events. It is
indicating how the characters react to the problem that happens in a certain
condition. The character itself has its own role to represent the historical reality
that is packaged in a plot that flows the reader to feel the sense of the story.
The setting helps the readers to have a description about the place or
condition in the novel. The setting and the characters cannot be separated because
they are connected each other. In the book of An Introduction to Reading and
Writing, Edgar and Jacobs state that the setting in a novel can influence the
Combining characters and setting support the author’s idea to create a plot.
It serves a story or the arrangement of the author’s idea. Most of plot serves some
events or phenomenon. It is like a stream in a fiction that flows to the points
where the author wants to reach.
Knowing that each element has the contribution and the uniqueness for a
fiction, the writer is interesting to go deeper to analyze them. Besides those
elements are important, the writer considers that those elements are wonderful.
They have the power that builds and lead a novel to be a good literary work.
The writer chooses Northanger Abbey as her object of study. Northanger
Abbey is one Jane Austen’s masterpieces. The writer selects Austen’s work
because Jane Austen was an excellent novelist. She provides beautiful novels in
her life such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield
Park, Northanger Abbey and Emma. One of her masterpieces is Northanger
Abbey. It was written in 1797 and published in 1818. Northanger Abbey tells
about a heroine named Catherine Morland, a young and naïve girl from middle
class, who is living around society which is influenced by literature, fashion,
balls, party, and wealth. It is told that Catherine has difficulties to find a true
friend because she is betrayed by her friend, Isabella Thorphe. Since Isabella is
engaged, flirts another man who is richer that her brother was, Catherine becomes
so disappointed and uneasy to seek such a best friend. Her love adventure with
Henry Tilney gets an obstacle form Henry’s father, General Tilney, who does not
allow him to marry too Catherine since the girl is not coming from the upper
in Northanger Abbey is interesting for the writer. By knowing the theme,
the writer will find what the point of the story is. To find the theme, the writer will
go deeper by analyzing some intern elements of Northanger Abbey such as plot,
setting, and the major characters’ characteristic.
B. Problem formulation
1. How are the plot, major characters, and setting described in the story?
2. How are the plot, setting, and the major characters significant in finding the
theme of the story?
C. Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are to find out the answer that is to reveal the
theme in the Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Based on the problem formulation,
the writer has to find the description of the major character’s characteristics, plot,
and setting. After solving those problems, the writer will try to analyze how those
elements are connected to reveal the theme.
D. Definition of terms
The writer writes the definition of terms to help the reader in
understanding the meaning of some words that are considered important to convey
of this study.
1. Character
M. H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, defines
by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional quality, that is expressed in what he says- the dialogue-and by what he does- the action.”
(1993:23).
2. Plot
Peter Barry in his Beginning Theory explains that plot is the narrative
account. In the plot, those events are edited, ordered, packaged, and presented as
narration. (2002:223).
3. Setting
M. H. Abrams says that the settings of a narrative or dramatic works are
taken from the general locale, historical time and social circumstance in which the
action occurs. Settings also represent a particular scene which positioning the
actors (1993:193).
4. Theme
To reveal theme, the writer also uses term “theme” in definition of terms
in her thesis. in Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams defines theme as a general
concept or doctrine, whether it is implicit or asserted in the literary work that is
designed to incorporated and persuade the reader to find the meaning or the
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
It is interesting to analyze Northanger Abbey for the writer. Northanger
Abbey is one of Jane Austen’s works that was written in 18th century. It is
successful to influence her readers and other novelists. Northanger Abbey seems
like a reflection of Austen’s life. In the novel, she became an author who could
combine social concerns and social values, such as: history, humanity, and even
personal development into a good mixture.
Elizabeth Langland in Society in the Novel opines that Northanger Abbey
is a novel that was written in good technique to highlight the concern about the
society and the individual. It presents the society as acceptable context for the
characters although there are sources between private and public lives (1984:26).
The Harvard Students studies that Northanger Abbey is a novel that sees
the reality life in eighteenth century in British. It contains the worry about the
necessary of marriage for the British women to raise their social status.
Concerns over matters of marriage and courtship proliferate in Northanger Abbey. Throughout the novel, Austen foreground the economic significance of marriage: in 18th century England, fortune were built through family alliances.
As it is noted down in Northanger Abbey Essay, the novel of Northanger
Abbey is a mild novel that tells about the youth life of Catherine Morland who
experiences to live in a new hectic circumstance. She is introduced with the
higher- level life and survives among her sophisticated friends.
NorthangerAbbey is a novel that is about more than a girl who is looking
to find a husband. Its author Jane Austen is able to create a type of gothic parody that throughout the novel is integrated into the characterization and able to show the realities of a young girl growing up in a complicated and complex adult society.
(http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/36551.html_taken: May 10, 2010)
According to Dusty Carter, Jane Austen is an anti-romantic author. On the
contrary, she presents the difference things in Northanger Abbey. The romantic
story between the major characters is served meaningfully for the readers.
Jane Austen is commonly viewed as anti-romantic, but her novel,
Northanger Abbey, possesses and promotes many of the ideas prevalent in
romantic literature. Heroine Catherine Morland is an especially romantic characters whose spontaneity, emotion, and sincerity eventually lead her to happiness.
(http://www.gradesaver.com/northanger-abbey/essays/essay4/_taken: October 31, 2010)
For a girl like Catherine Morland is not easy to deal with the problems that
she must face in the society. To reach her happiness, she and her mate must work
hard to break the social perception that intimidates her relationship.
This thesis will explore further the romantic experience of Catherine
of the novel especially the characters, the setting, the plot, and the theme, become
the focus of this thesis.
B. Review of Related Theories
Before analyzing the theme, the writer focuses to analyze the major
character so that the writer knows the characteristics of the main characters, the
setting, and the plot of the story. In this thesis, the writer uses theory on character
and characterization, theory on setting, theory on plot and theory on theme.
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
In Abram’s AGlossary of Literary Terms, it defines that characters are the
person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the
reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that
are expressed in what they-say that is called thedialogue and by what they-do or
theaction (1993:193)
He adds that character in a fiction is divided into two types;
a. Major Characters
This is the three-dimensional or round characters. They revealed the bad
and the good qualities. They have goals, ambitions and values that change as the
b. Minor Characters
This is the flat or the two-dimensional characters. They have only one or
two significant qualities. They are usually all good or all bad. they are also
mentioned as the static characters because they reveal no change (1993:24)
Murphy in Understading Unseens states that there are nine ways to
characterize the characters. They are:
a. Personal Description
The author describes a person by looking his/her appearance or clothes
(1972:161).
b. Character as seen by another
The author describes a character from other characters’ opinion. It is like a
reflected image. It means that one way to make reader understand the
character easily by observing what the other characters say about him/her
(1972:162).
c. Speech
This is the way which author describes the character by observing what
he/she says. The author must observe whenever the character speaks,
whenever the character talks with other characters (dialogue), and
d. Past Life
The author gives the readers clue to events that have helped to shape a
person’s characteristics by letting them learn something about a person’s
past life. It is observed through the direct comment by the author, through
the person’s thought, through his/ her conversation or through the medium
of another person (1972:166).
e. Conversation of others
Person’s characteristics are also presented through the conversation of
other people and the things that other characters say about him/her
(1972:169).
f. Reactions
In this stage, a person’s characteristics observed through the reactions
toward the various situations and events (1972:169).
g. Direct Comment
Direct comment is one of methods, which can convey character’s
characteristics (1972:170).
h. Thoughts
By knowing the thoughts of the character, the readers will get some
knowledge about his/her characteristics. The author gives us description
i. Mannerism
Through this stage, the author gives us clue to observe the character’s
characteristics through his/her mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies
(1972:173).
2. Theory of Setting
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature, describe the setting as
the physical, sometime the spiritual background against which the actions a
narrative in novel, drama, short story, and poem take place (1986: 465).
They list that there are some elements, which can signify the setting. They
are:
a. The actual geographical location, its topography, scenery and such physical
arrangement as the location of the windows and doors in a room.
b. The occupation and daily manner of living of the characters .
c. The time/period in which the action take place, for example epoch in history/
season of the year.
d. The general environment of the characters, for example religious, mental,
While in Understanding Unseen, Murphy says that the setting has three
points that must be concerned. They are:
a) Time.
Murphy divides the setting of time into four parts. First is the present time.
In this period, author writes a book about his own time or about the things that
happen around her. The second, the author uses past time to go backwards in time.
Usually the author uses this setting to write about historical events or to attempt in
illuminating the past to his readers. The next period is the future time. The author
uses this setting by using her imagination and she tries to take the readers into the
future. The last is setting of time is no specific time. In this case, the author gives
no any specific time to indicate when the story happens (1972: 143-144).
b) Place
According to Murphy, the author uses two kinds of setting of place. First,
the author uses the familiar place to set her story in places that have a familiar
background with the readers. The author also uses the unfamiliar place as the
setting that is unknown by the readers or perhaps this is an imagination of the
author (1972:145).
c) Atmosphere
Atmosphere is a general feeling that is conveyed to the readers. The
atmosphere could be like the breath or the mood of the character. The atmosphere
atmosphere by feeling sorrow, happy, evil, optimistic, and so on after reading the
novel (1972: 146).
In addition, Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in their book, Fiction:
An Introduction to Reading and Writing, said that setting gives important roles
that are to bear the character and to give some effect for them. It is signified by
some questions such as, whether the characters happy or unhappy where they live,
whether they could express their feelings or not, whether the place amused them
to stay or not, how the cultural, economic and ethnic level influence them, what
kinds the job that characters do, and how the setting influence the characters in
terms making decisions, transportation, speech habits, eating habits, attitude about
love and honor and their general folkways (1987:218).
3. Theory of Plot
In this thesis, the writer uses theory on plot as one of her theories in this
thesis. According to William Kenney in the book How to Analyze Fiction,
WilliamKenneyexplains in that the arrangement of the plot (1966:13-14).
The stages could be like following stages;
1) Exposition
It is the beginning of a story. It provides the background information and
2) Rising action or complications
This is the event where the conflict reveals. In this part, the author
provides the problem that the major characters must encounter.
3) Climax
It is the turning points (the high suspense) in the story. In this process, the
readers will be led into what the outcome is going to be. Climax usually occurs
near the end of the story.
4) Falling action
The event in the story will lead to the resolution in this session.
5) Resolution or denouement
This is the ending of the story when the conflicts are resolved and the
readers know the result of the story.
In addition, Peter Barry is his Beginning Theory says that the events in a
plot can be divided into two; flashback and flash forward. The author will turn to
events that happened in the previous era when using flashback. In the flash
forward, the author refers to the events, which happen in the future time
(2002:223).
4. Theory of Theme
Clarence Hugh Holman in A Handbook to Literature explains that theme
thought of as the general topic of discussion or will be the subject of the
discourse. In other words, theme is the main idea that the writer expresses and
can be defined as the underlying meaning of the story. Holman adds that theme of
a novel is more that its subject matter. Subject matter is something concrete that
influences the author. Commonly it could be something abstract. The theme of a
novel is what it is about but it is better to say that the theme is what a novel’s
story means. In a novel, theme is beneath of the surface of the novel, while the
surfaces are the characters, plot, and setting. Theme of a novel is beneath the
surface because the readers must draw and tie up the all of the surface before they
get the meaning (1986:502).
According to Virgil Scout in Studies in the Short Stories, theme can be
defined as the generalization that is implied or stated. It can lie behind the
narration of a specific situation that involves specific individuals. Theme appears
when human being lives in the same world and they want to share similar
emotions and react to face the similar problem. Theme cannot be associated with
moral message and the pat of maxim or the ethical or moral value to judge which
one the good and which one the bad or to show that the good party always win the
bad one (1968:8).
To determine the theme, it needs some steps. Since the theme cannot be
justified with some subject such as materialism, death, or justice, or ethical value,
the writer must determine firstly what the story is about. A theme must be stated
to know their disposition, the attitude or the concept of the characters. The last
steps to determine a theme is considering how the characters react to the problem
of the situation in the story and see what happens to them (1968:11)
C. Theoretical Framework
This study aims to find out the theme of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey
through analyzing the major characters, plot and the setting in the novel. In this
analysis, the writer provides some theories to find the answer of the problems.
They are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, theory of plot
and theory of theme. These theories will support the analysis and help to answer
the problem formulations.
In answering the first question of the problem formulation, the writer will
apply theory of character and the characterization toward the major characters in
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. After finding a clear description of the
characters and their characteristics, the writer will jump to look for a description
of the place and the social situation of the Northanger Abbey. The writer will
apply theory of setting to do this analysis. In the end, the writer will apply theory
of plot to find the clear sequence of Northanger Abbey,
In the second problem formulation, the writer will examine how the major
characters, setting and the plot are significant in finding theme. The writer will
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is taken from a literary work as a novel that was
written by Jane Austen, which is entitled Northanger Abbey. This novel was the
first writing of Austen, but published at last in 1818. As the object of analysis, the
writer reads Northanger Abbey, which was the third printing, published by The
New American Library in 1965. The work contains of 221 pages and is divided
into thirty-one chapters.
Jane Austen was a great female author in the Victorian era. She had
written some popular novels such as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice,
Persuasion and Emma. To appreciate Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey was made
in movie for twice. The first Northanger Abbey movie was released in 1986 and
the second release was in 2008. Northanger Abbey movie got IFTA Award in
2008 for the category the Best Director of Photography.
Northanger Abbey is a novel that told about a young girl named Chaterine
Morland. She is a daughter of a clergy from middle class. One day, she has a
chance to visit the city of Bath with her wealthy relation whose childless named
Allen family. While staying in Bath, she is introduced with some new friends.
They are Isabella Thorpe and her brother, John Thorpe, who make trouble in her
Henry Tilney. The girl falls in love with Henry Tilney. Unfortunately, she is
rejected by the Tilney’s father because of her social status. Living in Bath makes
Chaterine Morland learns many things. She faces the society that considers that
status, class, and money are important in making a relationship.
B. Approach of the study
In this research, the writer uses the formalistic approach to analyze her
work. Guerin says in A Handbook of Critical Approach to Literature that to
fulfill the formalistic approach, the readers need to make a close reading (2004:
94).
In reading literature, especially a fiction, the reader will be served some
question in their mind about the fiction. The question could be how the readers see
the readings, what the readers’ responses, and what the novel’s author wants to
say by arranging those internal elements. Those questions can encourage the
readers to be more sensible to go deeper in analyzing each word or each element.
It will lead that every words and form have special function and the meaning. This
process of analysis supports the readers to feel close to the work (2004:93).
Using the formalistic approach means to emphasize objective and literal
interpretation which is in the internal elements. The readers are not allowed to
discuss the elements which are in outside, such as: the politic or the historical
issue or the opinion of the novel’s author.
From the explanation above, the writer knows and understands the
internal elements of Northanger Abbey, the writer uses the formalistic approach.
This approach will help the writer in analyzing how the internal elements such as
the characters, the setting, the plot are related each other to reveal the theme.
C. Method of Study
The writer used library research as the method of the study. The writer
collected some sources and uses them to analyze the problem formulations that
were presented in the first chapter. In this study, the writer used the story
Northanger Abbey itself as the primary source of the study and used another
sources to support this study.
Northanger Abbey was the main source of this study, written by Jane
Austen. For the secondary sources, the writer used some books that could be
considered as references. To add more information, the writer also collected
online resources which were taken from internet that are related to the research
problems, such as some analysis done by previous researchers on the short stories
and on the author, theories on plot, theories on character and characterization,
theories on setting and theories on theme.
The writer made some steps in discussing the topic. The first step was
reading Northanger Abbey. The second step was reading some reference books
and some online journals about Northanger Abbey. The third step, the writer
decided formulating the problems and to apply the suitable approach to analyze
the study. The fourth step was answering the problems of the study and figured
In the last part, the writer would draw the conclusion based on the analysis in the
previous chapter.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
The analysis in this chapter is divided into two parts based on the
problems that are formulated in the first chapter. In the first part, the writer will
analyze the characteristics of the major characters, the setting and the plot of
Northanger Abbey. The second, the writer jumps to analyze how the major
characters, the setting and the plot are related each other to reveal the theme.
A. The Description of the Major Characters of Northanger Abbey
To analyze the characters, the writer deals with the theories that are written
in the previous chapter. In the previous chapter, the writer uses two kinds of
theories. First, the writer uses the theory on character from Abram. Second, the
writer uses the theory on characterization from Murphy to help the writer to
analyze the characteristics of the major characters.
To start analyzing it, the writer looks back to what Murphy says in his
Understanding Unseens that there are some ways to analyze the characters. Those
ways are; personal description, characters as seen by another, speech, past life,
conversation of other, reaction, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism.
Northanger Abbey provides two major characters. The novel introduces
Catherine Morland as the first major character closely in the first chapter.
her father and mother, her own disposition, were all equally against her (p.9)
The disposition of Catherine Morland is introduced close and quickly from
her infancy through age ten to seventeen and the rest of the previous chapters are
telling about her experience.
Henry Tilney is the second major character of the novel. Henry Tilney is
Catherine’s friend and advisor. The figure of Henry Tilney is very important
because he is not only a lover, but also a hero for Catherine.
This short of mysteriousness, which is always so becoming in a hero, threw a fresh grace in Catherine’s imagination around his person and manners (p.28)
1. The Description of the Characteristics of Catherine Morland
Northanger Abbey is a novel that introduces Catherine Morland as the first
major characteristics. She is a young girl from Wiltshire, Fullerton that comes to
the city of Bath when she is seventeen years old. She lives with her parents. Her
mother named Sarah, and her father was Richard Morland. Her family is respected
in her village (p.9).
Catherine Morland is a pretty and attractive girl. Her characteristics are
also drawn as the below explanation:
a. Modest
The characteristics of a character can be observed by her mannerism or the
reflected when Catherine lives with her family. Catherine Morland lives in a big
family. They live in sufficiency. Although their lives are enough, they never feel
inadequacy. It influences Catherine Morland to be a modest girl that is not greedy
to gain fortune or money.
A family of ten children will be always called a fine family, where there are heads and arms, and legs enough for the number; but the Morland had little other right to the word, for they were in general very plain and Catherine, for many years of her life, as plain as any (p.9).
When she gets an invitation to have a trip in Bath for six weeks from her
kind neighbor, the Allens, Catherine does not demand money in a big amount
from his father. She is obedient to accept every amount that was given by her
father.
Her father, instead of giving her unlimited order on his banker, or even putting an hundred pounds bank-bill into her hands, gave her only ten guineas and promised her more when she wanted it (p.14).
For Catherine, her father’s trust is more important than money. She obeys
her father in using less money while she was in Bath. She will not to ask more
than that because her father’s permission to let her go to Bath was very expensive
or even unaccountable.
When she arrives in Bath, she finds many acquaintances that are pressed
by social pressure. The daily glamour living in Bath influences the habitants to
live excessively. For they who have less money, tried to gain money or wealth
when they built relationships. Some of her acquaintances such Isabella and her
brother, John Thorpe, are also influenced to be greedy. They are ambitious to look
their motives, she refuses the thought of marrying for money that is implied by
John Thorpe when he tries to propose Catherine,
“By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother my brains with what does not concern me. My notion of things is simple enough. Let me only have the girl I like, say I, with a comfortable house over my head, and what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing. I am sure of a good income of my own; and if she had not a penny, why, so much better.”
And Catherine replied,
“Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good fortune on one side, there can be no occasion for any on the other. No matter which has it, so that there is enough. I hate the idea of one great fortune looking out for the other. And to marry for money I think the wickedest thing in existence…” (p.105)
In the conversation, the writer considers that Catherine give the strong
response in replying John Thorpe. Catherine disagrees with the materialistic
thought. People should not build a relationship with the property. For her, love
and trust must be the foundation in making a relationship. Since that her parents’
lesson to her, Catherine Morland is durable to face the socialite that is greedy and
is not influenced to follow them.
Knowing that Catherine Morland is modest, Isabella Thorpe, her friend
tries to manipulate her. She knows that her heart that is full of kindness for
everybody. She treats her friends gently and will not let them hurt.
Catherine feels difficult when she hears people talk about money or
property, but she cannot let Isabella live in suffering. Isabella knows that
Catherine will do everything for her lovely people.
“Nobody can think better of Mr. Morland than I do. I am sure. But everybody has their failing, you know and everybody has a right to do what they like with their own money.” Catherine was hurt by these insinuations. “I am very sure,” said she, “that my father has promised to do as much as he can afford.”(p.113)
Through the characteristics, Catherine does the same when she loves
Henry Tilney. She loves him without having desire to gain his wealth. She loves
to marry to him not for the property, but for the love (p.211).
Isabella manipulates Catherine easily because she sees that Catherine was
a kind girl. Isabella’s perspective about Catherine Morland is the way to know the
characteristics of Catherine Morland.
c. Honest
Catherine grows in a plain family that is sincere. Her parents never teach
her to lie and tell hypocrisy.
Her own family were plain, matter-of-fact people who seldom aimed at wit of any kind; her father, at the utmost, being contented with a pun, and her mother with a proverb; they were not in the habit therefore of telling lies to increase their importance, or of asserting at one moment what they would contradict the next. (pp.54-55)
They also teach her to be proud of herself in every condition. This family
background supports Catherine to be a girl who regards the honesty in making a
friendship. The mannerism make her dislike lying even to convince other people
Those characteristics prove that Catherine Morland is not greedy unlike
some other characters in Northanger Abbey. Through those characteristics,
Catherine Morland is successful to maintain her relationship with Henry Tilney.
2. The Description of the Characteristics of Henry Tilney
Henry Tilney is the second major character in Northanger Abbey. He is a
young handsome man whose professions as a clergyman and an entrepreneur of
his family company from Gloucestershire (p.23).
Henry Tilney is described as a rich attractive man. In addition, the
characteristics of Henry Tilney are drawn in the following brief explanation:
a. Tolerant
His profession as a clergyman supports Henry to be humble and gentle to
everyone. He is very tolerant in making a friendship and never has any objection
about equality. He never treats anybody rudely, but gently and politely. He is a
man that respects women. He puts his caring for them and will not let them hurt
or agitated by his behavior.
" Very true," said Henry, "And this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh, it is very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally, perhaps it was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or refinement-people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments or their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word."(p.91)
By reading at his polite speech toward Eleanor Tilney and Catherine
Morland, the writer knows that Henry Tilney loves to be modest and loves to give
proves that he has a fine quality as a man. His fine does not change him to be an
arrogant man.
Henry Tilney does not have any objection or consideration about some
importance such property or wealth, status, race and gender in making friendship
or relationship. For his relationship, Henry loves to live in adequacy. He leaves all
of his pride. He does not consider that it was important.
She was assured of his affection; and that heart in return was solicited, which, perhaps, they pretty equally knew was already entirely his own; for, though Henry was now sincerely attach to her, though he felt and delighted in all the excellencies of her character and truly loved her society, I must confess that his affection originated in nothing better than gratitude, or, in other words, that a persuasion of her partiality for him had been the only cause of giving her a serious thought (p.204).
b. Fair
Henry is an intelligent man that supports himself to be a man who never
restricts his friendships. Henry gives the above analogy about a relationship
between men and women. Although he lives in the society that adopts the
patriarchy, Henry considers that women should be treated equally. Henry’s smart
thought supports theory on character and characterization by Murphy that
characteristics of a character can be seen by his thought (1972:171).
In building a relationship with Catherine, Henry believes that love is the
basic and strong foundation. Henry does not want to be an ambitious man who
wants a rich woman to be his wife. He wants a loyal woman who loves and cares
him gently. He will not consider that money is the most important in his
relationship. He is contrast from his father, General Tilney who always is an
ambitious man to get wealthy children-in-law (p.210).
Those characteristics support Henry to maintain his relationship with
Catherine Morland. He does not care whether Catherine is well breed or not, he
does not care about her social status. He loves her very much for she has an
affectionate heart unlike the other girls in Bath (p.94).
B. The Description of the Setting of Northanger Abbey
In this part, the writer divides the analysis into three parts. The first is the
description of the setting of time. It gives the explanation briefly about the time,
which the story of Northanger Abbey takes place. After the writer finishes the first
one, the writer jumps to analyze the setting of place. In the last part of the
analysis, the writer finishes it by analyzing the portrayal of the society, which is
drawn in Northanger Abbey.
1. The Description of the Setting of Time
The writer indicates that the setting of time of Northanger Abbey is taken
narrator gave by some ways such as; the ways of characters’ dressing (p.21), their
daily manner of living (p.20), and the architecture (p.161).
First, the indication of the setting of time by the way the characters to
dress. It can be seen by the kinds of clothes that are worn by the characters in the
story.
“Do you understand muslin, sir?”
“Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats and am allowed to be an excellent to be an excellent judge; and my sister has often trusted me in the choice of a gown. I bought one for her the other day, and it was pronounced to be prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. I gave it but five shilling a yard for it and a true Indian muslin.” (p.21)
From the conversation between Henry Tilney and Mrs. Allen, it is
mentioned some types of clothes, muslin and cravat. Both muslin and cravat are
the clothes that are so popular for men and women in Europe especially in
England in eighteenth century.
The second indication is based on the daily manner of the living that
happens in the city of Bath.
“Indeed! Have you yet honored the Upper Rooms?”
“Yes, sir, I Was there last Monday.”
“Have you been to the theatre?”
“Yes, Sir, I was at the play on Tuesday.”
“To the concert?”
“Yes, sir, on Wednesday.”
In the eighteenth century in the city of Bath, those activities are regularly
hold. The habitants routinely gather in the party or gathering in the public
assemblies.
The last indication is based on the architecture of Northanger Abbey, the
house where the Tilney family lives. The description of the building of
Northanger Abbey is described as the ancestral building.
She saw a large, well-proportioned apartment, and handsome dimity bed, arranged as unoccupied with an housemaid’s care, a bright Bath stove, mahogany wardrobes and neatly painted chairs, on which the warm beams of a western sun gaily poured through two sash windows… This apartment, to which she had given a date so ancient, a position so awful, proved to be one of the ends of what the general’s father had built. (p.161)
Although it brings the scary atmosphere, the building of Northanger
Abbey expensive interior that symbolizes the prestige and nobility of the owner.
2. The Description of the Setting of Place
Northanger Abbey also mentions some particular places as the setting of
place. The first place is Fullerton (p.12). It is the place, where the Morlands lives.
It is the village where far from glamorous. Second place is the city of Bath. Bath
city is a big city near with London. That is a crowded and hectic place. Everyone
loves to go there to look for job and getting money. Since Bath is glamour and
expensive, most of the habitants are coming from noble or people are known as
the upper class (p.14).
3 .The Portrayal of the Society in Northanger Abbey
The city of Bath is introduced when Catherine arrives in the city for the
cost. The glamour of the city is shown by the conversation between Mrs. Allen
and Henry Tilney.
“Bath is charming place, sir; there are so many good shops here. We are sadly off in the country; not but what we have very good shops in Salisbury; but it is so far to go – eight miles is a long way; Mr. Allen says it is nine, measured nine, but I’m sure it cannot be more than eight; and it is such a fag- I come back tired for death. Now, here one can step of doors and get a thing in five minutes.” (p.22).
The glamorous of Bath attracts many people, especially strangers from
rural area that migrate and look for their fortune. They have no knowledge or
important information that Bath city is a rough place that has social pressures.
A girl like Catherine Morland is an example. She is a young girl who
comes from remote area, Fullerton that has nor enough information neither
experience to live in big city like Bath. She thinks that Bath is alike Fullerton, a
place where she could find nice and good- hearted people. (p.66).
The thought is made up by Henry Tilney’s information. He tells Catherine
that Bath is different from Fullerton.
“Bath, compared with London, has little variety, and so everybody finds out every year. ‘For six weeks, I allow Bath is pleasant enough; but beyond that; it is the most tiresome place in the world.’ You would be told so by, people of all descriptions, who came regularly every winter, lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve and go away at last because they can afford to stay no longer.” (p.65)
Like another regions in England, in eighteenth century there is a
distinction to line social classes in society. The noble or rich families, such as
“…for he had early in the evening taken pains to know who her pather was, and had been assured of Mr. Tillney’s being a clergman, and of a very respectable family in Gloucestershire.” (p.23)
In contrast, the lower and middle classes were reflected by the description
of The Thorpes family which not rich or poor.
“Are they a wealthy family?”
“No. not very. I don’t believe Isabella has any fortune at all; but that will not signify in your family. Your father is so very liberal! He told me the other day that he only valued money as it allowed him to promote the happiness of his children.” (p.171).
The lower class or the poor appear to have no fortune to support their
lives. Men and women must work and look for by any means to get welfare. The
condition is getting worse when remembering that the society adopts patriarchal
systems. The writer regards that for the situation of English women during the
eighteenth century, they have less right or freedom than men within the family do
do and marriage do. Most of the women are forced marrying to the rich men to
support their financial problems.
A living, of which Mr.Morland was himself patron and incumbent, of about four hundred pounds yearly value, was to be resigned to his son as soon as he should be old enough to take it; no trifling deduction from the family income, no niggardly assignment to one of ten children. An estate of at least equal value, moreover, was assured as his future inheritance. (p.112).
For women such as Isabella and Mrs. Thorpe, marriage is only way of
having a recognized position in society. In the period, it is true that it is more
“Since that it is the case, I am sure I shall not tease you any further. John desired me to speak to you on the subject and therefore I have. But I confess, as soon as I read his letter, I thought it a very foolish, imprudent bussiness, and not likely to promote the jood of either; for what were you to live upon, supposing you came together?you have both of you something, to be sure but it is not a trifle that will support a family nowadays; and after all that romancers may say, there is no doing without money. I only wonder John could think of it; he could not have received my last.” (p.120).
For lower classes; such as Isabella and her mother, it is an opportunity to
marry a wealthy man who had potencies, commercial values, and name or title. It
will strengthen to increase or maintain their economic prosperity. For other
reasons, it is also important reason to carry their husband prestigious name
bearing a child.
C. The Description of Plot
Plot is part of the analysis. It is used for helping the writer in analyzing
more clearly. The writer considers that plot is important to be analyzed because
the sequence of Northanger Abbey has significant effect in finding theme.
Northanger Abbey uses plot of flash forward. It is plot, which the writer
refers to the events, which happen in the future time (Barry, 2002: 223). The
writer considers that through the plot of flash forward, the writer finds the point of
Northanger Abbey is more visible and easy to be understood.
In the section, the writer starts her analysis by dividing it into three parts:
The first part is the beginning. It is exposition or introduction. In the exposition,
major characters into a conflict or the problems that they faced. The second is
middle. Those are parts that consists of rising action or complication and climax.
In the last part of Northanger Abbey, the writer describes the end. The end is
divided into two parts; falling action and resolution.
1) Beginning
a) Exposition or Introduction
The first stage of plot is exposition. In this part, the writer introduces the
novel and gives some important information about the characters, setting, and the
basic situation (Kenney, 1966:13).
In the beginning of Northanger Abbey, it is started by the introduction of
the city of Bath as the place that is mostly told in the story. The city of Bath is a
metropolis that is located in England nearby London and Salisbury (p.26). The
city is very crowded. Many frequenters or newcomers come into this city to look
for fortune and happiness (p.65). The beauty of Bath city also attracts Catherine
Morland to visit when she got an invitation to have a trip for six weeks with her
kind neighbor, Mr. and Mrs. Allen (p.12) .
Catherine Morland, the major character, is introduced in Northanger
Abbey. She is a young girl who is seventeen years old grows in an adequate family
from Wiltshire. It is a remote village, which is located in Fulleton. Catherine and
her family lives in the place where is far from the crowd and the crimes, unlike
Catherine is a daughter of a respectable clergyman in her village name
Richard. For the writer, Richard Morland and his wife are the description id
independent parents that never force Catherine to marry to the selected man in
their village (p.9).
Coming into Bath city is a new experience for Catherine because she is
accustomed to live in a rural area. The crowds of Bath amaze her.
They arrived at Bath. Catherine was all-eager delight- her eyes were here, there, everywhere as they approached its fine and striking environs, and afterwards drove through those streets which conducted them to the hotel- she was come to be happy and she felt happy already. (p.14)
Six-week-trip is long for Catherine. She looks for some new friends. In
this part, some of Catherine’s acquaintances are introduced. They are Isabella and
John Thorpe as Catherine’s friend in her early coming. They are also newcomers
from Putney. The Thorpes are the children of Mrs. Thorpe, Mrs. Allen’s
acquaintance, that is known as a middle class woman because she is not rich
(p.171).
Catherine Morland makes a friendship with Isabella Thorpe. She is the
most beautiful girl in Bath who attracts all men. Isabella’s brother, John Thorpe, is
a friend of Catherine’s brother, James Morland. In the early meeting, the Thorpes
seem to be kind and pleasant. On the other hand, the Thorpe siblings reveal their
actual nature in the middle of story. The readers will know the fact that they are
kinds of villains in NorthangerAbbey.
so he does not need to work hard anymore. The background of the behavior is the
social pressure in Bath.
The other acquaintances of Catherine Morland are the Tilneys siblings.
They are Henry and Eleanor Tilney. They are used to live big cities such Bath and
Woodston. Therefore they have more experience than Catherine does. They are
the good friends of Catherine Morland (p.108). Henry and his sister are
Catherine’s advisor to face the trouble that the Thorpes makes for Catherine. The
Tilneys’ characteristics are different with the Thorpes. The Tilneys are the heroes
and the Thorpes are the villains. The writer thinks that the contrast is used for
drawing a description which the good and the bad. Besides the Tilneys and the
Thorpes, General Tilney, Mrs. Thorpes, and Richard Morland are also introduced
as the parents. Although they are the minor characters and are not told much
about, the writer finds that they have important roles in Northanger Abbey.
General Tilney and Mrs. Thorpe are similar kinds of ambitious parents in ruling
their children. General Tilney is a noble that ruled his children to have an
acquaintance or to marry to the other nobles or the likely degree acquaintances.
He did it for maintaining the nobility of his family. That is shown by Henry when
he came to Fullerton to beg the Morlands’ apologize for the general for he sends
Catherine from Northanger Abbey.
was guilty only of being less rich than he had supposed to be. Under a mistaken persuasion of her possession and claims, he had courted her acquaintance in Bath, solicited her company at Northanger and designed her for his daughter-in-law. (p.205)
Like General Tilney is Mrs. Thorpe. She is a widow from Putney who
comes to Bath with her children. She is not rich. Although she is an indulgent
mother, she is ambitious. Since she does not want to see her children living
insufficient, she suggests her children to look for the wealthy men or nobles to
support their finance. Her arrival in Bath is a part of her purpose to look for the
potential husbands for her daughters. When she finds James Morland, who
engages to her daughter, is not rich as she supposes to be, she has a
disappointment for the engagement.
“I wish I could do as much. One could not expect more from him, you know. If he finds he can s more by and by, I dare say he will, for I am sure he must be an excellent good-hearted man. Four hundred is but a small income to begin on indeed, but your wishes, my dear Isabella, are so moderate, you do not consider how little you ever want, my dear.” (p.112)
In contrast, Northanger Abbey introduces the character of Richard
Morland, Catherine’s father, as a moderate and humble old man. Although he is
very respected by the villagers in his village, he lives in modesty and adequacy.
He and his wife always teach their children, especially Catherine to live in
affection. He is said that he is an independent father that never force her daughter
to marry to a man for the reason of income or wealth.
He had a considerable independence besides two good livings-and he was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters (p.9).
For the writer those three kinds parents help to analyze the background of
Tilney is an example of son that against his father’s perception about marriage.
John and Isabella Thorpe are the examples of children who support their mother’s
idea marriage for money. The last, Catherine Morland is a description of a
daughter that Mr. Morland is successfully taught to be a modest and humble girl
in among the materialists.
2. Middle
a) Rising Action
In the section, the writer continues her analysis to jump to the second
stage, conflict. It is the process that of the problem that the major characters must
encounter and leads the story into the climax. Catherine Morland faces the
sequences of problems from her friends when she is in Bath.
The progress of Catherine’s unhappiness from the events of the evening was as follows. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with everybody about her, while she remained in the rooms, which speedily brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home. (p.49)
Catherine’s desire to go home gets bigger after she know the John Thorpe
pursuit her. She does not like the man. John Thorpe meanwhile wants Catherine to
be his lover. He wants Catherine for she is pretty and rich. He assumes that after
he knows that Catherine lives closely with the rich Allens, a kind neighbor that
invite Catherine to go to Bath (p.52).
The difficulty of finance of the Thorpes makes them deceiving Catherine
their financial problem. Therefore, they arrange the engagement to achieve their
property.
Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it the past of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others? Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of everything but her own gratification (p.83).
One of their engagements is successful. That is the engagement of James
and Isabella. They are happy because Richard Morland has given his consent to
them. Unfortunately, the Thorpes are irritated enough for Richard give James a
regulation to finish his study of priest for two years in London before he get an
estate form his father (p.112).
Isabella is disappointed for the regulation because she has to delay their
marriage. It means she must wait for two years to achieve the property of the
Morlands. She is getting more impatient to maintain her engagement. She betrays
James to flirt with Federick Tilney, eldest son of General Tilney. She does it
because the man is richer than James Morland is (pp. 121-122). The flirtation of
Isabella and the cancellation of the engagement help Catherine to understand that
Isabella only uses her beauty figure to attract the rich men to gain their property
and wealth.
The second effort of the Thorpes is arranging the engagement for John to
Catherine Morland. John Thorpes is sly to use the Isabella’s friendship to
approach Catherine. John thought that he can use her sister, Isabella, to convince
Catherine that he is the best man by deceiving Catherine that Henry Tilney and his
“ Oh! Don’t defend her! Then the brother, he who had appeared so attached to you! Good heavens! Well, some people’s feelings are incomprehensible. And so he hardly looked once at you the whole day/”
“ I don’t say so; but he did not seem in good spirits.”
‘How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy of my aversion. Let me entreat you never to think of him again, my dear Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you,”
“Unworthy! I do not suppose he ever think of me.”
“ That is exactly what I say; he never thinks of you. Suck fickleness! Oh! How different to your brother and to mine. I really believe John has the most constant heart.”(p.107)
Isabella is smart to deceive Catherine well. She convinces Catherine that
Henry Tilney and his sister are not good friends. She tells Catherine to avoid them
because the Tilneys are such friends who would hurt her someday. Through
Isabella’s lie, John is sure that he could be successful to propose Catherine
Morland. Unfortunately, John receives his failures after he proposes Catherine
Morland for twice. The last proposal of John is conveyed by Isabella.
Catherine refuses the proposal because she only loves Henry Tilney. The
last refusal irritates John Thorpe. He will not give up getting Catherine even he
tried to break Catherine and Henry’s relationship (p.206).
b) Climax
This is the high suspense or the turning points in a fiction. In this stage, the
readers are led into what would happen in the future. Climax is the closer part to
resolution or the ending.
The failures of getting the Morland’s property get closer. After Catherine’s
of the engagement by James Morland after he heard that Isabella has flirted with
Federick Tilney and plans to engage to him (pp.168-169). The cancellation makes
the Thorpe family feel disappointed. However, John Thorpe is not giving up
reaching their property. He designs a trick to damage Catherine’s relationship.
In another chance, Catherine is invited by General Tilney to visit his
family in Northanger Abbey. John Thorpe knows that the general is an ambitious
that is so selective who never let his children make acquainted with strangers.
Catherine meanwhile feels very happy because it is an entrance to be closer with
Henry Tilney. John Thorpe also can read that the general wants his children marry
to nobles. Throughout the information, John is successful in lying General Tilney.
John Thorpe meets with General Tilney. He deceives him that Catherine
Morland is a girl from an unrespectable and insufficient family (p.205). Through
the conversation, John Thorpe is successful to make the general mad. He feels that
Catherine Morland has been lying him and manipulating his kindness to gain his
family property. The general feels that he is careless in accepting Catherine
Morland in Northanger Abbey as an acquaintance of his children and him. The
general will not let the gossip spread over the Bath socialite. He comes home and
orders his daughter, Eleanor, to sent Catherine home to Fullerton (p.187).
The general’s behavior hurts Catherine. When she comes home, Henry
follows her two days later. He explains that the general has been misled by John
Thorpe. After she knows the information, Catherine can be humbly to understand
protects his children of being poor. Catherine also understands that John Thorpe
must be hurt for she had refused his proposal.
The general’s agitation is getting worse. He orders his children to break
their friendship with Catherine Morland. The general also orders Henry to forget
the girl because she is unworthy for his family. However, Henry disagrees with
his father. He loves Catherine without considering about Catherine’s family
background. (p.204)
Henry’s disappointment for his father’s misunderstanding is increasing.
The general should be good in reading the obvious motives and the people’s
characteristics such John’s. Henry keeps convincing his father that Catherine
Morland is not as he supposed. He wants the general to realize that he is wrong in
assuming Catherine Morland. Considering that his father give no reaction even
give him long punishment, Henry come to Fullerton to beg apologize and to
purpose Catherine (p.208).
3. End
a) Falling action
In this stage, the event in the story leads the readers to the resolution.
Henry and his father have not stopped argued. He uses his chance to apologize.
He says that he is sorry for his father sends Catherine home and explains the
misperception of the general. After Henry explains that, he is so surprised because
the family of Morland is good to accept his explanation. They have no irritation
