Manners,Society And Community:A Cultural Approach To Sense And Sensibility

Critics hold seemingly contradictory views on the subject matter of Jane Austen's novels: it is conservative or radical;it is romantic or realistic;it gives priority to rationalism or emotionalism.In the early years,western scholars who overstress the debate of jacobinism and anti-jacobinism ensued the French Revolution in the British cultural circles insist that rationality and emotion are at opposite poles in Austen's novels.From the perspective of manners,we can see that the above-mentioned views aren't incompatible at all.To further discuss these issues,the present thesis unfolds itself.The French Revolution has shaken the foundation of rigid social hierarchy of British society.After the Revolution,newly emerging economic activities have promoted the growth of wealth of English middle class.Apart from acquiring hereditary titles,accumulating wealth has gradually become an effective way of gaining social recognition.Austen depicts the decline of manners in this critical transitional period in her novels.By shedding light on the relationships between manners,society and community,as delineated in Sense and Sensibility,this thesis attempts to reach the following conclusions: Austen differentiates C hesterfieldian manners which pays close attention to graceful demeanor to Burkean manners which has close affinity with morality.Hence Austen's novels can be viewed as the supplement or amendment of Lord Chesterfield's idea of manners.In Austen's debut work Sense and Sensibility,social climbers are vying to imitate the courteous and graceful behavior of aristocrats but lose sight of the cultivation of morality.Austen questions the value criterion underlain Chesterfieldian manners in maintaining that true manners is the combination of politeness and morality.Although most people are prone to extrapolate one's good manners from his strict observance of social rules and graceful demeanor.But Austen deems sensibility to be an internal element of good manners and an organic component of a community.It is also the attempt of the present thesis to prove that,under the pen of Austen,sensibility springs from one's respect for others and self-reflection.