![]() ![]() Oh! The dreadful black veil! My dear Isabella, I am sure there must be Laurentina’s skeleton behind it.”Ĭatherine’s interest in Isabella is entirely genuine and unaffected. I do not pretend to say that I was not very much pleased with him but while I have Udolpho to read, I feel as if nobody could make me miserable. I am sure you would be miserable if you thought so!” “Not see him again! My dearest creature, do not talk of it. ![]() Tilney, for perhaps I may never see him again.” “But you should not persuade me that I think so very much about Mr. Everything is so insipid, so uninteresting, that does not relate to the beloved object! I can perfectly comprehend your feelings.” Where the heart is really attached, I know very well how little one can be pleased with the attention of anybody else. Nay, I cannot blame you” – speaking more seriously – “your feelings are easily understood. “It is very true, upon my honour, but I see how it is you are indifferent to everybody’s admiration, except that of one gentleman, who shall be nameless. “I know you very well you have so much animation,… Oh! I must tell you, that just after we parted yesterday, I saw a young man looking at you so earnestly – I am sure he is in love with you.” Catherine coloured, and disclaimed again. (Isabella) … My attachments are always excessively strong… Now, if I were to hear anybody speak slightingly of you, I should fire up in a moment: but that is not at all likely, for you are just the kind of girl to be a great favourite with the men.” Her enthusiasm and attention to her naïve friend feeds Catherine’s insecurity and inexperience. Isabella and Catherine discuss topics of acute interest to young ladies, that would be pertinent even today friends, dancing, personality, romance and men! Observe Isabella’s language. They have met in the Pump-room in Bath (England), and their conversation is described by the narrator as an example of their “very warm attachment, and of the delicacy, discretion, originality of thought, and literary taste which marked the reasonableness of that attachment.” The quote above is from one of my favorite early scenes in the novel when Isabella and Catherine are developing their friendship. Jane Austen’s character Isabella Thorpe is a strange creature by way of a friend an odd mixture of affability and cunning, ready to fiercely defend her new friend Catherine Morland if anyone should slight her, flatter her ego to earn her trust, and ply her with advice on romance! What an ingenious character to throw in the path of our young heroine in the making, who innocently does not know what may be “lurking behind the dreadful black veil” of new acquaintance. Isabella Thorpe, Northanger Abbey, Chapter 6 If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "aI have no notion of loving people by halves it is not my nature. Poor, innocent Catherine, too concerned with what's behind the black veil to notice the veiled sentiments of her new confidant. In fact, just moments after her praise of Miss Andrews, she calls her "amazingly insipid".and then she proceeds to work more of her flattery on Catherine. It seems like Catherine isn't really her friend (although she does seem to like Catherine's older brother, James). Isabelle, however, is anything but sincere. It's quite likely you've heard this quote used sincerely, as an affirmation of friendship. This surprises Catherine, but Isabelle explains that she would do anything for any of her friends. They're discussing one of her friends, Miss Andrews, and Isabelle says she scorns the men for not admiring her because she is as beautiful as an angel. Isabella says this line to her foil and rival Catherine, who just so happens to be the protagonist of the novel. Northanger Abbeyis a Jane Austen novel, so it's no surprise that it's filled with little gems about love (plus some ghosts and other gothic paraphernalia). Life Friendship Relationship Positive Hope Happy Respect Northanger Abbey Jane Austen Literature Love Context
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