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Overall Summary of Northanger Abbey By Mary Snyder This chapter is a free excerpt from Quicklet on Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Northanger Abbey has often been misconstrued as a Gothic novel by those who have not yet read it, but it’s actually a parody of the Gothic novels so popular at the time. She uses her heroine’s fascination with Gothic novels to show how the mind can create scenarios that induce terror, as Gothic novels are meant to do. However, Austen shows that real-life events can render individuals more distressed than even the most convincing Gothic novels. Northanger Abbey is divided into two volumes. Volume I primarily takes place at Bath, and Volume II at Northanger Abbey. Volume I begins with a detailed description of the unlikely heroine of the tale, Catherine Morland. Catherine is one of ten children, and her family lives out in the country, where her father is a clergyman. Catherine is 17-years-old and “almost” pretty, despite an awkward appearance growing up. She is not accomplished in music, writing, or drawing; she only likes reading stories. When she was younger, she used to like being outside, riding horseback, and rolling in the grass. She now cares about her hair and dress, although she has never had attention from a man. It is at this point in her life that Mr. Allen, who owns most of the property in Fullerton where the Morlands live, and Mrs. Allen, who is fond of Catherine, invite her to accompany them to Bath. Mr. Allen has been ordered there for the sake of his health. When they first arrive in Bath, Mrs. Allen and Catherine feel out of place at the gatherings because they don’t know anyone. Catherine then meets Henry Tilney; they dance and get to know one another, but it is a while before she sees him again. She does find out that Henry is a clergyman and from a respectable family. Meanwhile, Mrs. Allen runs into an old friend of hers, Mrs. Thorpe. Mrs. Thorpe introduces Catherine to her daughter, Isabella. Both mother and daughter know of Catherine because James Morland, Catherine’s brother, is a good friend of John Thorpe, Mrs. Thorpe’s son. Isabella and Catherine soon become close friends, and James and John arrive only a few days later. Isabella takes a liking to James, neglecting Catherine. Catherine gets stuck with John, who isn’t very attractive and talks too much, most of which is braggery. Catherine is polite to him nonetheless. Catherine runs into Henry Tilney again and meets his sister, Eleanor. They plan a walk for the next day that is later thwarted by John, unbeknownst to Catherine. When she finds out about John’s interference, she directly apologizes to Henry and his sister at their home, meeting their father, General Tilney, in the process. The walk is rescheduled for the next day, as well as dinner with the Tilneys in their home, soon after. Isabella and James, Catherine’s brother, become tentatively engaged at the end of Volume I, although Isabella is not thrilled with Mr. Morland’s allotment for James’ financial future. Also, John Thorpe tells Catherine how much he cares about her in his obnoxious way, and Catherine tries to let him down easy. Soon after Volume II begins, Catherine finds out that the Tilneys will be leaving Bath and is upset since her stay has been extended. However, General Tilney invites Catherine to join them at their home at Northanger Abbey for a long visit. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, as well as Catherine’s parents, approve the visit. Before leaving, Henry’s brother, Captain Tilney, arrives in Bath, and Isabella begins flirting with him. James has not yet returned from working out the engagement arrangements with his

father, and even once he has, Isabella continues to lavish attention on Captain Tilney. Catherine is irritated with her friend, but also with Captain Tilney. Henry challenges her blame of his brother, asking if it isn’t up to Isabella to devote her attention solely to whom she is engaged. The Tilneys and Catherine leave for Northanger Abbey. Catherine rides part of the way with Henry, and he creates a Gothic scenario for her, since she expresses her excitement at visiting an old ancient abbey, now turned into the Tilney’s home. She loves listening to the stories he makes up but is ashamed of her interest in them, knowing full well he’s making them up for her benefit. However, when she is in her room the first night, and a storm is howling, she notices that the objects in Henry’s stories are in her room, including a big chest and an old-fashioned cabinet. Catherine soon finds, though, that there is nothing of consequence in either the chest or the cabinet, and feels foolish for thinking otherwise. This is her first lesson in not letting her imagination get the best of her. Her second lesson comes when she finds out that Mrs. Tilney died when Eleanor, at 13-years-old, was not home. Catherine quickly assumes that her brothers also were not at home, and that either General Tilney murdered his wife or has her imprisoned somewhere in the abbey. Henry catches Catherine trying to break into his mother’s old room, and she admits to her suspicions. His condescension is humiliating for Catherine, as he tells her that he and his brother were home, and his mother died soon after contracting an illness. Catherine goes to her room to cry, and is devastated by her embarrassment. However, when she sees Henry again, he treats her with kindness and understanding, and she feels better. While at Northanger Abbey, Catherine receives a letter from her brother, saying that his engagement to Isabella is off. Catherine is upset by the letter and starts to blame Captain Tilney, but Henry again helps her to see that it is Isabella who is hurting James and not his brother. Catherine is finally starting to see Isabella for the manipulative and phony young woman that she is. As Catherine begins to wonder if it might be time to head home as not to overstay her welcome, Eleanor entreats her to stay longer. However, General Tilney returns from a trip sooner than expected and is furious, demanding that Catherine leave immediately, and making Eleanor relate the bad news. Catherine is not allowed a servant on the journey for the sake of her safety, and even has to borrow money from Eleanor to get home. Catherine is mortified, not knowing what she has done wrong. She makes it home okay, and her parents are just glad to have her back in one piece. But her mother starts to worry when Catherine’s sorrowful mood won’t lift. Her mother doesn’t realize she’s missing Henry, thinking she’ll never see him again. Henry shows up a few days later, apologizing profusely for his father’s abominable behavior. He explains that it had all been a misunderstanding, and consequently asks Catherine to marry him. It turns out that John Thorpe, thinking he had a chance with Catherine, had told General Tilney that she was from a wealthy family. When Catherine rejected him, he ran into General Tilney again, and told him that she was from a destitute family. Neither being true, General Tilney relents and allows Henry and Catherine to marry, since the marriage can’t be sanctioned without his permission. Henry and Catherine marry, and we can assume they’ll live happily ever after. Henry has a wife who has learned to look beyond the surface of what she sees in front of her, and to read with a more discerning mind, as well. Catherine has a husband who has learned to stand up to his tyrannical father and take control of his own life....