The Thorpes and the Tilneys: Two different personalities, Two different lifestyles, One thing in common-a Desire for Catherine's Affections

Catherine, the protagonist in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, encounters two different families that she naturally becomes well acquainted with- the Thorpes family and the Tilney family. (26, 46) However, both families are almost complete opposites in terms of personality and Catherine frequently finds herself torn between the two as she frequently has to choose which relationship she value as more important. Mr. Tilney, a good-natured and likeable man, is a clergyman who, despite his gender, knows what women like concerning apparel and even shops for his sister. In addition, he dislikes Bath considering it the most “tiresome place in the world.” Likewise, his sister bears similar personalities as a humble girl earnestly desiring Catherine’s company. Catherine is attracted by their good-natured, simple, and honest personality. In contrast, John Thorpe is an arrogant young man who loves to boast about his feats and comment on horses. His sister Isabella, Catherine’s friend, is vain and flirtatious, enjoying balls and men’s admiration of her. These two families represent two contrasting groups of people: a good-natured, wealthy family and a vain, flirtatious family.

Though Catherine’s pre-existing ties with the Thorpes cause her to spend much time with them, she finds herself drawn towards the Tilneys. As a result, the Thorpes, specifically John Thorpe, view the Tilneys as a rival of their attempts to maintain Catherine’s affection for them and John Thorpe attempts to demean and ruin Catherine’s relationship with the Tilney’s by fabricating lies and causing misunderstandings that put Catherine in awkward, uncertain situations. Thus, these attempts essentially create a “tug of war” situation for Catherine’s affections as her desire to know the Tilneys more conflict with the Thorpe’s desire to distract Catherine from the Tilneys. I find this as a metaphor for Catherine’s personal life in her time in Bath. Having grown up as a “simple” girl, she is sent to Bath to socialize and, in a sense, develop a personality through her daily encounters with people in the entertainment-centered town. The naïve Catherine becomes attached to the pompous Thorpes, admiring their personality and loving the social gatherings. However, her feelings towards the vain Thorpes begin to slightly alter as she encounters the wealthy Tilneys who are simple, moral and good-natured. I believe the clash of affections ultimately indicate that she is attracted by both different lifestyles and personalities as she struggles to decide which family she will emulate. Which lifestyle and personality will she ultimately prefer and choose?