Finally, A Real Heroine!

I know I have said this for the past three books, but "Northanger Abbey" is my favorite book we have read this semester. I really enjoyed the mix of parody and a more classic heroine story. The most refreshing part of the book was to finally see a real heroine. By that I mean a heroine that is neither inactive, defenseless or a victim: a heroine who stands up for what she believes in. The scene that shows this the most is when John Thorpe has lied to Tilneys about Catherine being unavailable to go on a walk, and instead of just berating John, she runs after the Tilneys to tell them she is available. The fact Catherine physically does something to change her circumstance was very refreshing. I also enjoyed that even with the tomboyish description in the beginning, Catherine is never portrayed as not being feminine. Austen shows that being strong and feminine is not a contradiction (unlike the other strong female characters we have seen this semester like Madame Duval).
Another aspect of the story that I found unique was that not everyone ended up happily ever after. Catherine does not act as an advocate for Isabella and James and Isabella do not end up together. I couldn't believe a situation that would happen in reality was put in the book (as far as Isabella flirting with James' brother and the engagement being broken off).
The main reason I appreciated "Northanger Abbey" was because it acted as a final piece in the development of the heroine we have seen this semester. From book to book the heroine has almost always become more empowered. The one exception (and I find this very logical) is that the female authors we have read tend to create more empowered heroines than the male authors. Richardson was theoretically close, but ruined it by taming Pamela in the last third of the book.