I really loved this discussion! The question about how/when to introduce Austen is so important. I do think the idea of trying Northanger Abbey as the first one with teens has merit-Austen is much more obvious with her sarcasm and irony compared to later books, and the gothic novel parody element is something teens already have some background in given how much media still trades on gothic tropes/subjects (just look at how true crime is popular-Catherine Moreland would 100% be a true crime podcast obsessive listener today and try to ‘solve’ the murder of Mrs. Tilney in that context). Also loved the specific legwork on the money/dowries-such helpful context with Darcy especially. I say Wickham is a purposeful deceiver, but he also doesn’t see anything wrong with his actions/feels like he has been mistreated in the sense of “I almost got away with it.” Wickham comes first with Wickham and he has no shame about that fact/the ends of his personal success justify the means for him.
I really loved this discussion! The question about how/when to introduce Austen is so important. I do think the idea of trying Northanger Abbey as the first one with teens has merit-Austen is much more obvious with her sarcasm and irony compared to later books, and the gothic novel parody element is something teens already have some background in given how much media still trades on gothic tropes/subjects (just look at how true crime is popular-Catherine Moreland would 100% be a true crime podcast obsessive listener today and try to ‘solve’ the murder of Mrs. Tilney in that context). Also loved the specific legwork on the money/dowries-such helpful context with Darcy especially. I say Wickham is a purposeful deceiver, but he also doesn’t see anything wrong with his actions/feels like he has been mistreated in the sense of “I almost got away with it.” Wickham comes first with Wickham and he has no shame about that fact/the ends of his personal success justify the means for him.