Jane Austen’s timeless books are filled with such strong female heroines. You might think in today’s time, heroines like Elizabeth, Elinor, and Emma are hard to come by. Here are 5 ways to be like a Jane Austen Heroine!
Read!
Nearly every Jane Austen heroine has some interest in reading. Since a lot of her characters (like the Bennet family) did not keep a governess (tutor) in their home, they learned a great deal from reading.
Be Honest …ish
Jane Austen’s characters are witty, clever, bright young women. Some of her characters, like Emma, stretch the truth or leave out details to manipulate a situation. However, it doesn’t always turn out the way they had hoped. Elizabeth is a little sassier than Emma, and so she hides details in order to annoy or irritate Lady Catherine, or embarrass Mr. Collins.
Deny Love, and Then Fall Head Over Heels
There are a few of Jane Austen’s heroines that just wouldn’t admit to love at first sight. Take Elizabeth for instance; she absolutely detested Mr. Darcy before she admitted that she loved him. Elinor knew she liked Edward Ferrars, but would never admit it to anyone. The same situation with Emma and Mr. Knightley. The sensible thing to do is not rush into true love, even if it was love at first sight.
Believe in Second Chances
The only reason anyone ends up married in Jane Austen’s books is because they all believe in second chances. Sometimes people mess up, and that’s okay. If you give someone a second chance they might surprise you with what they are willing to do for you.
Remember. . . Propriety isn’t everything
We all have social standards we live by today, and you better believe it was a whole different world of propriety in Jane Austen’s time. The thing I love about her characters is that even though they have all this pressure from social standards, they make a point to be different. Marianne Dashwood was all for breaking the social rules, and even though she went through tragic heartbreak, she really did come out on top by marrying the distinguished Colonel Brandon. She was able to catch his eye (as well as his heart) by being different and not caring about pleasing everyone else.
