An Analysis On Sibling Relationship In Jane Austen’s Novels

Most of Jane Austen’s novels portray the daily life of three to four families in countryside, and focus on the life and relationship of young men and women within that circle. Love and marriage are usually key themes of these novels, at the same time Austen also spends great efforts in describing the interactions and relationship between siblings. Therefore, the sibling relationship in the novels provides a new viewpoint and approach in further understanding Jane Austen and her novels. Based on this notion, the thesis attempts to classify sibling relationships in the novels into sibling solidarity and sibling rivalry. According to such classification, this thesis analyzes the causes, manifestations and influences of different types of sibling relationships in Austen’s novels. The thesis is mainly composed of five parts:the introduction, chapter one to three and the conclusion.Chapter one discusses the causes for sibling solidarity and sibling rivalry. In the novels, the characters form sibling solidarity out of different causes. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are complementary in personalities. William and Fanny Price live in the same restricted environment. And elder Bennet and Dashwood sisters grow up in stressful family environment. In contrast, the thesis illustrates the causes for the existence of sibling rivalry in the novels as follows. The weak ties between Elliot and Bertram sisters originate from absence of proper protection and instruction. The tension between John Dashwood and his half sisters is caused by stinginess and gainfulness of the former. The competition between Maria and Julia Bertram stems from the rivalry for attention of the same suitor.Chapter two is about the manifestations of sibling solidarity and sibling rivalry in the novels. For sibling solidarity, the following three pairs of siblings are illustrated:the intimate sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the devoted sisters Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, and the mutually attached pair William and Fanny Price. Meanwhile, the thesis analyzes the manifestations for sibling rivalry through describing the rivalry or hostility between the siblings. Maria and Julia Bertram rival for promising marriage. The Bertram brothers and Tilney brothers stand in indifferent and hostile brotherly relationship. And Henry Crawford’s and Frederick Tilney are irresponsible towards their vulnerable sisters. Chapter three analyzes the influences of sibling solidarity and sibling rivalry from individual, family and social perspectives. The marriages of elder Bennet sisters and Dashwood sisters exemplify the positive impact of sibling solidarity in which sibling harmony conduces to the improvement in social and economic status. The self-perfection and development of Marianne Dashwood also benefit from favourable sisterly ties. And Henry Tilney’s brotherly care and Elizabeth’s shouldering of responsibility together with her sister show the importance of sibling solidarity in maintaining family closeness and intactness. In contrast, the harms caused by sibling rivalry and tension are embodied in the following aspects:Lydia’s degeneration reveals the harms of deteriorating sibling relationship to individual development, the misbehaviors of Lydia impair the prospects of other sisters, and the hostility between Maria and Julia endangers family closeness and intactness.In the conclusion, by means of some psychological researches and findings and on the basis of profound discussion and analysis of Jane Austen’s novels, the thesis draws the conclusion that sibling relationship, as one of the most important family relationships, is of irreplaceable significance for individual development of the major characters and their family intactness. In Austen’s imaginative world, the harmonious sibling relationship can facilitate individual development and maintain family intactness, whereas hostile and competitive sibling relationship would hinder the development of the characters and ruin their familv intactness.