Fools In Jane Austen’s Novels

Researches on Jane Austen undergo a long history, almost two hundreds, while studies on herminor characters are little. Through close investigation, I find that apart from the main characters,the minor characters in her novels also play crucial roles. In addition, these minor ones sharesimilar features with characters we might describe as fool characters, which is a heritage ofWestern fool literature. Upon this discovery, this thesis mainly discusses the fool characters in JaneAusten’s novels and points out that how her characterization is influenced by fool literature,especially by Shakespeare’s plays. Finally this paper discusses the aesthetic values of the fools inAusten’s novel.Chapter one traces the tradition of fool literature, starting from the rise of fool literature in theMiddle Ages to the decline of its status and function in the18thcentury. Also, it clarifies theinfluence of fool literature on the portrayal of Austen’s fool. Chapter two selects two of JaneAusten’s novels---Pride and Prejudice and Emma to discuss the fool characters and explores thecharacterization of fool characters in her novels. This paper divides fool characters of the twonovels into five categories: simple fool represented by Miss Bates and Harriet Smith, paranoid foolrepresented by Mrs. Bennet and Lydia, weak fool represented by Mr. Woodhouse, pompous foolrepresented by Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mrs. Elton, and wise but shrewd foolrepresented by Mr. Bennet. Chapter three explains the aesthetic values of Austen’s fool, in terms oftwo aspects: the effects of dramatic irony and the effects of judging the ugly. It is well known thatJane Austen’s ironic skill is incomparable, whereas the absurdity of the fool under her ironic pendeserves our attention. In addition, the fool even when described as ugly can in some context affordus pleasure and delight in aesthetic judgment. The natural fool is unacceptable with uglyappearance, but the stage clown is accepted and appreciated by the audience for their clever abilityto act as fools. Fools in the novel look similar in appearance to other characters. But they producejoys and laughers that common characters are unable to generate. This is also the reason why thefool plays an important part in society as well as in literature. Jane Austen broadens the way of foolliterature by introducing fool characters in her novels. Chapter four is the conclusion of this thesis,which summarizes the influences of Jane Austen’s fool characterization on her successors including Oscar Wilde, George Eliot and Henry James and so on. In addition, I also make a list ofother fools in Jane Austen’s other novels, which deserves further studies.