Propriety Of Taste In Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

In the seventeenth century,researches on taste emerged and a century later,a philosophical system of taste was developed,thanks to the efforts of Kant,Hume and so on.David Hume's standard of taste exerted an enormous influence in the era.Jane Austen,involved in the cultural atmosphere,also had her own principles of taste,some of which were in correspondence with those of Hume.She admits that taste originates from sentiments,but she also holds that sentiments without the control of “sense” may cause “egoism” and give rise to the disintegration of social order.Correspondingly,if there isn't propriety of “sense”,utilitarianism will run rampant.So,propriety of sentiments is the core of good taste.The present thesis seeks to shed light on Austen's views on taste as reflected in Northanger Abbey under the influence of David Hume's standard of taste and her empirical way of cultivating taste which can benefit oneself and others at the same time.It is also the aim of this thesis to trace the trajectory of Jane Austen's thoughts on how taste improves,which is revealed by the way in which Henry Tilney and Catherine Morland refine their taste.Incessant education,keen observation and sympathy for others are all indispensable parts of the transformation that will lead to a delicate taste.General Tilney,however,abdicates the responsibility as the abbey gives him.The role played by traditional abbeys,monasteries and nunneries is that they should offer help and accommodation to those in need,but General Tilney has failed to do so.His lack of sympathy and irresponsibility is a negative example which serves as a foil to Henry and Catherine who embody Jane Austen's views on propriety of taste.