Jane Austen Characters as Modern-Day Musicians: Pink, Kesha, and Alicia Keys

I have recently started learning how to play the bass guitar. It is giving me a whole new sense of appreciation for music, and I have begun to listen to music and view musicians in an entirely new light.


So, as most things make me think of Jane Austen, this made me think about her novels differently. What current musicians and music would best illustrate these characters?

I immediately think of Pink for Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennett. Pink is full of spunk, witty lyrics, and imaginative song rhythms. Plus, just like Elizabeth, she is a longtime favorite and has great staying power. Her beautiful and introverted older sister Jane? Nora Jones—her songs are lovely and engaging melodies that entice your attention but soon fade into the distance. Her foolish younger sister Lydia? A young Britney Spears—all show and no talent, full of vamping and immature sex appeal.

Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility? Kesha all the way. A little bit ridiculous and brash, but a lot of fun with her catchy singsong voice and techno attention-getting beats. Marianne’s sister Elinor makes me think of Adele—much more somber and mature in her song choices, but with an elegant and controlled voice that soothes.

Hmm...Emma’s Emma Woodhouse… I would have to say Taylor Swift. A little immature and focused primarily on relationships, but overall, imaginative in the musical rifts and rhythms and a consistent squeaky-clean favorite of the musical world.

And my favorite, Anne Elliot of Persuasion? That would have to be Alicia Keys—the subtle use of her voice and melodies, the importance of the piano, the inherent romanticism in her lyrics, all set in major keys of hope and optimism.


I’ll have to think a little more on the male characters in Jane Austen’s novels. I am thinking they are more Classic Rock musicians, with a little Bruno Mars, Psy, and Adam Levine thrown in.

In Honor of Thanksgiving: Gratitude in Jane Austen's Novels (118 times)

In honor of Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude and thankfulness. And upon checking out the website www.writelikeausten.com, I discovered that Jane Austen actually used the word "gratitude" 118 times in her novels, “grateful” 68 times, “thank” 119 times, and “thankful” 34 times (such an awesome website idea, I know right?! Jane Austen fans think of everything)

So let’s check out how some of Jane Austen’s characters express their gratitude.

Elizabeth Bennet to Darcy upon realizing that Mr. Darcy had, in essence, rescued the family from gossip and ill will:
“I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness... Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest of my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express….Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications...”
(pp. 365-366, Pride and Prejudice)

Sense and Sensibility is full of gratitude—here Mrs. Dashwood thanks a handsome stranger for helping her daughter recover from a fall in the rain:
“Had he been even old, ugly, and vulgar, the gratitude and kindness of Mrs. Dashwood would have been secured by any act of attention to her child; but the influence of youth, beauty, and elegance, gave an interest to the action which came home to her feelings. She thanked him again and again; and with a sweetness of address which always attended her, invited him to be seated. “
(p. 42)

And here the eldest daughter Elinor thanks her neighbor Colonel Brandon for his thoughtfulness:
“…her esteem for the general benevolence, and her gratitude for the particular friendship, which together prompted Colonel Brandon to this act, were strongly felt, and warmly expressed. She thanked him for it with all her heart…”
(p. 283)

Emma has the good fortune to not even need words to express her thankfulness to her friend Mr. Knightley:
“Emma had no opportunity of speaking to Mr. Knightley till after supper; but, when they were all in the ball-room again, her eyes invited him irresistibly to come to her and be thanked.”
(p. 330, Emma)

And best of all, when Anne Elliot realizes her true love returns the affection, she positively glows in her gratitude:
“An interval of meditation, serious and grateful, was the best corrective of every thing dangerous in such high-wrought felicity; and she went to her room, and grew steadfast and fearless in the thankfulness of her enjoyment.”
(p. 245, Persuasion)

So, in the spirit of Jane Austen and Thanksgiving, I am conscious of the opinion to acknowledge gratitude and admiration of you and yours!

(all references based on the the Oxford University Press editions)

Take a hike!: Exercise and entertainment in Jane Austen’s world

For all the strictures and constraints in Jane Austen’s 19th century England, there are some surprisingly good stress management techniques. The characters are constantly visiting friends, drinking tea, playing card games, listening to piano music, dancing at balls, and taking hikes. No stressed-out, email-checking, can’t-go-anywhere-without-my-calendar people here!

Taking hikes, in particular, seems to accomplish a vast multitude of benefits: exercise, meditation, socialization, entertainment. Not to mention that it is a great way to find potential suitors!

After walking 3 miles to visit her ill sister, Elizabeth Bennett gets noticed (negatively) by the snarky Miss Bingley and (positively) by the enigmatic Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice). Marianne Dashwood stumbles in the rain and badly twists her ankle during a walk, only to be rescued by the gallant Mr. Willoughby who literally sweeps her off her feet (Sense and Sensibility). Anne Elliott’s quick thinking and deftness in helping her friend Louisa after a dangerous fall during a walk in Lyme regains her the regard of the noble Captain Wentworth (Persuasion).

And even if romance is not for you, taking a hike can improve the looks:
“She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild” (about Elizabeth Bennett, in Pride and Prejudice, p. 35).

And soothe the mind:
“Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn… (Anne Elliott, in Persuasion, p. 84).

And forget TV! Walking can provide endless entertainment with friends and family:
“When the weather is settled, and I have recovered my strength,” said she, “we will take long walks together every day. We will walk to the far a t the edge of the down, and see how the children go on; we will walk to Sir John’s new plantations at Barton-Cross, and the Abbeyland; and we will often go to the old ruins of the Priory…” (Marianne Dashwood, in Sense and Sensibility, p. 343).

Almost makes me want to throw my TV out the window and take a walk right now! Who’s in with me?

How Jane Austen Saved Me: An overly dramatic story, I admit it

No-one ever wants to get THAT kind of call, but I got it. The kind of call that makes time stand still and fear blossom in your chest. I got “the call” in which I learned my husband had been involved in a car accident and was being transported to the ER by an ambulance. No details were known except that the truck he had been driving had been totaled and no-one else had been involved.

Seven hours, 1 CT scan, 3 nurses, 2 doctors, multiple heart-wrenching calls, and many stitches later, my husband was released under my supervision with a nasty gash on his head, a concussion, and several broken ribs. For a week, he was out of action—mainly confined to his Lazy-Boy chair in a haze of meds. During this time I was out of action also—I literally dropped every work-related and personal obligation to sit at home with him. I didn’t even want to leave the house for fear I might miss something...

Okay, okay, you might say—what is this, I’m not reading this blog to hear about truck accidents, pain, and fear, where is the Jane Austen?! No worries, have patience, I am coming to it right now.

During this week, that is when Jane Austen saved me. In between answering phone calls and emails and making sure my husband was okay, I happened to open Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. And even with my fears about health insurance coverage and future employment options and traumatic brain injuries, I actually smiled at her descriptions of society interactions and personalities. I tore through the book and headed to Pride and Prejudice. I found strength and courage from Elizabeth Bennett and resolved not to give in to histrionics like her mother.

Emma and Persuasion reinforced a sense of courage, determination, and redemption.

I devoured all of Jane Austen’s six main works. And because of that, I sat with my husband with a sense of calm, patience, and hope. My husband slowly healed, our health insurance eventually came through, the support from our family and friends was amazing, and we both ultimately returned to work and life.

THAT is how Jane Austen saved me.