Jane Austen Novels

Pride and Prejudice

Mrs. Bennet + Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary

Mrs. Bennet is silly, neglectful, embarassing, selfish, lazy
Jane and Elizabeth resent her because they see these qualities in her
Kitty and Lydia are too young to recognize the negative effects of her mothering and are pretty silly themselves
Mary is oblivious to everything - super awkward
The fact that Jane and Elizabeth resent their mother goes againt idealized relationship standards for mothers and daughters
Kitty and Lydia do stupid things as a result of their lack of moral training by their mother
Mary is awkward and does not fulfill the role of an ideal girl so that is a failure for Mrs. Bennet for not guiding her in how to be this

Sense and Sensibility

Mrs. Dashwood + Eliner and Marianne

Northanger Abbey

Catherine + Mrs. Morland

Mrs. Moreland is busy - neglectful of children's education, too many to focus on them
Catherine likes gothic novels and romantic poetry
She is naive
Tries to trust own judgement but doesn't have good judgement
Desire to do right thing
Will always been inferior to Henry - not marriage of equals

Emma

Emma + no mother

Mother died long time ago but she was a good mother
Loss of her mother/educator affects her character
Takes on maternal role but doesnt do it well because of her lack of example
Needs guidance
Mother substitute Miss Taylor - ideal maternal qualities but is only mother to Emma in her love for her, not in education or example - treats Emma as superior

Persuasion

Anne + no mother

Loss of mother/educator/person most like her
Mature, self-aware
Gentle and submissive
Strong character
Lady Russell = substitute mother - "benevolent, charitable, good woman" - but interferes with Anne and Frederick's relationship - doesnt have good judgement or understanding of Anne's needs
Values good natured people, open-heartedness - looks for people like that to be her subsitute family - Musgroves, Crofts, Harvilles

Mothers and Daughters