What would Jane Austen Do?

A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas

I am an Anglophile, specifically a Jane Austen-ophile. Something about her stories makes them timeless. I have probably watched Pride and Prejudice 20 times.

Mr. Darcy is misunderstood, Edmund Bertram has such a desire to do what is right, Mr. Knightley wrestles with jealousy, Henry Tilney is the second son plagued by his families bad behavior, Edward Ferris gets cut off when he goes against his family wishes and Captain Fredrick Wentworth was born on the wrong side of the tracks and has to prove himself worthy. The themes are rehashed over and over in literature and Jane Austen is a household name; at least she is in my house.

I have multiple versions of the books and movies because the stories are so good. The men eventually figure it out and the women are inspiring.

What do all these books have in common?

Strong women.

Elizabeth refuses to marry for anything less than love, Fanny Price sees right through the pompous, deceitful Henry Crawford, Emma influences people, Catherine Moreland is determined to get to the bottom of a mystery, Elinor Dashwood holds her family together even with a broken heart, and Anne Elliot who once took the errant advice of society backtracks and rights her wrong. These are powerful characters for the 19th century.

You know where else you can find strong women?

The Bible.

Which is probably where Jane Austen got some inspiration.

Mary was an unwed teen mom that bore the Savior of the world (Luke 1-2)

Esther was the Queen that saved her people, the Jews, from genocide (Book of Esther)

Ruth was the loyal daughter in law who embraced Judaism to become the great grandmother of King David. (Ruth 1:16-17, Book of Ruth)

Rahab aided the spies that caused the fall of Jericho and was in the lineage of Jesus (Joshua 2)

Mary Magdalene, washed Jesus feet with her tears and anointed him with expensive perfume (Luke 7:36-50), she was part of Jesus’ entourage and was the first person that Jesus appeared to after the resurrection (John 20:11-18)

So the next time you have a few minutes read the book of Esther, or the story of Ruth in the Bible.

So, what would Jane Austen do? I would like to think she would read the Bible.

“Here’s to strong women.

May we know them.

May we be them.

May we raise them.”

~author unknown