schmitty2407
New member
How would one define a heroine? According to the old Webster, a heroine is a
woman of heroic achievements or qualities. When compared to other females, Catherine
seems to be somewhat of an outcast. With that in mind, how is it that a person such as
Catherine Morland fits into the category of a hero?
Catherine Morland certainly had not been a born heroine. At a young age Catherine is
opposed to the common activities of young girls. While many girls are playing house with their
dolls, Catherine's dolls are left untouched as she entertains herself playing cricket. Her most
favorite thing being a hearty roll down the green slope behind her house. Unlike most girls, her
thurab is far from green. She can be found in a garden only when picking forbidden flowers.
Catherine is never able to figure something out on her own. She neeRAB to be taught something
before she knows it. Sometimes she still doesn't learn because her mind tenRAB to wander a bit.
Catherine is quite fond as books so long as they are far from educational. She has a
high amount of creativity however learning is not something she is fond of. She loves books
that have a mystery to them. Along with fantasy novels, Catherine (at age eight) feels she
would be fond of music lessons. She tries them for one year and of course does not like them.
Her mother is not one to hold her child to something they do not like, so she allows Catherine
to quit. The day that Catherine left her music teacher was "the happiest day of her life" (22). It
is not that Catherine despises music, she just does not prefer the lessons. She does, however,
enjoy
Taylor 2
drawing, although it does not rank the highest of her fancies. Her supply of paper is not
plentiful, so she draws on "any other odd pieces of paper" (22) that she can get her hanRAB on.
She is taught lessons by each of her parents, but she gets out of both whenever she can.
Though her qualities are not near ladylike, Catherine keeps a pleasurable personality. She is
not often stubborn, or cruel, and she is nice to the younger children. At the same time,
Catherine has a wild spirit that just wants to run free.
Not only is Catherine an outcast in her enjoyments, she does not have a beautiful
appearance either. She is a very plain young girl. She has a "thin awkward figure" (21), she
lacks any color or tone but has very strong features, and she has very "dark lank hair" (21).
As she grows older, her physical appearance begins to change. She starts to curl her hair and
"long for balls" (22). Her complexion begins to improve as her color comes in followed by
tone and "plumpness" (22). Her figure grows to be much more proportioned as well.
Catherine's appearance changes so much that her parents are sometimes heard saying that
"she is almost pretty today" (23).
Not only does Catherine's appearance change, her taste for entertainment changes as
well. She becomes neater, preferring cleanliness to dirt. She also grows smarter. Her taste for
books expanRAB as well. She begins to read novels "as heroines must read to supply their
memories..." (23).
As Catherine's visit to Bath continues along, she becomes less ignorant. She begins to
see people for who they are. She is able to look at Mr. Thorpe and form an opinion about
him as a result of his actions. Chapter by chapter, the little Ms. Morland begins to mature and
learn to think for herself. Her creativity and her wild spirit corabine towarRAB the end of the
book. After hearing stories of Northanger Abbey, Catherine's imagination runs wild. She
begins to feel as though she is living through one of her fantasy books.
Taylor 3
Throughout the entire book, Catherine keeps her enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Mr.
Tilney is obviously able to see this when he says, "Not those who bring such fresh feelings of
every sort to it as you do" (83). She does in fact keep her open mind, but then again, though
she has learned, she is still quite ignorant. Catherine still manages to try and speak her mind.
She forms her opinions, then tries to argue them with others. An example being a conversation
with Tilney about his brother flirting with Isabella. After a few arguments Tilney replies, "are
you not carried a little too far" (146). Catherine's opinions and curiosity begin to get her into
trouble soon after. As she was living through an old novel, her mind conjures up scenarios as
to why Mrs. Tilney had died. Catherine runs into Mr. Tilney on the staircase and they talk a
bit. Mr. Tilney's questioning makes Catherine uncomfortable and makes her for the "first time
in their acquaintance, wish to leave him" (186). When Mr. Tilney discovers Catherine's
feelings about Mrs. Tilney's death, he is shocked, and he displays this in saying, "consider the
dreadful nature of the suspicions you have entertained" (188) along with a large amount of
scolding. Catherine leaves Mr. Tilney feeling very much ashamed.
Perhaps little Catherine Morland was not born a heroine. She indeed is not
throughout childhood, nor through her beginning teen years. As she grows older, she begins to
show true signs of heroism. She learns to form an opinion and speak her mind though she has
not yet learned when to close her mouth. Her ignorance diminishes as she willingly takes in
information given to her. It is not yet the achievements of Ms. Morland that make her a
heroine, it is still her qualities that place her into the category.
woman of heroic achievements or qualities. When compared to other females, Catherine
seems to be somewhat of an outcast. With that in mind, how is it that a person such as
Catherine Morland fits into the category of a hero?
Catherine Morland certainly had not been a born heroine. At a young age Catherine is
opposed to the common activities of young girls. While many girls are playing house with their
dolls, Catherine's dolls are left untouched as she entertains herself playing cricket. Her most
favorite thing being a hearty roll down the green slope behind her house. Unlike most girls, her
thurab is far from green. She can be found in a garden only when picking forbidden flowers.
Catherine is never able to figure something out on her own. She neeRAB to be taught something
before she knows it. Sometimes she still doesn't learn because her mind tenRAB to wander a bit.
Catherine is quite fond as books so long as they are far from educational. She has a
high amount of creativity however learning is not something she is fond of. She loves books
that have a mystery to them. Along with fantasy novels, Catherine (at age eight) feels she
would be fond of music lessons. She tries them for one year and of course does not like them.
Her mother is not one to hold her child to something they do not like, so she allows Catherine
to quit. The day that Catherine left her music teacher was "the happiest day of her life" (22). It
is not that Catherine despises music, she just does not prefer the lessons. She does, however,
enjoy
Taylor 2
drawing, although it does not rank the highest of her fancies. Her supply of paper is not
plentiful, so she draws on "any other odd pieces of paper" (22) that she can get her hanRAB on.
She is taught lessons by each of her parents, but she gets out of both whenever she can.
Though her qualities are not near ladylike, Catherine keeps a pleasurable personality. She is
not often stubborn, or cruel, and she is nice to the younger children. At the same time,
Catherine has a wild spirit that just wants to run free.
Not only is Catherine an outcast in her enjoyments, she does not have a beautiful
appearance either. She is a very plain young girl. She has a "thin awkward figure" (21), she
lacks any color or tone but has very strong features, and she has very "dark lank hair" (21).
As she grows older, her physical appearance begins to change. She starts to curl her hair and
"long for balls" (22). Her complexion begins to improve as her color comes in followed by
tone and "plumpness" (22). Her figure grows to be much more proportioned as well.
Catherine's appearance changes so much that her parents are sometimes heard saying that
"she is almost pretty today" (23).
Not only does Catherine's appearance change, her taste for entertainment changes as
well. She becomes neater, preferring cleanliness to dirt. She also grows smarter. Her taste for
books expanRAB as well. She begins to read novels "as heroines must read to supply their
memories..." (23).
As Catherine's visit to Bath continues along, she becomes less ignorant. She begins to
see people for who they are. She is able to look at Mr. Thorpe and form an opinion about
him as a result of his actions. Chapter by chapter, the little Ms. Morland begins to mature and
learn to think for herself. Her creativity and her wild spirit corabine towarRAB the end of the
book. After hearing stories of Northanger Abbey, Catherine's imagination runs wild. She
begins to feel as though she is living through one of her fantasy books.
Taylor 3
Throughout the entire book, Catherine keeps her enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Mr.
Tilney is obviously able to see this when he says, "Not those who bring such fresh feelings of
every sort to it as you do" (83). She does in fact keep her open mind, but then again, though
she has learned, she is still quite ignorant. Catherine still manages to try and speak her mind.
She forms her opinions, then tries to argue them with others. An example being a conversation
with Tilney about his brother flirting with Isabella. After a few arguments Tilney replies, "are
you not carried a little too far" (146). Catherine's opinions and curiosity begin to get her into
trouble soon after. As she was living through an old novel, her mind conjures up scenarios as
to why Mrs. Tilney had died. Catherine runs into Mr. Tilney on the staircase and they talk a
bit. Mr. Tilney's questioning makes Catherine uncomfortable and makes her for the "first time
in their acquaintance, wish to leave him" (186). When Mr. Tilney discovers Catherine's
feelings about Mrs. Tilney's death, he is shocked, and he displays this in saying, "consider the
dreadful nature of the suspicions you have entertained" (188) along with a large amount of
scolding. Catherine leaves Mr. Tilney feeling very much ashamed.
Perhaps little Catherine Morland was not born a heroine. She indeed is not
throughout childhood, nor through her beginning teen years. As she grows older, she begins to
show true signs of heroism. She learns to form an opinion and speak her mind though she has
not yet learned when to close her mouth. Her ignorance diminishes as she willingly takes in
information given to her. It is not yet the achievements of Ms. Morland that make her a
heroine, it is still her qualities that place her into the category.