Austen's view of the Theater

Posted by SunnyQ on November 18, 1997 at 13:46:47:

In rereading Mansefield Park, I was struck at how incongruent the play episode is with Austen's approach to theater in general. When I first read the novel I took this as a self righteous moral statement, but realizing that this didn't make sense, I know view the whole thing as ironic. However, as I am currently writing a paper on Shakespeare and Austen I am somewhat bemused to the actual relationship of the theater in 18th-19th century life and education. I am aware that Austen's family seems to have had somewhat of their own amateur dramat and am looking for more information on this as well. Thanks.

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