Family Meals in Northanger Abbey

Here in the United States, everyone is gearing up for Thanksgiving. Most of us had to make alternative plans or even skip this holiday altogether last year, so getting together has a new significance. I personally am grateful for every opportunity I get to spend time with people I was largely separated from for the better part of 2020.

Thanksgiving is largely a New World holiday of course, and while there are harvest festivals back in the United Kingdom, I do not believe any possess the same place in society. But the characters of Northanger Abbey do share several meals, and just like today, there was often some awkwardness when family and food join together.

An early example comes in Chapter 16, when Catherine dines with the Tilneys at their lodgings in Bath.

Catherine’s expectations of pleasure from her visit in Milsom Street were so very high that disappointment was inevitable; and accordingly, though she was most politely received by General Tilney, and kindly welcomed by his daughter, though Henry was at home, and no one else of the party, she found, on her return, without spending many hours in the examination of her feelings, that she had gone to her appointment preparing for happiness which it had not afforded. Instead of finding herself improved in acquaintance with Miss Tilney, from the intercourse of the day, she seemed hardly so intimate with her as before; instead of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage than ever, in the ease of a family party, he had never said so little, nor been so little agreeable; and, in spite of their father’s great civilities to her—in spite of his thanks, invitations, and compliments—it had been a release to get away from him.

In comparison to how every single moment of Pride and Prejudice has been explored, I have never seen a fandom author expand on this incident, even when writing the novel over from Henry's perspective. Austen is light on the details, keeping the focus on Catherine's evolving understanding of the Tilney family, but we can infer that it was a very uncomfortable evening. Henry and Eleanor both appear to have been embarrassed or at least cowed by their father's behavior. Catherine does not blame them but instead finds the whole thing puzzling, which shows that her own family gatherings are simpler and easier.

It's telling that in her next encounter with Henry Tilney he compliments her as "being superior in good nature yourself to all the rest of the world." Both he and his sister are grateful for a friend not easily offended or scared away by a difficult relative.

The next dinner occurs with the same characters in Chapter 21, after they all arrive at Northanger Abbey.

The dining-parlour was a noble room, suitable in its dimensions to a much larger drawing-room than the one in common use, and fitted up in a style of luxury and expense which was almost lost on the unpractised eye of Catherine, who saw little more than its spaciousness and the number of their attendants. Of the former, she spoke aloud her admiration; and the general, with a very gracious countenance, acknowledged that it was by no means an ill-sized room, and further confessed that, though as careless on such subjects as most people, he did look upon a tolerably large eating-room as one of the necessaries of life; he supposed, however, “that she must have been used to much better-sized apartments at Mr. Allen’s?”

“No, indeed,” was Catherine’s honest assurance; “Mr. Allen’s dining-parlour was not more than half as large,” and she had never seen so large a room as this in her life. The general’s good humour increased. Why, as he had such rooms, he thought it would be simple not to make use of them; but, upon his honour, he believed there might be more comfort in rooms of only half their size. Mr. Allen’s house, he was sure, must be exactly of the true size for rational happiness.

General Tilney has surprised his children before with his solicitous attitude toward their friend. Here, though, we get some comments that reveal even more of his character. It's not the actual food he's concerned about, but the size and style of the room, and even though on a material level he needs the Allens (and, eventually, their supposed ward Catherine) to posses riches in equal if not greater wealth than his own, he wants to come across as the winner in this contrived contest.

Again, it is General Tilney who speaks while they eat, with Catheirne occasionally responding. Given how unusual it is for Henry to remain silent, we can see that his method of dealing with his father is to simply not engage at all. Sometimes, unfortunately, that's the best we can do. Still, it's a further contrast between the children, who are thankful for the blessing of friendship, and their father, who is only satisfied when he is the center of attention rather than his guest.

Finally, Austen gives us a trip to Henry's home in Woodston during Chapter 26.

She could not but observe that the abundance of the dinner did not seem to create the smallest astonishment in the general; nay, that he was even looking at the side-table for cold meat which was not there. His son and daughter’s observations were of a different kind. They had seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table but his own, and never before known him so little disconcerted by the melted butter’s being oiled.

Catherine had earlier wondered at Henry taking so much trouble with a meal his father directly told him not to worry about. At this point, though, most readers will recognize that General Tilney is not always a man of his word. His son, probably through long experience, knows that no matter what was said, his father will expect a full spread to eat. Even so, I imagine there was real joy at this table as Henry not only shared his home with Catherine, but also seeing how her patient presence has inspire contentment even with the general. Later we learn it was all part of his plan to make Henry look like an attractive offer. Yet it is also true that grateful, gracious hearts may, on occasion, impact others in unforeseeable ways. We've all seen how some of our own curmudgeons in the family can be drawn into having a good time at gathering (sometimes in spite of themselves!)

Mrs. Morland may be right when she calls her daughter "a sad, heedless young housekeeper." Nevertheless, each time she sits down to eat with her new friends, Catherine proves herself ready to make a home happy just by her care and kindness. That's an example we could all use heading into the sometimes hectic holiday schedule of November and December.

I hope everyone has a wonderful time in whatever way you celebrate. And if you don't want to watch football after the turkey, don't worry: more chapters are on their way this week for you to savor with the desert.