“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Jane Austen
When I was twelve years old, my sister-in-law gave me a beautifully bound copy of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, with a handwritten note inside saying how much she loved these books growing up with her sisters and how she hoped one day I would come to love them too. Giving her a hug and rolling my eyes behind her back like any pompous pre-teen girl wishing for movies and clothes instead of paper, I let those books gather dust on my shelves for about a year before touching them again.
By then I was thirteen and just as stuck-up, though I had developed some absurd desire to prove my intelligence to everyone around me. I decided the best way to do this was to expand my vocabulary by buying a 365 word of the day desk calendar and by reading as many great classic books as possible and memorizing their opening line, so I could say things like, oh yes, “call me Ishmael” or “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” just to prove how literate I was around my classmates. I’m sure you can imagine how popular this made me in high school.
You can also probably guess where I am going with this. By the time I rediscovered Jane Austen on my shelf, I plowed through Pride and Prejudice in one day, and completely, irrevocably fell in love with my namesake character and of course, Mr. Darcy. After that, it was all downhill, and I’ve been the biggest Jane Austen fan ever since, following in her footsteps in Bath, England and enrolling in Jane Austen seminars in college for extracurriculars.
If I could meet anyone dead or alive, Jane Austen would definitely make my top 5 list, along with Hemingway, Queen Elizabeth I, Augustus Caesar and Tolkien (if that doesn’t give you some insight into my personality, I don’t know what will).
All of which begs the question, why is so Jane Austen so timeless and so damn popular 200 years later?
Chawton House in Hampshire, England, where Jane Austen lived, source
I heartily believe that if Jane Austen were alive today, she would be one of the most popular bloggers out there. Why? Because not only did she know how to relate to women (and open-minded men), but also encouraged them to find their inner strength and purpose in life in the most sarcastic and romantic way possible. Boom. How many bloggers can do that?
How does that relate to travel and inspiring me to be a fearless female traveler? What does this have to do with anything? Curious minds want to know. Well for me, my love for Jane Austen helped shape my dreams for travel and my determination to have an awesome life exploring the world.
Not that Miss Austen herself traveled very much, but I think that the themes found in her novels and letters can inspire everyone to follow their dreams, whether it be traveling or something else entirely.
For me, Jane Austen was the original independent-minded woman and her morals and ideas echoed in her characters have a lot to teach us. Usually people liken her themes to love and relationships, but since I’ve become bitter in the romance department, I’ve chosen to apply her themes to travel and becoming a strong independent adventuress instead.
Here are 5 ways in which Jane Austen has encouraged me to travel fearlessly:
Has Jane Austen or any other writer or figure inspired you to travel?
1. Don’t settle for anything and be patient
This is something I think everyone faces at one point or another; do you settle for a comfortable, average life because that is what’s expected or what is easy? Or do you chose to challenge yourself, take risks, and go further than what is predictable with the faint hope for something extraordinary. Is there anything worse than looking back on a moment in your life with regret or having the thought, “why didn’t I do that?”
In her novels, Austen’s heroines are always rewarded for their steadfastness, dedication and patience. Lizzy Bennet, Fanny Price and even Jane herself refuse comfortable offers of marriage in the hope of something more. I think women face this exact issue nowadays, preferring to focus on the dream of a perfect house, white picket fence, handsome husband and 2.5 children (for example) and compromising career goals and ambitions. Don’t settle for anything less than your dreams.
This can be directly applied to travel. How many people have I met that have told me, “I wish I could do what you do and travel the world like you do.” Newsflash ladies, you totally can! Make it a priority and it’s completely possible and remember: WWJD: What Would Jane Do? My dreams are seeing the world and I’m killing myself to make it happen, and I’m doing it on my own as a women, not compromising for anything less.
2. Don’t be shy and be assertive
Jane Austen was the queen of showing just how women can take charge of their own world and lives. Shy and meek characters do not often thrive in Austen’s novels, only those who take become assertive and in command of their own lives. How little times have changed; 200 years later and this is still an issue women face all over the world, whether it’s traveling the globe or working your way up the corporate latter, women have been settling for less for far too long.
Did you know that less than 17% of board seats at Fortune 500 companies in the US are held by women? (source) And what is really sad is this massive gender gap is not only the result of antiquated, bigoted attitudes in the workplace, but also is a direct result of women not being aggressive or assertive and going after what they want.
You wouldn’t believe the crap I’ve heard over the years about traveling alone as a woman. Don’t get me wrong, there are truths to the dangers, but it is nowhere near as bad as modern stereotypes make it out to be. There is a reason that solo female travel blogs are a popular niche among bloggers, because there is a great need for it. I would have never gotten anywhere if I didn’t learn to be assertive and believe in myself and my decisions while traveling, not to mention actively trying to break down gender stereotypes while traveling.
3. Self-growth is key
Learning through mistakes is a popular theme in many of Jane Austen’s novels, something all travelers must face as well. I’ve already written a lot about this before, but it warrants repeating. All of Austen’s great heroines go through a journey of self-discovery, and that moment of pure happiness eludes them until they come to some sort of self-realization, usually after a whopper of a mistake. My favorite example is when Lizzy Bennet realizes her assumptions about Mt. Darcy are completely wrong.
The same thing happens while traveling and living abroad. How can you ever hope to gain an enlightened, open-minded opinion of the world without ever seeing the world? Nothing forces you to examine yourself quite like being yanked out of your comfort zone and exploring the world.
For me travel and self-growth are irrevocably linked. Usually I see it as a process of effing something up royally, then recognizing that I messed up, a feeling of remorse and shame (the worst feelings ever!) followed up with a desire and determination to do better in the future. This happens to me in relationships at home and relationships abroad, but it’s a lot harder to ignore when traveling, and usually I have a harder time escaping reflection, usually because I spend absurd amounts of time on buses, trains and planes thinking, pondering, and dwelling.
4. Be cautious but take risks too
What a difficult balance to find! Jane Austen is really effective about trying to find a balance between caution and risk-taking. She reminds us to be wary of just about anything, something that usually comes from trial-and-error (point #3). Look what happened to poor Miss Marianne Dashwood when she threw caution to the wind in Sense and Sensibility.
The same goes for traveling. If multiple people give you explicit warnings and advice about something, you should probably heed them. But at the same time it’s crucial to be open-minded to new opportunities and to take risks while traveling. I like to call them “calculated” risks, where the chance of me dying, being raped or kidnapped is kept to a minimum.
5. It’s ok to be a woman and have a brain
I went to a fancy-schmancy New England women’s college, and the 4 years I was there, I HATED all the of the idealist feminists I was forced to eat, sleep, and go to class with. You could probably call me the worst women’s college grad ever. But then I graduated, moved abroad and traveled for 2 years straight. One day I woke up and realized, I was actually kind of a feminist at heart, just don’t tell anyone.
How did this magical transformation come about? By traveling the world. One thing I have encountered over and over again on my journeys abroad and back at home is the same chauvinistic stereotype that women shouldn’t be aggressive or more powerful than men. Well, screw that. There is only one way to guarantee that you get what you want out of life and that’s to never give up and chase your dreams, end of story. I have met this stereotype head on and I determined to break it down on my blog.
Why should women who behave just as independently and as strongly as men be frowned upon? Any why the hell are books (and I hesitate to lump them in the same category as real literature) like Twilight and 50 Shades of Gray on the bestseller lists? God, it just reinforces the same notion that women should not be independent or strong-willed. I wish more young girls read Jane Austen instead of that garbage, and would recognize her values of independence, self-reliance, and the idea that it’s ok for women to be smart and strong-willed. Jane herself is the ultimate embodiment of this. A woman who refused to give up her writing and stories and settle for unhappiness in marriage.
All photos unless otherwise noted are my own from Bath, England, where Jane Austen lived for a while.
About the author
I have been surfing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all
webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.|
I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Well written!|
I’ll immediately clutch your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
Do you’ve any? Please allow me recognise so that I may just subscribe.
Thanks.|
It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some
interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
I wish to read even more things about it!|
It’s perfect time to make a few plans for the future and it is time
to be happy. I’ve learn this post and if I could I desire to counsel you some interesting
things or advice. Maybe you could write subsequent articles referring to this article.
I desire to read more issues about it!|
I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours these days, but I by no means found any interesting
article like yours. It’s lovely price enough for me.
In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made
good content as you probably did, the web will probably be
much more helpful than ever before.|
Ahaa, its nice dialogue about this piece of writing at this
place at this website, I have read all that, so
at this time me also commenting at this place.|
I am sure this post has touched all the internet viewers, its really really good paragraph on building
up new webpage.|
Wow, this article is pleasant, my younger sister is analyzing
such things, thus I am going to inform her.|
bookmarked!!, I love your web site!|
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this post and the rest of the website is
really good.|
Hi, I do think this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m
going to come back once again since I book-marked it.
Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.|
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this
blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb
usability and appearance. I must say you’ve done a fantastic job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads extremely quick for me on
Internet explorer. Exceptional Blog!|
These are in fact impressive ideas in about
blogging. You have touched some pleasant points here.
Any way keep up wrinting.|
I like what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve incorporated you guys
to my own blogroll.|
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so
I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information.
I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Fantastic blog and great style and design.|
I like what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work and reporting!
Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll.|
Hello would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using?
I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!|
Hi would you mind letting me know which webhost
you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this
blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a
reasonable price? Thanks, I appreciate it!|
I like it when people come together and share views.
Great site, stick with it!|
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?|
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off
the screen in Ie. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you
know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the
issue resolved soon. Thanks|
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Many thanks!
Where are your contact details though?|
It’s very easy to find out any topic on web as compared to books, as I found this paragraph at this web
page.|
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating
it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.|
Hey there! I’ve been following your blog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Tx!
Just wanted to mention keep up the great job!|
Greetings from Florida! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided
to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch
break. I really like the info you present here and can’t wait to take a
look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful blog!|
Its like you learn my mind! You appear to know
so much about this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something.
I feel that you could do with some percent to force the message home a bit, but instead of
that, that is magnificent blog. A great read.
I’ll certainly be back.|
I visited various websites but the audio feature for audio songs current
at this website is actually superb.|
Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one
and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam remarks?
If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any help is very much appreciated.|
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It is the little changes which will make the biggest changes.
Thanks for sharing!|
I seriously love your blog.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you make this
website yourself? Please reply back as I’m attempting
to create my very own site and would like to learn where you
got this from or just what the theme is named. Cheers!|
Hello there! This blog post could not be written any better!
Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I most certainly will send this post to
him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!|
Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a entirely
different subject but it has pretty much the same
layout and design. Superb choice of colors!|
There’s definately a great deal to learn about this topic.
I love all of the points you made.|
You’ve made some really good points there. I checked
on the web to learn more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with
your views on this web site.|
What’s up, I read your new stuff like every week. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep it up!|
I simply could not go away your website prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard
info a person supply on your guests? Is going to be
back continuously to check out new posts|
I want to to thank you for this excellent read!! I absolutely loved every bit of it.
I have you book-marked to look at new things you post…|
What’s up, just wanted to say, I enjoyed this article.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!|
I comment each time I like a article on a website or
I have something to valuable to contribute to the discussion.
Usually it is triggered by the fire communicated in the
article I looked at. And after this post How Jane Austen Taught
Me to Be a Fearless Female Traveler. I was excited enough
to post a leave a responsea response 😉 I actually do
have some questions for you if you do not mind. Could it be simply me
or does it give the impression like some of the remarks come across like written by brain dead people?
😛 And, if you are writing at other online social sites, I
would like to keep up with you. Could you make a list every one of your social pages like your linkedin
profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?|
Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article.
I wanted to write a little comment to support you.|
I always spent my half an hour to read this weblog’s articles or
reviews everyday along with a cup of coffee.|
I always emailed this web site post page to all my friends,
as if like to read it afterward my friends will too.|
My developer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the costs.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on numerous websites for about a year and am worried about switching to
another platform. I have heard great things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress content into it?
Any help would be really appreciated!|
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but after
looking at many of the articles I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m certainly pleased I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!|
Great work! That is the kind of info that are meant to be shared around the web.
Shame on Google for now not positioning this publish
higher! Come on over and visit my website . Thank you =)|
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It
truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others
like you helped me.|
Howdy, I do think your website may be having web browser compatibility problems.
Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however,
when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Aside from that, wonderful site!|
A person necessarily assist to make significantly articles I might state.
This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far?
I surprised with the analysis you made to make this actual publish amazing.
Wonderful task!|
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and
I in finding It really helpful & it helped me out much. I’m hoping to offer
something back and aid others such as you aided me.|
Hi there! I simply want to give you a big thumbs up for
the excellent information you have got here on this post.
I will be returning to your blog for more soon.|
I all the time used to read paragraph in news papers but now as I am a
user of internet therefore from now I am using net for articles, thanks to web.|
Your way of telling everything in this piece of writing is in fact good, all be capable of without
difficulty be aware of it, Thanks a lot.|
Hi there, I found your website by way of Google even as searching for a similar matter, your web site
got here up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply changed into alert to your weblog through
Google, and located that it’s really informative.
I am gonna be careful for brussels. I will be grateful if you happen to proceed this in future.
Many other people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!|
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you’re using?
I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest blog and I’d like to find something more safe.
Do you have any recommendations?|
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout
on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this
one these days.|
I’m really impressed with your writing abilities and also with the format in your weblog.
Is this a paid subject or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway stay up the excellent high quality writing, it is uncommon to see a nice weblog like
this one today..|
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem along with your website in web explorer, may test this?
IE still is the marketplace chief and a big section of other
people will pass over your magnificent writing because
of this problem.|
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for wonderful information I was looking
for this info for my mission.|
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site so i came to “return the favor”.I
am trying to find things to improve my site!I suppose its
ok to use {some of|a few\
It’s not at all common process to affiliate economics with telecharger gta 5
gratuit. Commonly, telecharger gta 5 pc can be considered to have no affect on our own financial
situation, but right now there have been several
outcomes.
This piece of writing provides clear idea in favor
of the new viewers of blogging, that really how to do running a blog.
[…] that my deep abiding, everlasting love for Jane Austen has anything to with it. Cough […]