1. Auerbach, Nina. “O Brave New World: Evolution and Revolution in Persuasion”.  Johns Hopkins Publishing Press, ELH1 (1972): 112–128. Web…

The author of the article stated above is Nina Auerbach and the publisher for this work is The Johns Hopkins Publishing Press. Johns Hopkins Publishing Press is one of the longest running university presses in the United States according to Jeff Camhi, so I assume that they are reliable and are very good publishers. Nina Auerbach’s work is about the correlation between Persuasion and The Tempest. Auerbach connects the texts through the theme of the “threat of loss and death”. Additionally she connects the two stories by describing how the characters are seemed as progressive for their time, and are entering this “brave new world”. Nina Auerbach does show a bias towards Jane Austen and is very fond of her, considering that she appears in critical editions of Jane Austen’s work. This specific writing dates back to 1972. To me it is old, but it really is not as old or outdated as it appears. It’s hard to say which side of the argument Auerbach leans towards, but I would say that she leans more towards feminism. The author’s audience for this writing is for students, like myself, trying to get a better understanding of the characters and themes in Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I used this article because Auerbach breaks down the whole theme of marriage in Persuasion. Yes, it is an overarching theme in Persuasion, but to have someone break it down and explain marriage in 19th century England, it is very helpful.  Nina also explains the characters and why they act a certain way or what role in society they would be fitting into in 19^th century England. Most importantly, Auerbach is a well-known critic of Jane Austen and 19^th century literature, so I felt that it was essential to have her in my paper.

2. Rzepka, Charles J…”Making it in a Brave New World: Marriage, Profession, and Anti Romantic Ekstasis in Austen’s Persuasion” Johns Hopkins Publishing Press, Studies in the Novel1/2 (1994): 99–120. Web…

Charles J. Rzpeka is the author of the writing, “Making it in a Brave New World: Marriage,

Profession, and Anti Romantic Ekstasis in Austen’s Persuasion.” The publisher for this work is also Johns Hopkins Publishing Press. Rzpeka is writes about Auerbachs writing, mentioned above, just 20 years later.  He is really shedding light to what Auerbach would describe as a “revolution.” The revolution that Rzpeka is writing about, is how marriage is a key to let woman into male dominated roles in society and how marriage connects the “world” of the house with the “world” of the work place. Rzpeka does not show to have a bias. What he does show is an unbiased approach to feminism. He does not necessarily tear it down, nor does he raise it up. This writing, by Charles Rzpeka is about 22 years old, so I would not consider it outdated. The writing provides more references, and mentions other marriages in Persuasion other than the main two protagonists, Anne and Captain Wentworth. This writing is directed towards college students, very much like Auerbach, but in a more cynical way than Auerbach. He just provides a different perspective, one which does not appear to show signs of femeinsim. I used this source because I wanted to read a version of Jane Austen that did not praise Anne as a feminist heroine. This writing provides multiple references to Persuasion and to Auerbach which really helps me to formulate an argument.

3. Visconsi, Elliott. “Vinculum Fidei: The Tempest and the Law of Allegiance”. Taylor and Francis Ltd, Law and Literature1 (2008): 1–20. Web…

Elliot Visconi is the author of “Vinculum Fidei: The Tempest and the Law of Allegiance”. The publisher for this work is Taylor and Francis Ltd.  This publisher has been around since 1852, and have stayed rather successful since. The writing is about how The Tempest is a satirical piece of writing aimed at James I concerning “the bond between sovereign and subject.” However, I viewed this essay describing that the institution of marriage allows people to govern others in order to get a plot of land. I did not see any sort of bias in this author. He does view as Shakespeare as a political theorist or activist which I thought was interesting. This writing is from 2008, so it is up to date. What the author tries to do, is convince me through political theory and historical information that The Tempest is a politically driven play. I used this source because it mentions that Prospero and Miranda were brought back into society through the institution of marriage, which I thought was very interesting. We also discussed something along those lines during class. This does not provide a lot of back ground information, but it does put The Tempest in a new perspective, one that I did not think of.

4. Erickson, Amy Louise. “Common Law Versus Common Practice: The Use of Marriage Settlements in Early Modern England”. John Wiley and Sons, The Economic History Review1 (1990): 21–39. Web…

Amy Louise Erickson is the author of “Common Law Versus Common Practice: The Use of Marriage Settlements in early Modern England.” The publisher is John Wiley and Sons. I personally have never heard of John Wiley and Sons before, but supposedly they are successful and have been publishing ever since 1809. The obvious bias that comes to mind is that marriage back then had nothing to do with love. Marriage was a way to settle disputes or gain something, which Erickson is against. As soon as I read the title I could tell where this reading was going, but that is also why I chose this reading. Both in Persuasion and The Tempest, marriage is a means to come to an agreement, which leaves love out of the equation. The author’s stance is like one I mentioned earlier (2-3 sentences ago). She realizes that women back in 19th century England did not have much of a future, and marriage was their realistic future and goal in life, especially if you were middle or high class individual. The author is writing to college students who are trying to understand why marriage was used as a means to end disputes. Today many people view marriage as an act of love not as an act of ending a dispute. So to understand this concept of marriage as a means to come to an agreement is interesting. I used this source because I thought it was interesting that woman were viewed as an object one could trade to gain something. This reading connects Persuasion and The Tempest very well in my opinion. This opinion being that, through the use of marriage, one member may just want to get married to gain something.

5. Magee, William H. “Instrument of Growth: The Courtship and Marriage Plot in Jane Austen’s Novels”. The Journal of Narrative Technique,2 (1987): 198–208. Web…

The author of this writing is William H. Magee and the publisher is The Journal of Narrative Technique. The Journal of Narrative Technique started was founded in 1979, so it is recently new in comparison to the others in the bibliography. This author’s bias shows signs of feminism.  He writes about how women back in 19^th century England did not have much of a voice in society and there only real success in life was if they were married. This author, like many today, believe that women back in the 19^th century did not have much of a voice in society and how I mentioned earlier, a woman true goal in life was to be married. This writing, like the others, is geared towards an audience that is wanting to learn more about Austen and how big of a role marriage was for society during the 19^th century. I believe the author is very accurate because his writing is similar to other authors I have read and discussed. This source, like the previous, is not out dated. I am using this source because it covers the concept of marriage in Jane Austen’s novels and women in 19^th century England.

6. Hayley, William. A Philosophical, Historical, and Moral Essay on Old Maids. London, 1785. Print.

This writing is by William Hayley. There was no publisher for this because it is an essay written in 1785. This text is about unmarried women and society’s point of view on being an “old maid”.  This essay does have some satire and is meant to be funny according to the editor of this writing. I could not find a bias because this writing is a satirical reflection of what society thought of women that were not married. The source is accurate because he lived in the time frame that Jane Austen lived. His essay is just a reflection of society of that time period. This source is definitely out dated. Today most people get married in their late 20s and today society does not refer to single, unmarried women as “old maids.” His position in this writing is, to be careful about marrying older women that are not married or have been married because they have their own motives other than finding love. The authors audience is the society of his time period, but this writing is a rebuttal to another writers claims. The author does not persuade me because society has changed so much. I am using this source because it represents how society viewed unmarried, single women at the time and the role of marriage during that time period.

7. Austen, Henry. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion; Biographical notice of the Author. London, 1818. Print.

The author of this biographical notice is Henry Austen. There was no publisher for this notice. This text is a short biography of Jane Austen. There is no negativity in this writing directed towards Jane because this text is supposed to praise her life, not tear it down. There is no bias in this writing. I say this because, his sister died and this is a short biography. If Henry was to write an opinionated biography, this writing would be more about him and his experiences with Jane, rather than a short history of Jane’s life. The source is extremely accurate because Henry was Jane’s favorite brother and they were very close. This could be interpreted as out dated because at funerals or services in the 21^st century, society tries to be funny at these sad events instead of being serious and upset. The author is writing towards people that will hopefully show up to Jane Austen’s funeral service. I am using this source to gain more information about Jane Austen. I do not know Jane Austen that well and Henry provided some facts that I did not know about, like her date of birth or that she enjoyed history. This supports my paper with some general facts about Jane Austen and possibly where Jane gets her ideas.