Isabella Thorpe- The Original Mean Girl

1) Does Northanger Abbey have a villain? If so, which character is the villain? Why do you think that?

As I brought up in class, Northanger Abbey is not a story that is set up to have a distinct “hero” and a distinct “villain.” Instead, it focuses more on the life of Catherine and the people involved in helping her transform into the woman she will become. I have really enjoyed reading a romantic novel that has a gothic hint to it, being a mockery nonetheless. I haven’t been too exposed to this genre of literature from this time period, but I feel like I have learned a lot. Throughout this story, we see many characters behave in a way that causes us to second guess their motives and think twice about the way they behave.

Upon reading this topic on who represents the villain, my immediate thought with red flashing lights in my head was, “ISABELLA THORPE!!!”. Isabella embodies many of the qualities of a girl that my mom would not have wanted me to be friends with as a younger girl. Isabella is probably one of the most manipulative people in the story. She is your typical mean girl, always trying to flaunt her superiority to Catherine. At first, Isabella confused me, in that she seemed like a legitimate and caring friend. Quickly, her ulterior motives in becoming Catherine’s friend in order to get to her brother just show her self-seeking ways and selfish tendencies.

Whether that be flaunting the fact that Isabella knows more, her looks, or her attitude, she makes sure to stroke her own ego all the time. Isabella relishes the attention that Catherine (in her naïve and easily impressed ways) gives her, and further continues to put on some sort of show for Catherine. She is distressed when she doesn’t receive the attention she desires for Catherine as the story develops. Isabella is somewhat of a social chameleon, who blends to appease whoever she is around and will say just about anything in order to feel like she is approved of and important.

Isabella is also boy crazy, which isn’t a characteristic that Catherine embodies upon coming to bath. Isabella takes it upon herself to be a sort of “mentor” to Catherine, giving her a more worldly experience. Some may argue that she is tainting Catherine with her worldly views, but it does serve as an important step into Catherine’s development. However, her erratic behavior when it comes to Henry’s older brother, Captain Tilney, is what bothered me the most. She quickly pushed aside her idea of a relationship with Catherine’s brother in order to pursue something “better” for the concept of money. The narrator discusses Catherine’s opinion on Isabella by saying “She wished Isabella had talked more like her usual self, and not so much about money, and had not looked so well pleased at the sight of Captain Tilney.” (119). To me, this quote made Isabella seem extremely shallow and pathetic, in that her only interests in life revolved around men and money.

 Isabella indirectly is truly an evil person and not the kind of company I would want to keep. Her selfish motives for friendship, money, and self-indulgence are what draw me to the conclusion that she is a negative person and character in the story. She is a classic mean girl, and her indirect ways of being such an awful person make her even more sinister.