Jane Austen’s Love Interest
“Desiring nothing but to be unobserved”: Love and Social Anxiety in Austen’s Novels
Jane Austen’s heroines face numerous socially stressful circumstances. These include forced friendships (such as the Miss Steeles, Mary Crawford), unwanted suitors (Mr. Thorpe—eww), wanted suitors flirting with other women (Captain Wentworth, Frank Churchill), embarrassing families (the Bennets and Prices), and circumscribed activity (stick to the shrubbery!). Heroines often add to their stress through their own awkwardness in navigating deeply distressing dynamics, whether they hide, deflect with edgy banter, or develop an undefined illness. Applying the lens of what we now call “social anxiety disorder,” Dr. Anderson will outline how Austen’s women manifest this condition, their diverse coping methods, and how their choice of husbands supports their social-emotional restoration. In the world of the novels, does love truly heal all wounds?
Presented by Dr. Kathleen Anderson
Kathleen Anderson is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Jane Austen’s Women: An Introduction (State University of New York Press, 2018), and co-author of Jane Austen’s Guide to Thrift: An Independent Woman’s Advice on Living Within One’s Means (Berkley Books, 2013). Her numerous essays have appeared in academic and popular publications such as Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Journal of Feminist Scholarship, The Huffington Post, Commonweal, ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, and The Routledge Companion to Jane Austen (second edition forthcoming in 2028). Dr. Anderson earned her A.B. at Harvard University and her M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. She was an English professor for over twenty years at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she received the Corts Award for Outstanding Teaching and served as a faculty mentor. She loves the arts, dance, interior design, and views of the beautiful grounds at Pemberley. A longtime speaker at regional, national, and international venues, Dr. Anderson finds inspiration in learning new perspectives from diverse Jane Austen-lovers.
DATE: Friday, February 12, 2027
Time: 10:30 -11:00 am
Price: Free with registration
Location: Community Building Auditorium
Community Building Auditorium