The Cover Makes Northanger Abbey by Jane Austin

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Recommended: Literature and women in the Victorian century

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” is a cliché that has been heard throughout society for years. However, when many look at a novel it can either make or break the idea of reading it. The cover is able to express to the reader the content of the book and some of the storyline, giving the reader a glimpse into the books plotline. In Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey published by Marvel comics in 2012 this is exactly the case. The main character, Catherine, is placed front and center looking forward towards the reader with a large building behind her. As we will see the cover of Northanger Abbey give the reader a sense of mystery revolving around Catherine.
Looking at the cover of Northanger Abbey, the main focal point is that of the main character, Catherine. Her face is placed in the center of the cover which causes her eyes to be staring at the reader of the novel. At first glance, it appears that she is searching for something to be interested in, yet, the more you look at the whole picture, including her smile which is placed in a half smirk, it implies that she has information that she is hiding, creating a mystery. The colors and placement of Catherine are able to further present her as a mystery. Catherin is the brightest yet darkest part of the cover. This is done due to the light that is placed upon her face while the rest of her is body has tones of light to dark blue as well as some hints of purple. Catherine appears to be in her mid to late teenage years, which is represented through the pure light placed on her forehead. This lightness surrounding her face is able to represent the innocence of her mind as well as the curiosity she as she searches for who she is. Even though, she can be perceived as innocent the blues are...

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...modern girl based on the fact that she is holding a novel. Historically speaking, women didn’t begin reading novels openly until more modern times. Based on the distance between Catherine and the Abbey it seems as if there will be some sort of journey to clear the fog in her mind and possibly even discover who she is during this journey.
Combining Catherine, the background and the textual elements the cover of Northanger Abbey is able to portray a book of a teenage girl who will be set upon a journey to Northanger Abbey in which she must discover a mystery and work past it to understand the truth removing mystery and revealing knowledge and growth. This cover of the novel, while it may represent a more modern girl, it is still able to embody all of the events and the journey in which Catherine takes to learn who she is and fully grow to become who she needs to be.

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