Janeites, Austen Enthusiasts, and those who are new to the sport of analyzing Austen’s great works, welcome to a series devoted entirely to the writing Jane Austen produced when she was in her youth. The fragments, short stories, poems, and letters have been cobbled together over the years and in most circles are commonly referred to as Austen’s Juvenilia. Over the next few weeks, we will read these pieces together and analyze the works with the hopes of better understanding how Austen’s early works shaped the writer she became later in life.
It is diverting to think of Jane, sitting at a writing desk, holding a quill, and scribbling down these lines. So, let us begin with a tale young Austen drafted when she was but twelve years old.
Frederic & Elfrida: A Synopsis
In this short text, Austen formats her story much as modern day plotters would design an outline. She establishes five chapters and in each presents a conflict along with a brief resolution.
Throughout the first chapter, the reader is introduced to those who will become the main characters: Frederic and Elfrida, who are cousins due to the connection between their fathers; Miss Charlotte Drummond, an obliging young lady who happens to be Elfrida’s particular friend, and the daughters of Mrs. Fitzroy, the beautiful Jezalinda and the amiable Rebecca.
As chapter two commences, the bond between the characters flourishes when the trio of already intimate friends (Elfrida, Frederic, and Charlotte) welcome Rebecca into their fold with open arms. They care not for her appearance because she is so quick-witted and charming that they cannot help but adore her. Time flies as their intimacy grows and before long the eldest Miss Fitzroy elopes with one of the coachmen not long before Rebecca receives an offer of marriage from Captain Roger of Buckinghamshire. The marriage is met with resistance by Mrs. Fitzroy because she believes her daughter and the captain are much too young to marry, so it is determined they must endeavor to postpone the wedding until later.
Whilst the friendly and pleasing Rebecca and her Captain await the day they might be permitted to marry, Elfrida’s parents suggest she and Frederic finally tie the knot. Both parties agree on the matter, but no definite plans are set in stone. As for Miss Charlotte Drummond, her aunt, Mrs. Williamson sends word, requesting Charlotte return to her estate for another visit. Being ever so good-natured, Charlotte accepts her aunt’s invitation, then dashes off to bid her friend’s adieu. When she encounters the youngest Miss Fitzroy, she finds that Rebecca is attempting to better her appearance by applying creams, lotions, and paints to her face. Feeling compelled to do something to bolster Rebecca’s spirits, Charlotte assures her that she is lovely, and then she is off to Portland Place.
No sooner does Charlotte arrive at her aunt’s home then she is greeted by an aged gentleman wearing an old pink coat. He throws himself at Charlotte’s feet and begs her to marry him. She, being the considerate sort, agrees to the betrothal. Seconds later, a young gentleman, wearing a blue coat enters the room and says he wishes to address her. Charlotte is immediately taken with the handsome young man and when he offers her his hand in marriage, she accepts him, too.
It is not until the following morning, when Charlotte awakens, that she recognizes her error. In her folly to be considerate and courteous, she promised to wed two different men. Distraught, she pitches herself into a deep stream that runs through Portland Place gardens, and it carries her all the way back to her home in Crankhumdunberry. She is found, buried shortly thereafter, and the epitaph that is engraved upon her tombstone is written by her dearest friends: Elfrida, Frederic, and Rebecca.
Woebegone, the trio, along with Captain Roger, confront Mrs. Fitzroy and present her with a choice. She will consent to the marriage between Rebecca and Captain Roger and receive a gift that is encased in a lovely bottle, or she will deny the union once more and in three days’ time will have a knife plunged through her heart. Mrs. Fitzroy hastily agrees to the marriage. Then, as if to banish all the mournful and dark feelings, the captain requests Rebecca sing them all a song.
Chapter the Fifth begins with Rebecca and her beloved having their wedding ceremony, then leaving to retire to his estate in Buckinghamshire. The years pass quickly but matters between Elfrida and Frederic have stalled. Their families know they ought to marry, but no one wants to push Elfrida or her temperament. A full eighteen years elapse and then Captain Roger and Rebecca return to Crankhumdunberry because they wish to introduce their daughter, Eleanor, to their friends and family members. Eleanor is a lovely young lady and Elfrida cannot wait to make her acquaintance. As of late, she has found her present company to be disagreeable and the infusion of new, youthful blood is enticing. But her desire for friendship is rebuffed by young Eleanor who treats Elfrida with the deference she might reserve for an old woman. To make matters worse, Elfrida is certain she detects a growing attraction between Frederic and Miss Eleanor. So, she acts.
Elfrida tells Frederic she wishes to marry him on the morrow, and he denies her request. Flustered, she throws herself into a fit, fainting repeatedly so that she makes herself quite sick. When Frederic hears of this, he rushes to see her. Finding her in such a state and wishing for her never to again act in such a manner, he vows to stay by her side forevermore.
Frederic & Elfrida: An Analysis
It is often stated the Jane Austen wished to write novels that were strictly for entertainment purposes. She tended to satirize society, rather than taking a more didactic approach and educating the masses. But in this youthful work, Frederic & Elfrida, she teaches quite a few lessons.
In the second chapter, Austen’s characters experience, first-hand, what it means to truly evaluate a person by their actions and deeds, rather than presuming to know someone because they project a certain, attractive appearance. While the initial interaction between Frederic, Elfrida, Charlotte, and Miss Rebecca Fitzroy is perhaps meant to be comical, it also presses the idea that one should not judge a book by its cover.
This, of course, paves the way for something readers see later in Austen’s works. Most Austen afficionados will recollect that Pride and Prejudice was initially referred to as First Impressions. Here, in her Juvenilia, Austen tackles that very same topic, focusing on those first casual meetings between parties and signifying how initial interpretations can be misleading. For who could forget that when Mrs. Bennet lays eyes on Mr. Darcy for the first time, she refers to him as the handsomest man she’s ever seen, but then, not dreadfully long afterward, she changes her mind completely and finds him disagreeable because his manners are displeasing.
The second, perhaps more covertly disguised lesson in this text, comes when the reader evaluates the conclusion. Some have theorized that Austen continuously and consistently refers to Rebecca as being an amiable person because she means to slightly ridicule her, and by extension harpoon the expectations that were heaped upon young ladies who lived during the same historical period. But it should be noted that it is the friendly Rebecca who is the only one of the main characters who is treated to a happy ending. Charlotte, being much too weak-willed and obliging, suffers greatly. Frederic and Elfrida spend their youth hiding their feelings for each other, only to grow old side by side, and eventually enter into a marriage because it seems like the one last thing they must do to save the other from despair. But, as far as the reader knows, the amiable Rebecca lives a splendid life with her husband and daughter, and, when the story is over, she and her family are free to return to Buckinghamshire where they might continue in their bliss for the rest of their days.
This story reads much like a fable or maybe even a fairy tale—a quick narrative designed to enthrall the reader, make them laugh a little, and perhaps even teach them a life lesson. Don’t you think? Feel free to drop a comment below and share your own reactions to this short story. And please, join us as we continue this discourse, pecking our way through Austen’s youthful musings and delighting in reading her first forays into writing.
For those who wish to listen to an audio recording of the story, find what you seek here.
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