Northanger Abbey · Chapter
Chapter XXI explained
Catherine arrives at Northanger Abbey and is shown to her room, which is far less alarming than Henry's description.
What happens
Catherine arrives at Northanger Abbey and is shown to her room, which is far less alarming than Henry's description. Her curiosity is piqued by a mysterious chest, which she opens to find only a counterpane. Later, she discovers a cabinet with a hidden manuscript, but her candle goes out before she can read it. A storm rages, and Catherine's imagination runs wild with Gothic terrors. She eventually joins the Tilneys for dinner, where General Tilney's demeanor is both gracious and overbearing.
Themes in this chapter
Reality vs. Imagination
Catherine's Gothic fantasies clash with the mundane reality of Northanger Abbey, as her expectations of hidden horrors are repeatedly deflated.
Satire of Gothic Novels
The chapter parodies Gothic conventions: the mysterious chest contains only a counterpane, the cabinet yields a manuscript but the candle goes out, and the storm heightens absurd suspense.
Characters to notice
- Catherine Morland
Catherine's Gothic imagination is fully engaged as she explores her room, discovers the chest and cabinet, and is terrified by the storm.
- Eleanor Tilney
Eleanor enters Catherine's room, explains the chest's history, and later dines with the family.
- General Tilney
General Tilney impatiently waits for dinner, scolds Eleanor for hurrying Catherine, but becomes gracious at the table, boasting about his dining room.
- Henry Tilney
Henry is mentioned as having earlier described the abbey in alarming terms, and Catherine recalls his jest about Gothic horrors.
Key passages
“A moment's glance was enough to satisfy Catherine that her apartment was very unlike the one which Henry had endeavoured to alarm her by the description of.”
Catherine quickly saw that her room was nothing like the frightening one Henry had described.
Highlights the contrast between Henry's teasing and reality.
“Her heart instantaneously at ease on this point, she resolved to lose no time in particular examination of anything, as she greatly dreaded disobliging the General by any delay.”
Relieved about the room, Catherine hurried to get ready, fearing to upset General Tilney.
Shows Catherine's anxiety to please the General.
“She seized, with an unsteady hand, the precious manuscript, for half a glance sufficed to ascertain written characters; and while she acknowledged with awful sensations this striking exemplification of what Henry had foretold, resolved instantly to peruse every line before she attempted to rest.”
Trembling, Catherine grabbed the manuscript, realizing it was exactly what Henry had warned her about, and decided to read it all before sleeping.
Catherine's Gothic excitement peaks as she finds the manuscript.
“Alas! it was snuffed and extinguished in one. A lamp could not have expired with more awful effect. Catherine, for a few moments, was motionless with horror.”
But the candle went out as she snuffed it, leaving her frozen in terror.
Comic anticlimax as her Gothic adventure is thwarted.