“'I Do Not Wish to Avoid the Walk': The Multiple Utilities of Walking in Jane Austen’s Novels," the MacIntyre Lecture by Olivia Hobbs

It’s easy to skim over the mentions of walking in Jane Austen’s novels as nothing more than a practical and realistic depiction of movement for the time period, but in reality Austen uses walking as a complex and multifaceted activity. Walking can be both private or public, independent or in community, and just a means of reaching a destination or valuable as a journey in itself. It creates a distinct social sphere that contributes to the culture of Austen’s world just as much as formal balls, visits to drawing rooms, and shared meals.
While recreational walking was an emerging trend during the Regency era, Austen’s perspective on the topic is as distinct as the rest of her writing. Unlike her Romantic contemporaries who wrote about walking as an opportunity for solitary reflection and connection to the natural world, Austen foregrounds the social interactions, class distinctions, and opportunities for relationship development, both platonic and romantic. Through close readings, this talk will demonstrate how Austen’s use of walking evolved over the course of her writing career and highlight the various purposes this singular activity serves.

The Neil MacIntyre Memorial Prize, an annual award, recognizes the best scholarly paper written by an English Department graduate student.

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