Jane Austen is regarded as one of the most significant writers of the English language, and at the same time. This is much due to the fact that her sister Cassandra burnt almost all the letters written by Jane throughout her lifetime. Of thousands themselves only some 160 letters survived, providing infrequent insights into her inner world.
Early Letters Reveal a Lively Personality
She told Cassandra about her crush on an Irish lawyer by the name Tom Lefroy and she wrote about the funny occurrences during dances. The letters give a picture of a young woman who was active, funny, and charming.
Why Cassandra Burned the Letters
According to experts, there are a number of reasons:
Saving Face of Jane: The letters were at times gossipy and contained negative remarks about the members.
The letters of Jane were often full of her anxieties about finances, personal annoyances and even her love interests. Cassandra might have believed that such intimate information should not be on the spotlight.
The TV Drama “Miss Austen”.
The novel alternates between two timelines:
The 1830s, when Cassandra attempted to save the legacy of Jane.
The youth of Jane and Cassandra displaying family life, romances, and daily challenges.
The Sisters’ Close Bond
Jane and Cassandra were very close to each other and they were sharing almost everything. Cassandra is not only the one who served as a confidante of Jane, but she was also the one who viewed her work in her lifetime. She has painted the sole known portrait of Jane.
Conclusion.
The fact that Cassandra chose to burn the major part of the letters written by Jane Austin might not be so much satisfactory . She saved the name of Jane and left the world wondering about one of the most popular authors in literature.
