on, Rambler). Johnson points out that current novels aren't any better than retellings of practical everyday situations. The novel isn't special because anyone can relate to what's taking place, then there isn't anything that's unique about what's being said in the work. The plain and simple nature of the novel is slowly eroding the quality of literature. This upset Johnson because he has spent his entire life dedicated towards improving the importance and quality of literature and he is ashamed of the direction that fiction looks to be taking. The Rambler also addresses the negative influences that fiction has on its readers. Novels fill the reader's mind with useless information that cannot be applied to real life. The novel actually limits the reader's intelligence because it has filled the useless information impairing the ability to learn new things. Rambler No. 4 is Johnson's attempt to shed light on the negative effect that fiction is having on the written word, in order to preserve it for the future.
             Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey is a coming of age tale that follows the life of Catherine Morland on her experiences away from home. Catherine journeys to the city of Bath and its here were she develops into the woman that she will become. The story is more than just about the relationships that Catherine develops while in Bath and later in Northanger Abbey. This story also explores the expected social norms of English society, manners and courting play an important role in how the characters relationships develop. Catherine comes to Bath not knowing exactly how to function at social gatherings but through trial-and-error and with the assistance of her friends, Isabella and Eleanor, she manages to learn the expected role of a woman in English society. Austen's work of fiction also pokes fun at the absurdity of previous gothic novels and the bizarre elements that make the...