--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jane Austen makes me detest all her…" description: "\"“Jane Austen makes me detest all her characters, without reserve. Is that her intention? It is not believable. Then is it her purpose to make the reade..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/mark-twain-22_austen_jane-austen-makes-me-detest-all-her-char_1438452.png" --- # Jane Austen makes me detest all her characters, without… ![“Jane Austen makes me detest all her characters, without reserve. Is that her intention? It is not believable. Then is it her purpose to make the reader detest her characters up to the middle of the book and like them in the rest of the chapters? That could be. That would be high art. It would be…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/mark-twain-22_austen_jane-austen-makes-me-detest-all-her-char_1438452.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/mark-twain-22_austen_jane-austen-makes-me-detest-all-her-char_1438452.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/mark-twain-22_austen_jane-austen-makes-me-detest-all-her-char_1438452.png) > ““Jane Austen makes me detest all her characters, without reserve. Is that her intention? It is not believable. Then is it her purpose to make the reader detest her characters up to the middle of the book and like them in the rest of the chapters? That could be. That would be high art. It would be worthwhile, too. Some day I might examine the other end of her books and see.”” [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Twain questions his frustration with Austen’s characters, questioning whether she intentionally makes readers dislike them before later liking them, suggesting this could be a sophisticated literary technique. **In simple terms:** Twain wonders if Austen’s shifting character appeal is intentional high art. Key Takeaway Consider how authorial intent shapes character perception. Themes literary criticism author intent character development Mood curious analytical Type critical reflective When to use this quote - book club discussions - literature classes - creative writing workshops Key Concepts Narrative strategy psychology of reading Questions to Reflect On - Does intentional character dislike enhance narrative depth? - Can readers trust authorial intent? A Different Perspective Austen’s own letters suggest she aimed for realism, not deliberate dislike. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/austen/) [Austen Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/austen-makes-5140946/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Detest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detest/) [Detest Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detest-characters-5140944/) [Jane austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jane-austen/) [Reader Detest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-detest-5140945/) ## Related quotes > [I haven't any right to criticize books, and I don't do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticize Jane Austen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-haven-t-any-right-to-criticize-books-and-i-don-t-do-it-except-when/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When I take up one of Jane Austen's books ... I feel like a barkeep entering the kingdom of heaven. 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