Presence and Absence: sermons and devotional literature in Jane Austen’s novels
- Dr Roslyn Russell
- Mar 27
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Sensibilities, No. 69 - Jane Austen Society of Australia (JASA)
December 2024
Abstract
This article examines the surprising absence of sermons themselves in Jane Austen’s novels, despite the prominent presence of clergymen characters and the centrality of preaching within eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Anglican life. Through close readings of Austen’s works, particularly Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, it explores how references to sermons and devotional literature function indirectly to reveal character, moral outlook and social values.
Placing Austen alongside later writers such as Anthony Trollope and Barbara Pym, the article considers differing literary approaches to representing clergy, religious discourse and the performance of sermons. It also situates Austen’s work within the broader context of devotional reading practices of her time, showing how sermons, conduct literature and religious texts shaped both narrative and characterisation. Through this analysis, the article argues that while sermons may be largely unheard in Austen’s fiction, their influence remains present, subtly informing the moral and social fabric of her novels.