Captain Frederick Tilney is a character in Northanger Abbey. He is a member of the very wealthy Tilney family. As the elder son he is the heir to the family home, Northanger.
Biography[]
Bath[]
He visits Bath when Catherine Morland is staying there with the Allens. He establishes himself quickly as a flirt. When Isabella Thorpe becomes engaged to James Morland, Tilney continues to flirt with her, finding it fun to put a wedge between James and Isabella's relationship. His younger brother, Henry Tilney, alerts Frederick of their engagement, but Captain Tilney clearly does not care.[1]
He does not return with the rest of his family when they all go to Northanger Abbey with Catherine. Instead he remains in Bath, and flirts even more with Isabella. The young lady has already realized that James Morland is nowhere near as rich as she would like a husband to be, so she returns Frederick's advances, hoping to snatch the young captain's affections. After Isabella's engagement with James is broken off (by discovery or her leaving him), James sends a heartbroken letter to Catherine to let her know of what has occurred.[2] After some weeks, Isabella realizes that Frederick will not be snatched, as he is far too fickle and crafty for that.[3]
Character traits[]
- Henry Tilney: "I have very little to say for Frederick's motives, such as I believe them to have been. He has his vanities as well as Miss Thorpe, and the chief difference is, that, having a stronger head, they have not yet injured himself. If the effect of his behavior does not justify him with you, we had better not seek after the cause."
- Catherine Morland: "Then you do not suppose he ever really cared about her?"
- Henry Tilney: "I am persuaded that he never did."
- Catherine Morland: "And only made believe to do so for mischief's sake?"
- — Conversation about Frederick Tilney between Henry and Catherine[src]
He is described as dashing and heroic in battle. When Catherine Morland first sees him in Bath, she thinks him possibly more handsome than Henry Tilney, but her affections do not waver. To Catherine's mind, his taste and manners are inferior to his brother's, especially when she hears him openly protesting against dancing.[4] Opinion of him sinks even further in response to his flirtatious behaviour with the engaged Isabella - like many other Austen men (Wickham, Willoughby, etc) he is a cad/scoundrel who escapes comeuppance despite his dastardly behaviour.
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Northanger Abbey, Chapter 19
- ↑ Chapter 25
- ↑ Chapter 27
- ↑ Northanger Abbey, Chapter 16