In chapter 1 JA continues to prove that Catherine hasn't the heroic qualities she ought to have had, by showing that her educational achievements were not out of the ordinary. I find myself interested in that education that she did receive, and whether the education itself was what a heroine required.What, exactly, did Catherine learn, and how?

She romped around with her brothers, and took care of her younger siblings. Learning good people skills, no doubt.

She was taught writing and accounts by her father. Her mental arithmetic skills come in handy when she is putting up with John Thorpe's extravagant claims. Presumably, "writing" means not just learning to form her capitals nicely, but also some grammar, some "standard" letter-writing techniques. We don't yet have any proof that she was any good at the writing side, but JA doesn't say she was lousy at it.

She learns French from her mother. JA passes over this one without comment, which suggests that Catherine actually managed to learn this quite well. I suppose one could say that perhaps it wasn't to a very high level, as Mrs Morland is only a country parson's wife, not an emigrée, but the fact remains that learning a second language is no piece of cake. Is it an asset in an heroine?

She takes music for a year and hates it. She gives it up with glee. This is definitely different from Udolpho's Emily, who learns the lute so quickly as to move everyone to tears in a fortnight. She also draws a bit, but isn't terribly good at it. So JA makes fun of her as falling well below the standard required for a heroine. However, what do talent in music and art do for heroines , except make them more attractive to the reader? I cannot remember if art and music get Emily out of trouble, ever, although they do seem to get her a man!

Although Catherine cannot recite well , she does read, and she does memorise. JA gives us several examples of "elegant extracts" that Catherine has taken to heart. What does that say about Catherine's mind that she chooses these particular fragments? And she does read, voraciously it seems, and has a strong preference for stories.

I get the impression that Catherine's education,and the development of her abilities as a result of that education, is fairly average, but not, in itself, to be much faulted. It may not be fit for a heroine, but it seems reasonably good for everyday life. How does it compare to, say, the education of the Bennet sisters, or the Bertrams? How does it stand up against the prescribed education for young women in all those courtesy books and moralising texts?

And what else would Catherine have learned that JA doesn't mention here?