D.W. Harding

1) Jane Austen’s scope is extremely restricted, but within her limits she succeeded admirably in expressing the gentler virtues of a civilized social order. (Harding and Linklater)

I do agree with this because I really believe that views on society and people are shaped by the time or generation someone lives in. I think a lot has changed socially obviously, since that time, so  her scope is restricted, because of how society was structured then.

2) Austen as satirist is misleading; she has none of the underlying didactic intention ordinarily attributed to the satirist. Her object is not missionary; it is the more desperate one of merely finding some mode of existence for her critical attitudes.

I disagree with this because I do not think she is misleading as a satirist at all. I think Austen delivers satire on purpose to prove certain aspects of society out, and I think it adds a comical and interesting touch to the novel.

3) Austen’s method is to offer her readers every excuse for regarding as rather exaggerated figures of fun people whom she herself detests and fears.

I disagree because I do not feel that she is offering her readers an excuse for regarding as rather exaggerated figures of fun people whom she herself detests and fears. I think she uses satire to display points about characters, but does not detest and fear them herself.

4) Readers enjoy the funny side of Mrs. Bennet but miss that Austen actually detests her.

I think that readers do enjoy the comical side of Mrs. Bennet but I don't agree that Usten actually detests her. Maybe it is perceived that way when she used satire with Mrs. Bennet, but she does not detest her.

5) Austen’s light satire masks a rather bitter diatribe against 1800 social customs, but masked in exaggerated caricatures that disguise the bitterness.

I agree because I think Austen is trying to poke fun at and display the social customs of the 1800s. I think she does use this satire many times to mask her true disapproval for the social structure at the time.