At this point, I am most interested in looking through the historical newspapers. I think these primary sources will provide us with invaluable sociopolitical context. Due to the fact that I may want to focus my project on the connections between gender and the British imperial world and/or government control, I will want to find newspaper articles that comment on issues such as trade, consumerism, government action, and laws.

If I decide to run with the idea of family being a metaphor for politics and state authority, then I may also need to look into sources explaining the particularities of family life during Austen’s time (e.g. inheritance laws).

While I should consult sources that shed light on gender during Austen’s time, I think the bulk of my research will focus on the issues mentioned above. I believe I can use this research to construct an argument about the particular way Austen theorizes and critiques or upholds patriarchal values.