Dr. Ana Vallor (Biology Professor) on Jane Austen

Q: What was your first encounter with Jane Austen?

  Dr. V: My first encounter with Jane Austen was back in high school through her book Pride and Prejudice. We had to choose a book to read, and I always liked to read the back of the books first, and that's what got me to start reading, because it was interesting. Though I remember how unfamiliar it was because of the language, I was lost at first, but I could really appreciate the sense of humor. It was kind of dry, and you don't get it at first, but when I did, I enjoyed her "comedic" style a lot. 

Q: What do you think makes Jane Austen's novels still relevant after 250 years?

  Dr. V: I think what makes her still relevant today is that she really wrote from a female perspective, almost like a forerunner for the few women who wrote back then. Like George Sand or Mary Shelley with Frankenstein, who challenged the limitations placed on women and pushed back against them through their writing. Austen wrote her characters like women would write women, not how men would, and it aged very well. As the years went by, more women were introduced to education and literature, and because Austen was true to herself and wrote about the women's experience, the appreciation grew.

Q: What would Jane Austen think of dating apps?

  Dr. V: I'm sure she’d find them fascinating. You might think you’ve matched with a “Mr. Darcy,” only to realize he’s really a “Mr. Collins”, exactly the kind of irony she loved to write about. Mr. Collins was her way of poking fun at self-importance, while Wickham showed the darker, more deceptive side of romance. With Elizabeth caught between such contrasts, Austen captured the humor and heartbreak of dating long before our time. I think she’d have endless material to work with today because of it and might even become a dating coach herself. 

Q: If Jane Austen had a blog, what would she write and post about?

  Dr. V: If Jane Austen had a blog, I think she’d focus on women’s empowerment and independence rather than pure romance. She’d probably write insightful, witty posts about confidence, ambition, and success, something like an Oprah-style "Masterclass" for women. Still, her humor and awareness of relationships would come through, maybe in a way similar to Sex and the City’s "Carrie Bradshaw." Austen would balance commentary with clever observations about love, social
critique, and humor in her posts.

Q: You get to invite one Pride and Prejudice character to brunch. Who’s coming, and what's to say?

  Dr. V: If I could invite one Pride and Prejudice character to brunch, I think it would have to be Mr. Collins. I'd consider Mary for the chisme and then Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who’d be sassy, dramatic, and have a nice spread. But Mr. Collins would be far more entertaining. His pompous stories and self-importance would make for endless laughter, even if I were mostly laughing at him. He’s the kind of guest who’d talk nonstop about his “success” and connections, completely unaware of how ridiculous he sounds. It would be an unforgettable brunch, full of laughter and secondhand embarrassment. 

Q: What kind of influence do you think Jane Austen has on the UIW community?

  Dr. V: She continues to have a strong influence, especially among women, because it captures both the desire for romance and the importance of independence. Her story shows that love doesn’t mean giving up your sense of self; it’s about being accepted for who you are, without prejudice. That message still resonates deeply today, even within the UIW community, where empowerment and individuality are valued within the freedom to be who you are. You can see Austen’s influence everywhere, from the timeless appeal of Pride and Prejudice itself to modern adaptations like Hallmark movies and plays such as Christmas at Pemberley that will be performed soon. And of course, celebrating her 250th birthday with a tea party feels perfectly fitting, elegant, and unmistakably Austen.

-Jor J.