This thesis examines three Gothic novels: The Romance of the Forest and The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. In these three novels, the female heroines of each struggle against the patriarchal power structures of eighteenth-century society. Immersion in a natural environment strengthens these female Gothic heroines, aiding them to resist the will of male characters and to establish agency. Gothic nature is an ally to women, while Gothic urban settings act as a domain of oppression for both women and nature. The authors Ann Radcliffe and Jane Austen wrote active heroines who in turn influenced female readers. These novels and their heroines were an active influence on feminist thought and ideas in eighteenth century England.
