Jane Austen Heroines, Sorted Into Game Of Thrones Houses

Jane Austen’s works remain as relevant today, as they were in the 19th century. Sharp, humorous, and even ironic at times, her novels provide unique insight into the condition of women at the end of the 18th century. Filled with colorful and clever characters, the novels, however, are widely recognized for the heroines at their center. All different from each other, but equally unforgettable, these women represent some of the best characters in literature.

Austen’s heroines, even at their shyest and most proper, still stand in stark contrast to the society that surrounds them. Their unique traits would make them complete outcasts in the world of Game of Thrones but it’s still possible to imagine which of the noble houses they might belong to. After all, honor was as important in 18th century England, as it is in Westeros. As a matter of fact, some Westerosi houses fit these characters like a glove.

10 Jane Bennet

Although not the protagonist of her novel, Jane still plays a large enough role in Pride & Prejudice to warrant a place among Austen’s heroines. The eldest of the Bennet sisters, Jane is also said to be the most beautiful girl in all the neighborhood. Optimistic to a fault, she eventually finds her happy ending alongside Charles Bingley.

Jane’s dutiful, honorable sensibilities would fit House Stark. Like the Wardens of the North, Jane is resilient and suffers mostly in silence, never wanting to show her true feelings to anyone. Her naiveté can also be matched with that of the Starks, honorable fools to the core.

9 Charlotte Heywood

The apparent protagonist of Austen’s uncompleted novel, Sanditon, Charlotte is the eldest Heywood daughter, unmarried and still at home. Nice and pretty, Charlotte gets little development in the eleven chapters that Austen wrote before illness prevented her from finishing the manuscript.

With what little is known about her, Charlotte could belong to House Reed. A small but loyal house, the Reeds have been involved in some of the most important events in recent Westerosi history, including Ned Stark’s combat at the Tower of Joy. Within the book’s continuity, the Reed heirs, Meera and Jojen, are currently with Bran Stark in the Three-Eyed Crow cave, beyond the Wall.

8 Susan Vernon

The unconventional protagonist of Austen’s epistolary novel, Lady Susan, is a protagonist unlike any other in the author’s works. A beautiful, vain, manipulative, and scheming widow, Lady Susan might very well be a femme fatale. Over the course of the short story, she toys with the affections of a smitten young man, treats her daughter, Federica, with barely any affection, and ends up marrying Federica’s unwanted suitor, out of pure interest. At thirty-five, Lady Susan is Austen’s oldest protagonist, by far.

Susan is a Lannister to the tee. Attractive and cold, this character might not be as cruel or murderous as Cersei, but she definitely shares the Lannister Queen’s cold and cunning approach.

7 Anne Elliot

Possibly the most demure of Austen’s heroines, Anne Elliot is the protagonist of Persuasion. Seven years before the start of the novel, she allowed herself to be convinced by her father and sister, to break her engagement with undistinguished naval officer Frederick Wentworth. When the two meet again, he has become rich and famous, thanks to his service in the war, while the Elliots have fallen into financial problems, due to their poor management and expensive lifestyle.

A somewhat passive character, Anne often finds herself caring for others, at the expense of her own wants and needs. Her selfless attitude would make her a fit for any given house loyal to their overlords. House Tarly would be a good place for her, a powerful family on its own right, that’s still subservient to the Tyrells by the ties of honor and allegiance.

6 Fanny Price

The most controversial of Austen’s heroines, Fanny Price is as complex a character as any of the other Austen girls, albeit one that’s a lot more difficult to understand. Timid and frail, yet courageous and highly prejudiced, Fanny is a very introspective character. Virtuous and perhaps even pious, Fanny is, at times, hard to relate to and root for. She spends her time lurking in corners, judging from the distance, and harboring a secret love for her cousin, Edmund.

A character as intricate as this would be well suited for House Arryn. The proud yet problematic Lords of the Vale, their high pride and sense of self-importance would make Fanny feel right at home. And considering she’s as impregnable as the Eyrie itself, it’s a match made in heaven.

5 Catherine Morland

Perhaps the most humorous of Austen’s girls, Catherine Morland is the seventeen-year-old protagonist of Northanger Abbey. An inexperienced, wildly imaginative young girl who sees the world through the same lens with which she devours her Gothic novels, Catherine is oblivious of what’s actually happening around her. Instead, she fabricates a fantasy of her own, influenced by the books she often reads.

Impressionable, adventurous, and known for seeing things that aren’t quite there, she is a Targaryen at heart. Catherine actively seeks excitement, going so far as creating it with her overactive imagination. One can only imagine that, should she have three large dragons, she too might become a fearsome yet inspiring conqueror.

4 Elinor Dashwood

Family. Duty. Honor. Are there better words to describe Elinor Dashwood? The titular “sense” in Sense and Sensibility, Elinor puts her family’s well-being above her own. Stoic and proper, she suffers in silence and always keeps up appearances, even going so far as to become the confidant of the woman engaged to the man she loves.

Elinor is a true Tully. She knows her place and duties, and performs them without a single objection, even when they go against her own wishes. She and Catelyn Stark would surely have a lot of things to talk about, and perhaps even a bit of advice or two to share.

3 Marianne Dashwood

The sensibility part of the title, Marianne, is a living, bleeding, walking heart. She lives her feelings and considers it a sin to deny or ignore them. She sees no wrong in demonstrating one’s affections, even when others around her might consider her behavior improper or too forward.

Marianne is young, spirited, passionate, and lives life with the excitement of someone who truly enjoys every second of it. She’s a true Martell, free of the constraints of conventionality, unwilling to compromise, and open to experiencing everything love has to offer. Unbowed, unbent, unbroken indeed.

2 Emma Woodhouse

Handsome, clever, and rich. These might very well be the words to describe the Tyrell women. Yet, they’re the ones Jane Austen uses to open her 1815 novel, Emma. The titular protagonist is frivolous, often careless, manipulative, and quite bright. She enjoys meddling in the love lives of those around her, with very little interest for the outcome.

Emma would learn a lot under the Queen of Thorns herself, Olenna Tyrell, and would get along famously with Margaery. She would be a proud bearer of the Tyrell name, and under their protection, she too would carry on, growing strong.

1 Elizabeth Bennet

Austen’s most popular heroine by far, Elizabeth Bennet would definitely be Prom Queen if a ball of Austen characters were ever to happen. The protagonist of the author’s seminal novel, Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie is headstrong, intelligent, observant, cheerful, highly energetic, resilient, and, like the title suggests, quite proud but only slightly prejudiced.

Elizabeth would be a perfect fit for House Baratheon. Famous for being rather violent and extremely stubborn, the Baratheons would meet a good match in Elizabeth. For her part, she would come to represent the best parts of the House, without indulging in its worst. Theirs would be the fury.

About The Author

David Caballero
(810 Articles Published)

David is a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican writer and reader. Having studied Marketing in school, he spent three years working a nine-to-five desk job before deciding to pursue a writing career. He now works as a Senior Writer in ScreenRant and does some more freelancing job, talking about the entertainment business he so loves. Currently, he’s also writing his second novel while actively working to get his first one published.

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