The novels of Jane Austen are often praised for their wit and sharp social observation, but critic Mei Lin Ortiz argues that Austen's most underrated craft is structural: each novel hinges on a single misjudgment by its protagonist, and the plot's machinery is designed to bring that misjudgment slowly into view. Recognizing this design, Ortiz contends, deepens the reader's appreciation of what looks, on the surface, like comedy.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
- A
Austen's novels are primarily comedies of manners.
- B
Misjudgments are common in nineteenth-century fiction.
- Ccheck_circle
Ortiz argues that Austen's structural design — built around a protagonist's misjudgment — deserves greater appreciation.
- D
Austen's wit has been overpraised relative to her plots.
Explanation
The passage centers on Ortiz's argument about Austen's structural design — C. A is the surface view; B overstates; D is too general.