The Jane Austen Guide to Social Distancing

Are you currently housebound and not allowed to leave the house except for long walks and essential trips? Are you suddenly wearing gloves, writing letters to far away friends, and taking on unique hobbies? If you’re out in public with friends or lovers, must you maintain a respectable distance of at least six feet? Sure, you’re doing your part to fight the spread of Coronavirus by social distancing, but you might also be a Jane Austen heroine.

Legendary author Jane Austen lived in a time when women’s lifestyles were far more confined than they are in 2020. Instead of commuting into the workplace, carpooling the kids to school, or hitting up spin class, happy hour, and nightclubs, women were expected to be housebound. They could go on long walks in the fresh air for exercise, but they were encouraged to not get too close to anyone from outside their home. Jane Austen’s heroines embody this lifestyle and offer uniquely positive role models for behavior in an extraordinary time like this.

By looking at some of our favorite Jane Austen adaptations — like the newly released on VOD Emma, PBS’s Sanditon, 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, and more — we can see for ourselves the pros and cons of social distancing. If nothing else, these adaptations are balms to the troubled soul, and at best, they provide a fun way to reframe social distancing. (I keep telling myself I’m not on house arrest, but living like Lizzie Bennet for a little while.)

Here’s the Best Advice for Social Distancing courtesy of Jane Austen….

Yeah, Sorry, You’re Stuck at Home for a While

The first part of successfully social distancing is acceptance. Now this can be begrudging, resigned acceptance, but you’ve got to accept it nonetheless. That means that for the bulk of your life, you are going to be confined to a small space, perhaps with a rowdy family.

2005’s Pride & Prejudice does a great job visually illustrating the chaos, tumult, and even tedium of living at home with your family. Everyone’s on top of each other and there are little chances of escape. One person who is really adept at social distancing, though? Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet.

Go Outside for a Walk, But Do it Alone!

If there’s one thing that Elizabeth “Fine Eyes” Bennet is canonically good at, it’s going for long walks outside by herself. Sometimes she takes a book, sometimes she just takes her own muddled thoughts and feelings. However, she often just trudges it alone. Next time you want to get some exercise, live like Lizzy Bennet and enjoy some alone time in the great outdoors.

Something else Elizabeth Bennet is good at in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice? Keeping at least six feet of distance when she is outside with friends.

If You Make Social Calls, Ensure There are Six Feet Between You and Slippery Mr. Wickham

They called it decorum, but we call it maintaining “SD” or social distancing. Sure, it can seem like a pain when you’re trying to get your flirt on, but we need to keep ourselves away from any possible cough or sneeze spray from other individuals. Elizabeth Bennet is (usually) very good at this.

You know when she’s not? When Mr. Darcy helps her into the carriage at Netherfield. Sure, we all thought Matthew Macfadyen’s Darcy flexed his hand because of the sensual spark he felt touching Elizabeth’s flesh, but what if he was scared of germs? Think about it. Just putting it out there.

Six Feet of Distance Can Still Be Sexy

If Sanditon‘s recent run on Masterpiece on PBS proved one thing, it’s that Sanditon needs a second season. If it proved anything else, it’s that social distance can be sexy. One of the most erotic moments in the whole series happens when Charlotte Heywood stumbles upon Sidney Parker bathing in the nude. Is she close to him? No, she is much further than six feet away. Still, it’s hot.

In fact, I’ve since been wondering if what doomed Charlotte and Sidney is the fact that they became progressively worse at social distancing over the course of the series. (That rowboat scene? Germ city!) You know who was consistently good at maintaining some polite social distance? Stringer.

You Still Want to Go to a Party? You’ll Regret It

In this time of social distancing, some folks are still trying to go out and spring break and attend a massive London ball just because they want to. Maybe you don’t want to feel like your freedom is being limited, or perhaps you’re trying to hook up with your partner. Either way, if you go, like Marianne Dashwood, you’ll regret it. Going out right now might result in catastrophe. You could contract COVID-19, pass it on to your family members, or worse, discover that your beloved Mr. Willoughby has married an heiress.

Don’t be like Marianne Dashwood. Skip the ball.

Work Your Face Game

Even if you’re not hanging out with people in person, you can still make an impression. Video conferencing apps like FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Zoom make it easy to see your friends, family, and crushes all from the comfort of your home. When doing so, though, it’s important to remember that your face is a communication tool.

2020’s Emma seems to get this in a big way. There are multiple times when stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn communicate multitudes with just a glance. Work that face! Eventually you’ll be sitting behind the same screen and not in front of opposite ones!

Remember: Young People Can Also Get Sick

Hey, remember what happened after Marianne insisted on going to that London ball? She got her heartbroken and she got sick. Marianne’s contagious fever was so bad she not only almost died, but that her hosts, the Palmers, had to leave their own home to protect their infant son. (Sure, Mr. Palmer was game to stick around to be helpful, and that’s what you should do if you can! Keep the illness contained.)

Before her illness, Marianne was a healthy and spirited young person, whose only pre-existing condition was a sprained ankle. So just because you think it can’t happen to you — it can.

The People Who Truly Love You Will Still Love You When This is All Over

Sure, it can feel awful keeping your distance from grandparents, parents, friends, and lovers, but social distancing is an act of love and fidelity. You are keeping them safe, and vice versa.

If you are in a situation where you feel that you must see someone in person at risk of losing them forever, just remember Anne Elliot in Persuasion. She was encouraged to pass on young Frederick Wentworth’s proposal and regretted it for years. When they finally meet again, they still love each other!

You can get through this. We will get through this. And for the love of all that is holy…

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

Where to stream Emma (2020)

Where to stream Sanditon

Where to stream Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Where to stream Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Where to stream Persuasion (1995)