From Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice who complains constantly about her "nerves" and is "taken ill immediately" when she is informed of Lydia's elopement with Mr Wickham, to the never present but much discussed Mrs Churchill in Emma, whose illnesses the narrator notes “never occurred but for her own convenience”, hypochondriacs frequently appear in Jane Austen's novels.
That the illness is imagined, rather than real, is often observed not just by the narrator but also by other characters. In Persuasion, Charles Musgrove speaks to his sister-in-law, Anne Elliott, the novel's heroine, about his wife's supposed indisposition: "I wish you could persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill." Anne finds herself in an uncomfortable position, confided in by both parties in the marriage, with her sister subsequently complaining: "I do believe if Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was anything the matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might persuade him that I really am very ill - a great deal worse than I ever own."
That the illness is imagined, rather than real, is often observed not just by the narrator but also by other characters. In Persuasion, Charles Musgrove speaks to his sister-in-law, Anne Elliott, the novel's heroine, about his wife's supposed indisposition: "I wish you could persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill." Anne finds herself in an uncomfortable position, confided in by both parties in the marriage, with her sister subsequently complaining: "I do believe if Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was anything the matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might persuade him that I really am very ill - a great deal worse than I ever own."
