Final answer:
Catherine is presented as rebellious and selfish in Jane Austen's satirical work by challenging traditional heroine traits, which makes her intriguing to readers. Her portrayal pokes fun at literary expectations, drawing the audience to her unconventional traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of English literature, Catherine is depicted as rebellious and selfish through the satirical narration of Jane Austen in Northanger Abbey.
Austen employs irony and humor to subvert the expected image of a heroine by presenting Catherine as a character who defies the typical tragic backstory and possesses an unremarkable beauty and lack of impressive accomplishments.
This portrayal, while deflating the standard romantic appeal, ironically serves to heighten the reader's interest, as Catherine's rebellious nature against literary norms becomes her defining trait.
Additionally, references to other characters such as Calixta and Daisy Miller illustrate societal expectations and the repercussions of acting outside these norms, whether through self-expression, passion, or independence.
These characters symbolize the struggle for freedom from societal constraints and the complexity of being a woman with one's own desires in a culture that might view such independence as selfishness.