Jane Austen's foremost goal: What was most important to her was to provide moral instruction.

from WSJ, James Collins:
The question arises, then, of how to reconcile Austen's moralism with modern sensibility.. useful if we could find someone with this modern sensibility who actually reads Austen for her moral instruction (in addition to the literary pleasure she provides). How convenient that we have someone who fits that description available to us: me.

...Jane Austen helps me clarify ethical choices, helps me figure out a way to live with integrity in the corrupt world, even helps me adopt the proper tone and manner in dealing with others. Her moralism and the modern mind are not, in fact, in direct opposition, as is so often assumed.

...Rather than digesting a good dinner while conversing with friends, we should be out forging the consciousness of our race in the smithy of our soul...

How can morals, sentiments and manners help one live in the world? What should one's relations to the world be? Should one reject the world entirely as corrupt and mercenary and hypocritical and shallow? Or is there some other way, where one can keep one's integrity and sensitivity, but live in the world too?