Professor Estess
HON 2101
13 March 2018
Working Title (Low Key)
In Pride and Prejudice, through the use free indirect discourse Jane Austen immerses the audience in the novel’s reality by setting the tone, describe characters, as well as em/sympathize with them.
Free indirect discourse sets the tone of the novel (at several (key) points) with irony. Free indirect discourse is evident in the first sentence “ it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife “(I.1). This sentence takes on the immediate point of view of Mrs. Bennet who afterwards states her plan of marrying off one of her daughters to Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennet’s perspective is further shown through narration as it is explained that “this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that [Mr. Bingley] is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters” (I.1). The ironic distance in which the novel starts shrinks throughout the course of the novel as all the eligible bachelors marry. Mr. Collins furthermore brings truth to this fact by use of indirect thought, “having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry” (XV.47). Through indirect discourse Mr. Collins is characterized by over the top …show more content…
Wickham. Mr. Wickham is described through others especially when the narrator takes on the point of view of Elizabeth as “Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk” (XVI.51). He is further described as a skillful speaker which make him easily take advantage of the people of Meryton spreading rumors of Mr. Darcy. Other characters are characterized by their speech and by the narrator taking on their point of view Mr. Wickham is the exception, his true self comes out by the revelation of others in his elopement with Lydia. His speech only gives off the appearance of