Comments on how Thomas Hardy uses verbs of action and speech to convey that Lizzy is spirited and in control.
Rosa Cadman
L5L
Thomas Hardy ‘s ‘Distracted preacher’ uses a variety of language techniques to convey the ideas behind action as well as showing how Lizzy is both spirited and in control of many of her actions through out the novel. Verbs of action are used in many novels to express the movement and emotion of a certain characters or themes, which bring to the novel an added perspective of the story and help indulge the reader, these can be seen in Hardy’s ‘Distracted Preacher’.
Quote ‘ “How stupid!” said Mrs Newberry……”I did not tell you to take them to Mr Stockdale’s room?”……” You should have left them on the clothes horse,” said the young mistress severely; and she came upstairs with the garments on her arm, quickly passed Stockdale’s room, and threw them forcibly into a closet at the end of the passage. With this the incident ended, and the house was silent again.’ The use of such words as ’forcibly’ and ’severely’ show that she is not afraid to show her emotion i.e. anger. These words are strong and as well as showing character they show she is very much in control of what she is doing. Some of Lizzy’s orders are shown here in an almost threatening manner, and as no one challenges her she carries on in this way. Silence in this quote is also an important factor in showing control, it comes directly after Lizzy has given an instruction to show how once Lizzy has decided that the conversation is over, it is over. The silence shows she is almost in control of the atmosphere of the house also.