analysis of Pride and Prejudice

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 Analyse this passage from Pride and Prejudice, discussing ways the narrative voice and dialogue used.

(volume I, chapter XVII ‘Elizabeth related to Jane the next day… And even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it)

        Throughout this passage, we see various narrative techniques being used to help in the development of the theme of pride and prejudice and of the character of Elizabeth and Jane.  These techniques include ‘showing’ involving direct speech, showing the reader in conversation with others, and ‘telling’ which involves free direct speech and focalisation, giving the reader the impression of seeing through the character’s eyes and showing the thoughts and feelings of that character.

        In the first paragraph of this passage the narrator is third person omniscient while focalising through Jane.  It begins with the narrator using free indirect speech, ‘Elizabeth related to Jane the next day, what had passed between Mr. Wickham and herself’, allowing the reader to imagine that Elizabeth has thought about what Wickham has told her and has decided to discuss it with Jane, showing the closeness of their relationship.  Through the narrator, the reader sees Jane’s reaction to Elizabeth’s news telling us that she ‘listened with astonishment and concern’, pointing out Jane’s concern for Mr Bingley, showing her fondness of him, worrying that he ‘would have much to suffer when the affair became public’.  Jane is being shown to the reader through free indirect speech while the narrator is still focalising, ‘Jane listened with astonishment and concern;- she knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard’.  

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        The narrator uses character discourse between Jane and Elizabeth to show the differences in their personalities and character traits.  They are direct opposites, used for comparison within the novel.  Jane’s character doesn’t change through the novel, making the changes we see in Elizabeth’s character more prominent by comparing her with Jane.  We see Jane as believing the best in everyone, ‘They have both,’ said she, ‘been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other’.  Elizabeth, however, is blinded by her initial prejudice toward Darcy and quick to believe Wickham simply because ‘there was truth in his looks’ showing both ...

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