The presentation of speech and thought in Pride and Prejudice

by alxww3 (student)

Wang Wenwen Q32103 Investigating English Language: Stylistics

The presentation of speech and thought in “Pride and Prejudice”

The passage in Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” Chapter 20 is a good example of Direct Speech. Here Austen uses Direct Speech for a vivid appearance of the scene. For instance, “Of what are you talking?”’. Here the original utterance is quoted directly within quotation marks and ends with a question mark which indicates ironic undertone. Furthermore, to the reader, it is clear about the identification of who is talking depends on the typographical convention of beginning a new line for each new turn in the exachange as well as proper interpretation. When Mr.Bennet is threatening her daughter Elizabeth that she would not see her if she was not married to Mr.Collin, at the end of the passage Mr. Bennet makes use of this threat and turns it into his own ironic remark. He also gives a threat to his daughter which is completely opposite to his wife’s. Although this threat means unserious, it is foiling Mrs. Bennet’s utterance. The irony in Mr. Bennet’s final response is much more stressed as a result of he has not mentioned before he will not support his wife’s idea. In addition, Mr. Bennet’s question ‘ “Of what you are talking?”’could be an ironic remark. It obviously suggests that he does not want to understand his wife through uncovering of what she was saying. Likewise, his next question ‘“And what am I to do on the occasion?”’ is similar meant there is nothing he could do or wanted to do to change Elizabeth’s decision.

Furthermore, at the beginning of the first chapter in the novel Mr.Bennet and His wife are introduced without any additional interpretation of the narrator, the reader could easily catch these two characters’ most striking features according to their dialogue. It is clear that Mr. Bennet’s responses to his wife are in ironic words implying that he has no interests about his wife’s utterance. In the beginning of the conversation, Mr. Bennet’s remark are all in Indirect Speech, for instance, ‘Mr.Bennet replied that he had not.’, and ‘Mr.Bennet made no answer.’ indicates he has no attention on his wife’s words. Morever, it seems Mrs.Bennet was not able to notice that his husband’s ironic tone on answering her questions. Consequently, the reader could get the information that Mr.Bennet is laughing at his wife and her statements.

From the example of Chapter23 in “Pride and prejudice”, ‘Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband. -- It was very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome[…]Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet.’, the reader could be suggested that the free indirect form of the preceding words by the remark ‘Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet.’ The sentence after the first long dashes indicates the fact that these are Mrs. Bennet’s words. Likewise, ‘Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful!’(Austen Chapter3)Here the reader was advised of seeing actual spoken words by the noun ‘report’. In addition, through the exclamation mark at the end of the passage, the reader can be sure that the last sentence could not be presented with any effects of the narrator. Instead it is spoken by the character. Another example is Mr.Collin’s portrayal of Lady Catherine (Chapter 14).The sentence ‘Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen anything but affability in her.’, hints these are Mr. Collins’ words which gives readers an impression that he knew Lady Catherine was not proud at all. Obviously, the narrator would not have this comment according to the description of Lady Catherine is a proud character based on the whole novel.

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There is a feature that thoughts are presented as if they were spoken by the characters. In Chapter 53, here many different factors implies that these statements by Elizabeth are only appear in her mind while are not spoken aloud. First of all, the sentence ‘“Let me first see how he behaves," said she; "it will then be early enough for expectation."’ could be considered as the description of Direct Thought. In this scene, Elizabeth is surrounded by people but the dialogue does not happen. The scene is viewed from Elizabeth’s point, which suggests she is only talking to herself while not other people. She is keeping the question in her mind and not expressing her thoughts aloud. Secondly, ‘"Could I expect it to be otherwise!" said she. "Yet why did he come?"’ is in Direct Thought supported by two main reasons as following: One is that it introduces Elizabeth’s feelings about her disappointment and angry with herself before the sentence, which makes sense that it is her original thoughts. The other one is that the following sentence states that Elizabeth inquires Darcy’s sister, indicating Darcy must have stood close enough to Elizabeth so that he could hear her question. In this case, these words would not been spoken aloud because they are not aimed at being heard by anyone. Lastly, ‘"The first wish of my heart," said she to herself, "is never more to be in company with either of them[…]”’, clearly states that Elizabeth speaks these words to herself.

There is an example of Free Indirect Thought, when Elizabeth receives her aunt’s letter that sets out the part Darcy played in her sister’s marriage. In the beginning of the passage, the first sentence ‘The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain before the greatest share.’is reported by the narrator. However, it is expressing Elizabeth’s emotion with the phrase ‘flutter of spirits’, which stressing the conflict in her mind. At the end of the novel “Pride and Prejudice”, Elizabeth is aware of her prejudices and misunderstanding about Darcy. Nevertheless, during the course of the story Elizabeth is not conscious of her thoughts and feelings are changing. Therefore, the passages are presented in Free Indirect Thought is a good way to see the character Elizabeth has a great improvement. It seems giving the reader an opportunity to look into Elizabeth’s thoughts while she is unaware of. Consequently, the reader could learn about the change of Elizabeth’s thought before herself. Finally, when she is conscious of the danger that she may have lost the chance of being together with Darcy, she reaches the same level as the reader. It could be seen as the following sentence ‘and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain.’ The other example is when the first time Elizabeth meets Lady Catherine, the portrayal of the woman is certainly described with her impression. ‘Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been had some.’ It could be seen that the word ‘might’ indicates the portrayal of Lady Catherine is presented by Elizabeth while not by the narrator. The reason is that the narrator is able to tell the reader exactly how Lady Catherine looked like when she was younger while not use the model verb ‘might’. Furthermore, the following sentence ‘she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.’suggests again the description of Lady Catherine is from Elizabeth’s tone.

Here is a passage of descriptions of the house and its surroundings which at first glance simply appear to explain the scene and setting. The reader could be informed that these descriptions are actually her own impressions through Elizabeth’s subjective impressions, which are interwoven when looking at the descriptions more closely. ‘her spirits were in a high flutter’, ‘Elizabeth was delighted’ are for instance hints, especially subjective adjectives, point out the descriptions must be Elizabeth’s own impressions on the scene. In addition, ‘she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!’ and ‘How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journey had not by any circumstance been delayed a day!’. As a result, the account of the setting is made livelier and connects the description of the exterior with the interior thoughts of Elizabeth.

Text:

"Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her."

Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication.

"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he, when she had finished her speech. "Of what are you talking?"

"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy."

"And what am I to do on the occasion?—It seems an hopeless business."

"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him."

"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion."

Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library.

"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?" Elizabeth replied that it was. "Very well—and this offer of marriage you have refused?"

"I have, Sir."

"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?"

"Yes, or I will never see her again."

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents.—Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."(Austen Chapter20)

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

"Do not you want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.

"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

[…]

"Is he married or single?"

"Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"

"How so? how can it affect them?"

"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."

"Is that his design in settling here?"

"Design! nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."

[…]

"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood."

"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."(Austen Chapter1)

"Let me first see how he behaves," said she; "it will then be early enough for expectation."

[…]

Darcy, after enquiring of her how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner did, -- a question which she could not answer without confusion -- said scarcely anything. He was not seated by her; perhaps that was the reason of his silence; but it had not been so in Derbyshire. There he had talked to her friends, when he could not to herself. But now several minutes elapsed without bringing the sound of his voice; and when occasionally, unable to resist the impulse of curiosity, she raised her eyes to his face, she as often found him looking at Jane as at herself, and frequently on no object but the ground. More thoughtfulness, and less anxiety to please than when they last met, were plainly expressed. She was disappointed, and angry with herself for being so.

"Could I expect it to be otherwise!" said she. "Yet why did he come?"

She was in no humour for conversation with any one but himself; and to him she had hardly courage to speak.

She inquired after his sister, but could do no more.

[…]

"The first wish of my heart," said she to herself, "is never more to be in company with either of them. Their society can afford no pleasure that will atone for such wretchedness as this! Let me never see either one or the other again!"(Austen Chapter 53)

References:

Paul Simpson's (2004) Stylistics: A Resource Book for Students, London: Routledge.

Hughes, R. (1996) English in Speech and Writing: Investigating Language and Literature, London: Routledge.

Verdonk, P. (2002) Stylistics, Oxford: Oxford University Press. *

Account number(without text):1410