In Persuasion, Austen uses free indirect discourse, a style of writing that blends narration with the perspective of the characters. In Chapter 4, for example, Austen writes in third person while also writing from Lady Russell's point of view:
Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty and mind, to throw herself away at nineteen in an engagement with a young man, who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence, but in the changes of a most uncertain profession, and no connexions to secure even his farther rise in the profession, would be, indeed a throwing away, which she grieved to think of!
This style of writing allows the reader to gain insight into Lady Russell’s thoughts; while reading, the reader can imagine Lady Russell’s voice. Lady Russell thinks highly of Anne and is protective of her. But, as the narrator critiques, she is fixated on status and class.
Another important aspect of Austen's style is repetition. In Chapter 6, Austen uses repetition when the narrator describes the Musgroves' reaction to Anne's musical performance:
[Anne] played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves, but having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents, to sit by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought of, only out of civility.
The repetition of "no" emphasizes the fact that the Musgroves are polite but ultimately unmoved by Anne’s performance. Anne doesn't take this personally. Later, the narrator says Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove's preference for their daughter gives Anne "much more pleasure for their sakes, than mortification for her own.” Instead of feeling displeased, Anne feels happy for the Musgroves and how much they admire their daughter.
Austen employs repetition again in Chapter 6 to describe a party hosted by the Musgroves at Great House:
The neighbourhood was not large, but the Musgroves were visited by everybody, and had more dinner-parties, and more callers, more visitors by invitation and by chance, than any other family. They were more completely popular.
The repetition of “more” emphasizes the difference between the Musgroves and the Elliots and their respective homes. The Musgroves, described by the narrator as “not at all elegant,” are much less concerned with appearances, a contrast to the Elliots, who are much more formal and concerned with social status. The Musgrove household at Uppercross is unpretentious and cheerful, which makes them popular.
More broadly speaking, the style of Persuasion is rather verbose and descriptive, with long sentences that tend to include a number of asides. A lot of the novel's attention goes to small details about its characters' personalities, ultimately giving the book as a whole a comprehensive feeling, as Austen mines the depths of the people at the center of the novel in order to better examine the relationships at stake.
In Persuasion, Austen uses free indirect discourse, a style of writing that blends narration with the perspective of the characters. In Chapter 4, for example, Austen writes in third person while also writing from Lady Russell's point of view:
Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty and mind, to throw herself away at nineteen in an engagement with a young man, who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence, but in the changes of a most uncertain profession, and no connexions to secure even his farther rise in the profession, would be, indeed a throwing away, which she grieved to think of!
This style of writing allows the reader to gain insight into Lady Russell’s thoughts; while reading, the reader can imagine Lady Russell’s voice. Lady Russell thinks highly of Anne and is protective of her. But, as the narrator critiques, she is fixated on status and class.
Another important aspect of Austen's style is repetition. In Chapter 6, Austen uses repetition when the narrator describes the Musgroves' reaction to Anne's musical performance:
[Anne] played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves, but having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents, to sit by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought of, only out of civility.
The repetition of "no" emphasizes the fact that the Musgroves are polite but ultimately unmoved by Anne’s performance. Anne doesn't take this personally. Later, the narrator says Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove's preference for their daughter gives Anne "much more pleasure for their sakes, than mortification for her own.” Instead of feeling displeased, Anne feels happy for the Musgroves and how much they admire their daughter.
Austen employs repetition again in Chapter 6 to describe a party hosted by the Musgroves at Great House:
The neighbourhood was not large, but the Musgroves were visited by everybody, and had more dinner-parties, and more callers, more visitors by invitation and by chance, than any other family. They were more completely popular.
The repetition of “more” emphasizes the difference between the Musgroves and the Elliots and their respective homes. The Musgroves, described by the narrator as “not at all elegant,” are much less concerned with appearances, a contrast to the Elliots, who are much more formal and concerned with social status. The Musgrove household at Uppercross is unpretentious and cheerful, which makes them popular.
More broadly speaking, the style of Persuasion is rather verbose and descriptive, with long sentences that tend to include a number of asides. A lot of the novel's attention goes to small details about its characters' personalities, ultimately giving the book as a whole a comprehensive feeling, as Austen mines the depths of the people at the center of the novel in order to better examine the relationships at stake.
In Persuasion, Austen uses free indirect discourse, a style of writing that blends narration with the perspective of the characters. In Chapter 4, for example, Austen writes in third person while also writing from Lady Russell's point of view:
Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty and mind, to throw herself away at nineteen in an engagement with a young man, who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence, but in the changes of a most uncertain profession, and no connexions to secure even his farther rise in the profession, would be, indeed a throwing away, which she grieved to think of!
This style of writing allows the reader to gain insight into Lady Russell’s thoughts; while reading, the reader can imagine Lady Russell’s voice. Lady Russell thinks highly of Anne and is protective of her. But, as the narrator critiques, she is fixated on status and class.
Another important aspect of Austen's style is repetition. In Chapter 6, Austen uses repetition when the narrator describes the Musgroves' reaction to Anne's musical performance:
[Anne] played a great deal better than either of the Miss Musgroves, but having no voice, no knowledge of the harp, and no fond parents, to sit by and fancy themselves delighted, her performance was little thought of, only out of civility.
The repetition of "no" emphasizes the fact that the Musgroves are polite but ultimately unmoved by Anne’s performance. Anne doesn't take this personally. Later, the narrator says Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove's preference for their daughter gives Anne "much more pleasure for their sakes, than mortification for her own.” Instead of feeling displeased, Anne feels happy for the Musgroves and how much they admire their daughter.
Austen employs repetition again in Chapter 6 to describe a party hosted by the Musgroves at Great House:
The neighbourhood was not large, but the Musgroves were visited by everybody, and had more dinner-parties, and more callers, more visitors by invitation and by chance, than any other family. They were more completely popular.
The repetition of “more” emphasizes the difference between the Musgroves and the Elliots and their respective homes. The Musgroves, described by the narrator as “not at all elegant,” are much less concerned with appearances, a contrast to the Elliots, who are much more formal and concerned with social status. The Musgrove household at Uppercross is unpretentious and cheerful, which makes them popular.
More broadly speaking, the style of Persuasion is rather verbose and descriptive, with long sentences that tend to include a number of asides. A lot of the novel's attention goes to small details about its characters' personalities, ultimately giving the book as a whole a comprehensive feeling, as Austen mines the depths of the people at the center of the novel in order to better examine the relationships at stake.
