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Chapter 14
Explanation and Analysis—Ellen's Dialect:
Despite the fact that Ellen was born in New York, she spent most of her life in Europe (including France and Poland). As a result, she speaks English with a particular dialect that doesn’t always match those of the Americans around her. This comes across in subtle ways, such as in a letter she writes to Archer. In Chapter 14 he analyzes her odd use of the phrase “running away” in the letter, understanding that it is likely influenced by French:
What was Madame Olenska running away from, and why did she feel the need to be safe? […] [S]he was not wholly at her ease in English, which she often spoke as if she were translating from the French. “Je me suis évadée—” put in that way, the opening sentence immediately suggested that she might merely have wanted to escape from a boring round of engagements; which was very likely true.
Related Themes:
Chapter 15
Explanation and Analysis—Ellen's Dialect:
Despite the fact that Ellen was born in New York, she spent most of her life in Europe (including France and Poland). As a result, she speaks English with a particular dialect that doesn’t always match those of the Americans around her. This comes across in subtle ways, such as in a letter she writes to Archer. In Chapter 14 he analyzes her odd use of the phrase “running away” in the letter, understanding that it is likely influenced by French:
Unlock with LitCharts A+What was Madame Olenska running away from, and why did she feel the need to be safe? […] [S]he was not wholly at her ease in English, which she often spoke as if she were translating from the French. “Je me suis évadée—” put in that way, the opening sentence immediately suggested that she might merely have wanted to escape from a boring round of engagements; which was very likely true.
Related Themes:
