What methods does Austen use to tell the story in Pride and Prejudice Chapter 43?
Jane Austen has started off chapter 43 using a telling method in a third person narrative to tell us the eyewitness of the story of what we as readers want to know, this is effective as Austen is describing the setting and the even that will take place later on in the chapter. The point of view in this chapter of Pride and Prejudice is omniscient; as story is told through Elizabeth, but as a third person. This chapter is a turning point of this novel as Elizabeth is starting to changer her views on Mr. Darcy as Austen says “there was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth’s mind, a more gentle sensation towards the original”. Elizabeth starts to change her feelings she had for Mr. Darcy after hearing Mrs. Reynolds praise so much about him describing him as “sweet tempered” and “generous hearted”. Furthermore, focalization is used throughout this chapter continuously as Elizabeth’s point of view is being narrated; although Austen speaks she narrates it through Elizabeth’s speeches and views.
In this chapter when Elizabeth takes a trip to Pemberley, Austen tells the reader that her “spirits go into a high flutter” as soon as she sees a sight of it, this show the reader she had a little bit of excitement in her that she will be seeing Mr. Darcy. As in the previous chapter when Elizabeth turns down his proposal she now suddenly has a thought that “to be the mistress of Pemberley might be something” this shows the readers that Elizabeth point of view towards Darcy is starting to change slowly where as in the previous chapters she would never have thought of this idea, Austen showed the readers using a foreshadowing method in the previous chapters that Elizabeth later on in the novel at some point will change her feelings toward Darcy even if she doesn’t completely like him.
As Elizabeth and her aunt, uncle are driving into the Pemberley Park, Austen uses a lot of descriptive language to engage the readers by capturing their attention. Even though she had a lot in her mind, she still admired every second she saw while driving into the park as Austen using the telling method informs the readers that “Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or when natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.” the nature of it was complemented by art such as by the artificial landscaping. Here Jane Austen expresses the beauty of the grounds as “a beautiful wood” and “a large handsome stone building”. This automatically has an effect on Elizabeth’s views. Although she was excited she still did not look forward to meeting its owner as Austen using a showing method informs the readers about Elizabeth’s feelings. In this chapter Austen also uses contrast of the two parks that Elizabeth saw such as Lady Catherine’s at Rosings which might be compared with Mr. Darcy as Austen says through Elizabeth’s point of view “The rooms were lofty and handsome” and “Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste that is was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine, with less of splendour, and more real elegance, than the furniture of Rosings” contrast is effective in this chapter show the Austen describing the difference between two entities. The house and grounds of Darcy reflect his character and tastes.
For a moment Elizabeth realises that she has some kind of regret that she rejected Darcy’s proposal as she says “This was a lucky recollection – it had saved her from something like regret”. Austen has yet presented the readers with another evidence that Elizabeth’s views were changing toward Darcy. As Mrs. Reynolds describes Darcy’s character to Elizabeth, she realises that is completely different from what she had seen as Mrs. Reynolds says “I do not know is good enough for his good temper”.
As soon as Mrs. Reynolds asks Elizabeth whether she thinks Darcy is handsome, she blushes and says “Yes, very handsome” Austen through showing method shows the readers that Elizabeth was blushing as soon as Mrs. Reynolds asked her a question about Darcy as she says “Elizabeth coloured” through third person narrative, this is effective because the readers get to see the overview of Elizabeth’s feeling changing slowly. When Mrs. Reynolds describe Darcy as “sweet tempered” Elizabeth with shock questions herself saying “Can this be Mr. Darcy?” as se couldn’t believe her ears, her firmest opinion of Mr. Darcy was quite the opposite one, and now she is only hearing good about him. Elizabeth becomes quite eager to hear more of Mr. Darcy as Austen informs the readers that her feelings are changing. Austen has also used different choice of punctuation as Elizabeth speech uses exclamation mark to show her strong feelings.
Elizabeth now has realized that Mr. Darcy used to smile at her when their eyes met as Austen’s informs the readers “as she remembered to have sometime seen, when he looked at her”, she used dramatic irony in Elizabeth’s speech in chapter 6 when Elizabeth and charlotte talk about Jane as Elizabeth tells Charlotte that Mr. Bingley is simpleton not to discover Jane’s affection where as she was almost describing her situation because she also missed out on Darcy’s affection as she now realizes it. Elizabeth also questions herself making herself believe that “what praise is more valuable than a praise of an intelligent servant?” Austen tells the readers that her views on Darcy are being changed a lot as she is now starting to question herself of why she had so much prejudice toward him through a showing method, also the use of exclamation mark showing her strong feelings.
As soon as Darcy comes and talks to Elizabeth, Austen through telling method informs the readers that she was starting to show affection toward him by being shy and blushing which is a symbol of love. She also started to care about what might have thought about her when they were talking whereas in the previous chapter she did not careless about his feelings as Austen says “whether he had felt more pain or pleasure seeing her”. She is very surprised to see that Darcy changed his manners for her sake as she tells Mrs. Gardiner “it cannot be for me, it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened” Austen has used italic on personal pronouns to emphasize Elizabeth’s feelings and views as she is very surprised to see Darcy changing his character for a lady who didn’t tempt him when he saw her.
When Darcy asks Elizabeth’s permission to be introduced to his sister which is Miss Darcy, she feels honored as Austen through telling method informs the readers about this as she says “but she was flattered and pleased” she was so happy to hear such a complement from Mr. Darcy as it was of the highest kind. Elizabeth feels guilty for having prejudice towards Mr. Darcy however she doesn’t say anything as she remains stays quite about that subject. Darcy has won her affection and Elizabeth has dropped her wrong views that she had also about him as Darcy spoke to her with “perfect civility” and with “civil enquiries”, she feels astonished by Darcy’s altered behaviour just for her.
Pride and Prejudice is a novel in which Jane Austen has used several techniques concerning the sense of place to create a fine novel of mannerisms, misjudgments, and mayhem. Austen’s choice of word moved Elizabeth’s feelings towards Darcy in a way that whatever he did and said to her she admired it. Through a dialogue of Mrs. Reynolds and Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle, Austen introduces Darcy’s real characteristics to the readers. There is also use of archaic language in this chapter for example when Austen uses the term “adieu” and “vexation” to show the readers the time period it was set in as well as wanting us to see the aspect of life.
