| ...through Elizabeth's eyes...(long)
Written by Anselm
(4/14/2010 12:26 p.m.)
in consequence of the missive, sat down by her, and talked scarcely to any one else (long), penned by Stephanie
 Interesting observation, that. In the S&S GR it became obvious to me that this was Elinor's novel, not her's and Marianne's, because in Ch.9, in which Willoughby first appears, the point of view (PoV) shifts quite suddenly to Elinor, through whose eyes the rest of the novel is largely seen, including such intimately personal episodes as the depth of her sister's torment after Willoughby snubs her in London.
In the Netherfield chapters of P&P (7-12), it seems as if the PoV similarly narrows to Elizabeth, but in a much more gradual and subtle manner, as revealed by information (usually about a person's feelings) that are not communicated by word or gesture to anyone else. In Ch.7, for example, we have this sentence: That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. The sisters' incredulity and Elizabeth's conviction are both known only to those parties respectively, so we are privy to the private thoughts of Elizabeth, Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. But by Ch.10 we are told of the following:- Elizabeth's private amusement
- her private opinion of Darcy and Caroline
- her checking a laugh because she perceives that Darcy is offended
- her observance of Darcy's attention to her and her ruminations on this
- her amazement at Darcy's gallantry
- Caroline's jealousy of Elizabeth, and its relation to her desire for Jane's recovery
- her confusion at thinking she's been overheard
- Darcy's concern at the sisters' rudeness
- her longing to be at home again
- Jane's intention to come down that evening
Of these, 7 and 8 can easily be guessed by others because of their immediate public manifestation, and 6 relates to Caroline. All the others - seven items out of 10 - concern Elizabeth. And notice how Elizabeth's PoV at the beginning of the chapter dominates the following conversation. The second paragraph, the one in which the first two points above are revealed, concern Elizabeth's reflections on the conversation between Caroline and Darcy. This conversation immediately follows, and JA thus ensures that we perceive it from Elizabeth's PoV, even though she has no involvement in it, either directly or through narrative observations. What a delightful manipulation of our perceptions by JA! And what a subtle confirmation, if we didn't already know it, that Elizabeth is the novel's main character.
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