The marvel of JA's dialogue
Posted by Inko on November 19, 1997 at 17:47:21:
In response to The Perfect Opening Chapter, written by Derek on November 18, 1997 at 04:42:26
] In just a few pages of witty and entertaining dialogue we become aware of and start to understand to the wonderful characters of Mr and Mrs Bennet. There dialogue defines them completely and no description in prose could have been so successful.
This is true of all of JA's writing--she defines her characters through her characters and the way they speak. But it's especially true in P&P--I love the discussion about pride at the Lucas' dinner table at the end of Chapter 5.
Charlotte: "His pride does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. ..." Sensible, unromantic.
Lizzy: "That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine." Fiery, personal.
Mary: she rambles on from one of her extracts. Pedantic.
A young Lucas: he adds what he would do and provides comic relief.
I find I get a feeling for their personalities just from the way they think and speak, and it's true all through P&P as well as her other books.
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