Jane Austen style
Literary Devices
Although Jane Austen is not typically known for her prodigal use of literary devices, she does make use of several devices in her works, most notably irony, sarcasm, metaphor and symbolism.
In "Pride and Prejudice", as well as with most of her other novels and short stories, Austen uses her talent for humor in order to more clearly portray the motivations and longings of her characters. The most humorous passages in the novel are reserved for the antics of Mrs. Bennet and her equally silly daughter, Lydia.
Also in "Pride and Prejudice", the estate at Pemberly remains a constant symbol of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet's exceedingly wealthy suitor. When Elizabeth first meets Darcy, she is put off by his haughty demeanor, just as he is offended by her sensibilities. The irony of their first encounter is that they are really perfectly matched, although neither realizes it to begin with.
In "Pride and Prejudice", as with her other novels, Austen does not use an excess of symbolism, although there are several important associations between the characters and their respective social status. Darcy's Pemberly is representative of his wealth and high social class, but the carefully manicured estate, almost noble in its appearance, is also representative of Darcy himself.
Style
distinctive literary style relies on a combination of parody, burlesque, irony, free indirect speech and a degree of realism. She uses parody and burlesque for comic effect and to critique the portrayal of women in 18th-century sentimental and gothic novels. Austen extends her critique by highlighting social hypocrisy through irony; she often creates an ironic tone through free indirect speech in which the thoughts and words of the characters mix with the voice of the narrator. The degree to which critics believe Austen's characters have psychological depth informs their views regarding her realism. While some scholars argue that Austen falls into a tradition of realism because of her finely executed portrayal of individual characters and her emphasis on "the everyday", others contend that her characters lack a depth of feeling compared with earlier works, and that this, combined with Austen's polemical tone, places her outside the realist tradition.
Often characterized as "country house novels" or "comedies of manners", Austen's novels also include fairy tale elements. They have less narrative or scenic description and much more dialogue than other early 19th-century novels. Austen shapes a distinctive and subtly constructed voice for each character.
Her plots are fundamentally about education; her heroines come to see themselves and their conduct more clearly, and become better, more moral people. While Austen steers clear of the formal moralizing common in early-19th-century literature, morality—characterized by manners, duty to society and religious seriousness—is a central theme of her works. Throughout her novels, serious reading is associated with intellectual and moral development. The extent to which the novels reflect feminist themes has been extensively debated by scholars; most critics agree that the novels highlight how some female characters take charge of their own worlds, while others are confined, physically and spiritually. Almost all Austen's works explore the precarious economic situation in which women of the late-18th and early-19th centuries found themselves.
Austen's novels have variously been described as politically conservative and progressive. For example, one strand of criticism claims that her heroines support the existing social structure through their dedication to duty and sacrifice of their personal desires. Another argues that Austen is sceptical of the paternalistic ruling "other", evidenced by her ironic tone. Within her exploration of the political issues surrounding the gentry, Austen addresses issues relating to money and property, particularly the arbitrary quality of property inheritance and the precarious economic position of women. Throughout her work there is a tension between the claims of society and the claims of the individual. Austen is often considered one of the originators of the modern, interiorized novel character
