The language style of "Pride and Prejudice"by Jane Austen

Introduction
Chapter I. Jane Austen in the search of her narrative style
1.1.Jane Austen’s literary evolution
1.2.Jane Austen and feminism development in fiction
1.3.Jane Austen’s cultural and religious background
1.4."Pride and Prejudice": unity of composition
Chapter II. "Pride and Prejudice": Analysis of stylistic devices used by Jane Austen
2.1. Lexical devices
2.1.1. Use of metaphor
2.1.2. Use of metonymy
2.1.3. Use of epithet
2.1.4. Use of hyperbole
2.1.5. Use of antithesis
2.1.6. Use of similes
2.1.7. Use of idioms
2.2.Syntactical devices
2.2.1. Use of direct speech
2.2.2. Use of uttered reported speech
2.2.3. Use of unuttered reported speech
2.2.4. Use of gap-sentence links
2.2.4. Use of rhetorical questions
Conclusion
Bibliography

The language style of "Pride and Prejudice"by Jane Austen

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling. (ch. VI)
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. (ch. VI)
Metonymy represents the events of reality in its subjective attitude. Metonymy in many cases is trite.
Collocations of metonymy in the some of some feature instead of its embodiment with “all” function in the novel fairly often, being at the same time hyperboles as well.
2.1.3. Use of epithet

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. (ch.I)
"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I mustthrow in a good word for my little Lizzy." (ch.I)
What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts." (ch. II)
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. (ch.III)
Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends--of atonement--for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part. (ch. XV)
"But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him." (ch. VI)
Their affectionate mother shared all their grief; she remembered what she had herself endured on a similar occasion, five-and-twenty years ago. (ch. XLI)
They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, anxious, uneasy. (ch. LI)
The epithets Jane Austen uses are rather often forms of delicate or polite behaviour.
Epithets outlining positive evaluation of other people’s character can be found in the great number in the direct speech of the characters as well as in the narrator’s portrayal.
Both simple and compound epithets may be found in the novel, the latter being more expressive.
Studying epithets used we may conclude that presupposition that other people seem to be good prevails in the novel.
They show that most of the people have a lot of targets in common but choose different ways to attain them.
Epithets having negative evaluation do appear as well (impertinent), but their use is stipulated by the common paradigm of values in Christianity.
The epithets show that all the events and people are interpreted from the point of view of a woman searching for her forthcoming future.
2.1.4. Use of hyperbole
He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters. (ch.III)
Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with." (ch.III)
"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.
"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."
"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that he never speaks much, unless among his intimate acquaintances. With them he is remarkably agreeable."
"I do not believe a word of it, my dear. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had come to the ball in a hack chaise." (ch.V)
"That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."
"Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, "is a very common failing, I believe. (ch. V)
"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."
"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance." (ch. VI)
"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.
"He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance--for who would object to such a partner?" (ch. VI)
I dare say he often hears worse things said than I am going to say. But he is an ugly fellow! I am glad he is gone. (ch. XXXIX)
"And Mary King is safe!" added Elizabeth; "safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune."
"She is a great fool for going away, if she liked him."
"But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side," said Jane. (ch. XXXIX)
Hyperboles are just another way Jane Austen uses to reflect the distinctive features of her characters’ perception of anything the see, hear or feel, perceive or understand.
Hyperboles are often a form of dialogue between the characters and God, who is capable of punishing or rewarding them.
Hyperboles are a form of the small talk etiquette encouraging the characters to be as polite and kind as possible, avoid any rough expression to prove they are true gentlemen.
Hyperboles are used in the direct speech of the characters to outline their range of emotions, to emphasize their readiness to exaggerate so as to be more expressive.
Hyperboles as well as metaphors may be used repeatedly so as to emphasize the key notions such as pride and prejudice.
Hyperboles outline the high level and dominant role of emotions in the novel, from time to time enforcing the characters to make their choice between good and evil.
Hyperboles help Jane Austen to reflect the souls of the characters very deeply, as they talk as they feel.
Hyperboles enable the characters to be more categorical in their prejudice, which is considered by Austen as one of the greatest sins.
2.1.5. Use of antithesis

The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend. (ch.III)
"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. (ch. VI)
"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir."
"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?" (ch. VI)
Perhaps he had been civil only because he felt himself at ease; yet there had been that in his voice which was not like ease. (ch. XLIII)
They now walked on in silence, each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and pleased. (ch. XLIII)
Use of antithesis helps to make the text of the novel highly expressive and attractive to the women admiring stylistic devices and text decorations.
Such a figure of speech as antithesis helps to bind together quite different and even opposed things generating from time to time ambivalence and ambiguity.
Antithesis of collocation consisting of no and an adjective having negative prefix is a vital way to make the phrase extremely expressive.
Antithesis is a one of the most favorite tropes in the novel aimed at distinguishing right and wrong, good and bad in the human existence, which is balanced between love and hatred.
Using antithesis in the portrayal of the heroes Jane Austen shows that human life is always a choice, that people must be responsible when making up their mind. The road leading to comforts for the main heroine is impossible because she can not go beyond her morale principles.
2.1.6. Use of similes
"Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss Bennet will defer yours till I am out of the room, I shall be very thankful; and then you may say whatever you like of me." (ch. X)
It seemed like wilful ill-nature, or a voluntary penance, for on these occasions it was not merely a few formal inquiries and an awkward pause and then away, but he actually thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her. (ch. XXXIII)
Perhaps he had been civil only because he felt himself at ease; yet there had been that in his voice which was not like ease. (ch. XLIII)
The intensification of some one feature of the concept in question is realized in similes. They are targeted at characterizing one object by bringing it into contact with another one belonging to an entirely different class of things.
Similes help Jane Austen to determine what is common and what is different in her characters’ lifestyles.
Similes, though they are not as frequent as other tropes discussed above, encourage self-identification of the characters in quite an expressive way.
2.1.7. Use of idioms
"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy." (ch.I)
She is a selfish hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her. (ch. II)
Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance. (ch. II)

‘And this is always the way with him,’ she added. ‘Whatever can give his sister any pleasure, is sure to be done in a moment.’ (ch. XLIII)
It might seem as if she had purposely thrown herself in his way again. (ch. XLIII)
"Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed--that does seem as if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know." (Ch.V)
…and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs and graces, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room. (ch. VI)
Idioms make the text of the novel fairly figurative.
They encourage the reader to pay attention to interpretation of some implicit information as in the idiom “have no opinion of”, which is similar in its meaning to “have bad opinion of”.
Jane Austen not only uses existing idioms but modifies them creating and developing a new meaning of the idiom “take one's chance” (=take the opportunity of ) – “venture” and “reconcile oneself to the situation or destiny”.
Idioms may function as kind of introductory collocation, a sort of bias against something or somebody.
There are often metaphorical as “thrown oneself in sb’s way”.
They may be absolutely emotional, equivalent to interjections, a form of expressing surprise, annoyance, etc.
They emphasize Jane Austen’s criticism of improper or sinful behaviour, her sarcasm and irony.
2.2. Syntactical devices
2.2.1. Use of direct speech

"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
"How so? How can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them." (ch.I)
"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him."
"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."
"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you." (ch.II)
"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."
"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing?" (ch. II)
"To-morrow fortnight."
"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself." (ch.II)
"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."
"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest." (ch.II)
"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."
"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. (ch.III)
"If he had had any compassion for me," cried her husband impatiently, "he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained his ankle in the first place!"
"Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst's gown--" (ch.III)
"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."
"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance." (ch. VI)
Lord! how I laughed! and so did Mrs. Forster. I thought I should have died. And that made the men suspect something, and then they soon found out what was the matter." (ch. XXXIX)
The direct speech in the novel, colloquial as it is, quite often reflects specifics of relations and attitudes among the characters.
The characters use a proper form of address outlining their emotional approach to the listener.
Their replicas are interconnected, as their communication is carried out in the same household or in a meeting of relatives, friends or relations.
They may omit unnecessary words as in “Impossible” (= it is impossible), as they can understand each other visually even without words.
They like using interjections to show their emphatic and emotional readiness to agree (Aye).
They can’t do without exclamations, emotional or formal forms of address, interjections as their emotions appear and develop, come and go, giving the way to other emotions.
Their evaluations differ a lot, they show their likes and dislikes spontaneously.
The direct speech in the novel reflects the way how Jane Austen contemporaries used to love and hate each other depending on their morale, mood and social strategy, such as willing to get married without any bad luck.
The words and collocations chosen by the characters reflect their imagination, self-confidence, self-respect, willing to be as much courteous and polite as possible when being engaged in the small talk.
Their phrases may be very short, with gaps outlining strength of their emotions.
2.2.2. Use of uttered reported speech
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. (ch.1)
"Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought," said Mrs. Bennet; "and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly."
The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she would, and the argument ended only with the visit. (ch. V)
"When I said that he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that his mind or his manners were in a state of improvement, but that, from knowing him better, his disposition was better understood." (ch. XLI )
He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling. "They will join me early to-morrow," he continued, "and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you--Mr. Bingley and his sisters." (ch. XLIII )
He then asked her to walk into the house--but she declared herself not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time much might have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but there seemed to be an embargo on every subject. At last she recollected that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly--and her patience and her ideas were nearly worn our before the tete-a-tete was over. (ch. XLIII )
The uttered reported speech is not so frequent as the direct one. It is used when Jane Austens does not want to use clichés.
The uttered reported often interfere with the direct one, when the narrator prefers to introduce her own opinion of the characters’ speech.
Sometimes the characters themselves use uttered reported speech when referring to what had been said before.
Jane Austen resorts to the help of uttered reported speech when judging her characters’ verbal behaviour.
She refuses to represent her characters’ speech word for word trying to describe the situation in short but exactly according to her own interpretation of this or that situation.
2.2.3. Use of unuttered reported speech

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! (ch.III)
He had rather hoped that his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a different story to hear. (ch.III)
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. (ch. VI)
The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great. She knew not how to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for half-an-hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected on what had passed, was increased by every review of it. That she should receive an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy! That he should have been in love with her for so many months! So much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the objections which had made him prevent his friend's marrying her sister, and which must appear at least with equal force in his own case--was almost incredible! It was gratifying to have inspired unconsciously so strong an affection. (ch. XXXIV)
Unuttered reported speech is represented by Jane Austen in such a way as if she could read her characters’ thoughts easily.