Austen's Word Game

Austen's style is unique, like no other. Her ability to use

specific words in certain situations allows her to set the mood that

she wants the reader to feel. That is a big reason why her novels are

so successful. Using her charm, she manages to lure words and

twist them in her favor, enriching her novels with vivid details and

endless word play. She utilized many literary devices in her novels

that added a certain zest to her literary works. The literary devices

used were successful in conveying Austen's thoughts and concerns.

Austen's literary talents and imagination resulted in exquisite diction

and intensive emotion.

Word play is a technique Austen uses in her work to

emphasize on important or otherwise interesting events occurring in

the novel. For example, in Pride and Prejudice, Darcy tells Bingley

that: "At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. 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." 1

He

we see Darcy use the word insupportable which can mean

unadvised or not favored by the former. Another example would be

when Elizabeth and Charlotte are discussing Jane and Bingley and

Charlotte points out to Elizabeth that Bingley is not intimately

acquainted with Jane the way Elizabeth is by saying: "Remember,

Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do."2 Here we
1
The annotated Pride and Prejudice p.18
2
The annotated Pride and Prejudice p. 38
see Charlotte use the word disposition which can mean her

character or situation. This successful technique is one the

trademarks of an authentic Austen novel.

The diction used in her novels was mostly employed in

eighteenth century everyday life. When Ms. Bingley criticizes

Elizabeth she says that: "Her face is too thin; her complexion has no

brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants

character; there is nothing remarked in its lines. Her teeth are

tolerable, but not out of the common way;"3 Here, Austen gives us a

taste of what people were judged by. The bizarre aspects that were

regarded as attractive, we now pay no attention to, such as the

teeth and the fairness of complexion. When Elizabeth confronts

Darcy about his mistreatment of Wickham she says" You have

reduced him to his present state of poverty, comparative poverty.

You have withheld the advantages, which you must know to have

been designed for him. You have deprived the best years of his life,

of that independence which was no less his due than his desert. You

have done all this! And yet you can treat the mention of his

misfortunes with contempt and ridicule." We see, through

Elizabeth's reaction, that her immense hate and anger towards

Darcy, along with the alleged injustices place upon Wickham caused

her to burst. Austen uses rich words that fully portray Elizabeth's

anger, yet she chose the words quite carefully to not fully offend

Darcy since it was improper for women to curse, she relied on basic

3
The annotated Pride and Prejudice p.492
words to express extreme anger. Austen also incorporates many

literary devices that improved her writings.

Austen utilized her literary devices to the fullest extent. She

made sure that she got the best end of the deal. "Mr. Collins had

only to change from Jane to Elizabeth –and it was soon done – done

while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire."4 Austen uses symbolism in

this line. She Here the fire is meant as the flames of passion while

we see that Mr. Collins' shallow personality allowed him to easily

shift his attention from Jane to Elizabeth. " I am now convinced, my

dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really

experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present

detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil." Here, Austen

satirizes the proportionally overblown concepts of deep love. Austen

was a clever woman, able to depict society and add a little irony and

satire every now and then.

Austen's ability to write magnificently is no doubly a fact. Her

novels testify her capacity to use words and phrases on the most

unusual manner; forcing them to portray the feelings she wanted

her readers to recognize. Her ability to capture the essence of

everyday life and use it in her novels is what makes her the popular

author she was and still is. The literary devices that were used

(intentionally and unintentionally) allowed the readers to truly

understand Austen and fully enjoy her novels.

4
The annotated Pride and Prejudice P. 132