In Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”, she uses free indirect discourse to highlight the universal feelings in the amorous interaction between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. By not attributing a precise speaker, Austen illuminates the almost confidential feeling and coy actions that Anne displays rather foolishly. “Her eye half met Captain Wenworth’s; a bow, a curtsey passed; she heard his voice (Austen, 56).” Here, Austen writes this passage to announce the fluttering amorous heart that Anne keeps for Wentworth, yet the reader is unsure of who is sharing this information. The worth of this stylistic use is to create a sense of cloaking in that the reader, along with Wentworth, is not completely aware of all the feelings that are invested in this relationship. For instance, the reader is unaware of Wentworth’s feeling at the moment in the novel where the excerpt was taken from, and the free indirect discourse aids in the lack of clear-cut emotions.
Laurence Sterne uses first person narration in “A Sentimental Journey” to show the current emotions that the narrator is experiencing, which dispels any lingering doubt about their true feelings. “I had not yet seen her face- ‘twas not material; for the drawing was instantly set about, and long before we had got tot eh door of the Remise, Fancy had finished the whole head, and pleased herself as much with its fitting her goddess, as if she had dived into the Tiber for it… (Sterne, 14)” In this passage, Sterne uses first person narration to state exactly what the character is feeling, as compared to the more subtle rendering of what occurred in “Persuasion” between Anne and Captain Wentworth. Though both excerpts about the relationships in the novel show an uncertain meeting between the two characters, the reader is more sure of the emotions experienced in “Sentimental Journey” due to the first person narration. The reader should note that “Sentimental Journey” does have a picaresque quality to it, which features episodic stories, yet the first person narration strings together the feelings experienced by the characters in the novel.
Hey Sonia, I really liked your comment on the different effects of FID and first-person narration on romantic interaction. It is true that because of the ambiguity in voice, we do not know what Captain Wentworth truly felt when he was first reunited with Anne. Even with Anne, we do not know if the portrayed feelings of anxiety and regret within the passage belongs to her because of the FID style. On the other hand, Sterne clearly portrays Yorick's feelings through a first-person narration; whenever Yorick stumbles upon a beauty, the readers know exactly what he is thinking towards her. However, even though Yorick is speaking directly of his emotions, his experience is merely his own "fancy;" we do not know clearly what the other party--the lady "goddess"--feels toward Yorick. In other words, the reader only gets a narrow view--Yorick's perspective--of the whole picture, so even with first-person narration, there exists a certain amount of ambiguity. I really enjoyed how both of these differing perspectives--FID and first-person narration--could bring out ambiguity in their own ways. In Persuasion, the feeling of ambiguity definitely added to the confusing and gossip-like interaction among all the characters. In Sentimental Journey, the ambiguity existing outside of Yorick's scope of view sometimes allows the reader to see how obnoxious, selfish, and ridiculous he can be, adding to the satire of it all. Great job!
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