Austen uses syntax to further emphasize the rehearsed awkwardness of Mr. Collins’ proposal. She utilizes longwinded and wordy sentences with many commas. An example of this is the quote, “But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little as possible, when the melancholy event takes place—which, however, as I have already said, may not be for several years.” This sentence is comprised of seventy-two words, and sounds unnatural when read aloud. The length of Mr. Collins’ speech alone, when compared to Elizabeth’s syntax, is intended to show their incompatibility. When Elizabeth makes her refusals her sentence structure is simple and to the point.” This is evident in the sentence, “I am perfectly serious in my refusal.”
Austen’s
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It is a great love story only enhanced by the outlandish characters and constant mockery. The pacing of the novel is slow at first until half way through the first volume. The plot then accelerates and by the third volume it is hard to put down. Characters such as Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet, and Lady De Bourgh were all hysterical caricatures meant that livened up the novel during times when the plot was thin. The novel would not have been as cohesive or interesting without characters to add comic relief. Jane Austen’s use of character foils is possibly the most interesting. Mr. Darcy has more than one character that contradicts his, for example, Mr. Wickham and Mr. Bingley both contrast different parts of Mr. Darcy’s character, further emphasizing those distinct parts. Austen’s mocking tone made the novel far more interesting than a run of the mill romance novel. It is the 18th century version of a rom-com