How does Austen create character in Chapter 11?
- Through the merging of the narrator's voice with characters'. This is done most often with Elizabeth, who, as the main figure the story follows, is the centre of consciousness and thought in the novel; what the reader sees and thinks is often Elizabeth's interpretation. An example: "Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable...their powers of conversation were considerable."
- By comparing and contrasting characters, for example of Elizabeth and Miss Bingley's opposing approaches to what to do about Darcy (" 'our surest way of disappointing him is to ask nothing about it' " vs "incapable of disappointing Mr Darcy in anything"
- Through actions, for example when Miss Bingley walked by Mr Darcy, he remained "inflexibly studious" showing that he has no interest in her, whereas when Elizabeth walked past, he "unconsciously closed his book" showing that he has a real attraction to her.
- Through the structure and sequencing of the events, for example, "Darcy took up a book; Miss Bennet did the same" which shows how Miss Bennet is mimicking Darcy in attempt to impress, instead of both characters just reading independently of one another.
- Through the presentation of dialogue, for example in Darcy's conversation with Elizabeth, no attributions are used, which shows the intimacy between the two.
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