THE NOVEL OF MANNERS

This new type of novel was first introduced at the beginning of the 19 th century by Jane Austen. She
used elements of the Romantic Age, but she also looked back at the tradition.
The Novel of Manners is based on the importance of the relations between manners (a social code
to which people tend to uniform) and the individual character, with his problems, impulses and
feelings.
GENERAL FEATURES:
- PLACE SETTINGS: the action is generally set in the country of rural south England, with some
insights into town. The typical events are visits to neighbours, balls, teas (as occasions for
meetings).
- THEMES: the main themes are marriage, the only way for social mobility; love and friendship and
their complications; money and property, and their influence on people; codes and conventions of
good behaviour.
- CHARACTERS: they belong to the upper class (in particular, lower aristocracy, gentry and clergy).
- NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE: the story is mainly told through dialogs, with the use of witty irony and
satire. The emotions are not expressed directly but subtly.
- THE NARRATOR: the author employs a 3rd person omniscient narrator, modelled on that previously
used by Fielding.
TEXT:

- Mr and Mrs Bennet

This text is the opening page of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, and it consists on a dialogue
between Mr and Mrs Bennet.
Mrs Bennet wants her husband to go visit their new neighbour, Mr Bingley, because her purpose is
to see her daughters married.
This text also introduces the main themes of the novel: love, property and, most of all, marriage.
As it is clear from the text, marriage was just a matter of business and it was important for women
because it allowed them to achieve a better social position. Moreover, the Bennets belong to the
country gentry, whose code of behaviour is influenced by the ideals of property and money.
The author employs a 3rd person omniscient narrator and makes use of witty irony and sarcasm,
and Mr Bennets replies are an evidence of this use of irony.
As for characterization, characters are described both indirectly (through their answers) and
directly (by the narrator). For instance, lines 54-55 are an example of indirect characterization: Mr
Bennet talks about one of his daughters, Elizabeth, and he appreciates her intelligence: this shows
he has some knowledge too.
Moreover, Mr Bennet mocks his wife and his silly daughters. Mrs Bennet is ignorant and
superficial, and the reader is told about this through the use of some expressions like her mind was
difficult to develop, mean understanding, little information, uncertain temper.