Free Indirect Discourse

In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, free indirect discourse is used throughout the entire novel. Doing so, the reader is left to decipher who’s thoughts it is that are being narrated. There is a certain passage, like many others, where Austen uses free indirect discourse. It can be found on page 7 the second paragraph. In this particular passage free indirect discourse can be found through the narrator and Sir Walter.  

The beginning of the passage starts off with the explanation of Sir Walter’s current circumstances and his overall impression of his favorite daughter, the eldest, and the feelings he holds towards others. For instance, “–Be it known then, that Sir Walter, like a good father, (having met with one or two private disappointments in very unreasonable applications) prided himself on remaining single for his dear daughter’s sake.” This sentence starts off with the narrator explaining his reason behind never remarrying but shifts point of view to Sir Walter when it is said because of his, “dear daughter’s sake.” Daughter’s is singular even though he has two more whom he never pays attention to. Also considering that the narrator is more sympathetic towards Anne, one of the other daughters, he/she wouldn’t refer to the eldest daughter as, “dear.” It is evident that the narrator begins the sentence because he/she associates Sir Walter as a prideful man. Sir Walter himself would never admit to his own pride in such a straightforward way. The narrator forms this opinion based on it’s point of view. 

The narration is continued to be focalized through Sir Walter when he states, “ For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up anything, which, he had not been very much tempted to do.” This sentence is through the emotions of Sir Walter himself . Being that Elizabeth is his favorite, he is willing to sacrifice anything for her, and being that she is just like him-perfect in her every respect- he has not had the necessity to do so. He believes her wise, just like himself; therefore, her decision-making skills are satisfactory. He continues his praise for her with, “ Elizabeth had succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother’s rights and consequence; and being handsome, and very like himself, her influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most happily.” It is apparent the narrator would never make a comment this great about Elizabeth because of the similarities she shares with her father. The narrator is always mocking Sir Walter and when speaking about Elizabeth, which is not often done, an opinion of her would not be said in such a positive tone. In addition, Sir Walter is constantly concerned with looks and his opinion of others is always based upon them. Likewise, he is always giving himself compliments on his features that have stayed consistent throughout the years, so comparing his daughter's beauty to his, it’s distinct that he has narrated the part. The similarities they share allow them to get along really well, thus why she has always been his favorite.

However, ending the paragraph the original narrator is present in opinion again. Anne is admired with, “....but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way; ––she was only Anne.” It is clearly seen how present the narrator’s thoughts are. Anne is the narrator’s favorite with, “her sweetness of character,” which is admired by the narrator and  which consequently, “placed her high with any people of real understanding.” Anne is highly esteemed by the narrator, who’s annoyed that her father doesn’t value her as much as she should because of his arrogance toward beauty which is what he always bases value of worth on.