Adjectives: A Positive Analysis

Decent Essays
Altogether 3815 adjectives conveying positive evaluation of women characters were found in the novels. Having analysed and compared their use, the groups of the most frequent ones were singled out for every novel separately, with the frequency of their occurrence 2% and higher of the general amount of adjectives denoting positive evaluation in each novel. It should be noted that these groups constitute approximately half of all adjectives of positive evaluation in every novel and the other half comprises to the adjectives that occurred with frequency 1% and less. Table 1 shows quantitative results of the analysis, presenting the most frequent adjectives providing positive evaluation of women characters.

Table 1. Frequency of adjectives giving
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little, dear, good, pretty and great by the male and female authors. The adjective little was regarded only when it was used to show affection (Example 5), therefore the instances where it was used to denote size or age (Example 6) where not counted since they do not have an emotive component.

(5) Poor little Emmy--dear little Emmy. (Thackeray 135)
(6) Nay, the acute observer might have recognized the little red nose […]. (Thackeray 7)

Likewise the adjective great was counted only in those cases when it was used in the meaning “extremely good in ability or quality and therefore admired by many people” or “very good or pleasant” (Oxford) (Example 7). The adjective dear was differentiated in the study from the nominal phrase (my) dear (Examples 8 and 9) or exclamation (Oh, dear; Dear me, etc.), and the adjective old was calculated when it was used with the noun girl, as a friendly form of address of a husband to a wife in the novel “Bleak House” (Examples
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(Gaskell 10)
(9) "Have you drawers enough, dear?" asked she. (Gaskell 26)
(10) Whatever the old girl says, do--do it!" (Dickens 441)

The presented results show there are no marked gender differences between the authors in their choice of the most frequent lexemes to give positive characterisation of women heroines. This selection of adjectives create an image of a woman as a weak, good looking, and delightful creature. Such image corresponds to the conventional view on the status and social role of women in the Victorian society.

“A woman being more delicate, fragile, reserved, yet virtuous, loving, and pretty was properly confined to the household sphere where her gentleness and nurturing were best employed.” (Loeb 19)

Table 2 provides a more detailed account of the percentage of adjectives of positive evaluation used to describe various facets of female characters in the novels as well as the prevailing lexemes used in the corresponding subgroups.

Table 2. Subgroups of adjectives of positive evaluation general characterisation physical appearance intellectual abilities clothing personal traits manner / behavior emotional state/feelings % % % % % %

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