It is essential to understand Keith Oatley’s suggestion that authors alter our view of a novel through the friendships that we develop with characters. When we read, we form friendships with characters and allow them to influence us. We, in a sense, inhabit the mind of a fictional character just as we would inhabit the mind of a real friend. We allow others’ actions and thoughts to influence our opinions. Authors exploit readers’ proclivity to form friendships by encouraging us to draw close to certain characters. Oatley proposes the example of Elizabeth from Jane Austen’s Pride and prejudice. She is described positively through both direct characterization and her actions. Because of this, readers are likely to become close to her and experience
