The figure of narrator is important in any literary work. As it was discussed above, it can be also transferred to a movie. In this chapter the narrator of Jane Austen’s novel Emma and its transfer to the film adaptation directed by Douglas McGrath is discussed.
2.1. The figure of narrator in the novel “Emma” by Jane Austen
At first, considering the division into first- and third-person narrator, the narrator in Jane Austen's novel Emma is a third-person narrator. The narrator opens the novel giving readers information about the main character, and the narrator presents to readers events as they happen. From the grammatical perspective, he narrates in the third person. However, Skinner has recognised that Jane Austen in her novel Emma “elided …show more content…
Elton asked Emma to draw Harriet’s portrait and complimented Emma’s drawing, we know not only what Emma actually answered him, but also what she thought: “Yes, good man! – thought Emma – but what has all that to do with taking likeness? You know nothing about drawing. Don’t pretend to be in raptures about mine. Keep your raptures for Harriet’s face” (Austen 1815: 42). Another example of the narrator being aware of Emma’s thoughts can be found during the walk Emma had with Harrier and then Mr. Elton joined them; at this moment of the novel Emma is still convinced that Harriet and Mr. Elton can have a future together: ‘To fall in with each other on such an errand as this’, thought Emma; ‘to meet in a charitable scheme’ this will bring a great increase of love on each side. I should not wonder if it were to bring on the declaration. It must, if I were not here. I wish I were anywhere else (Austen 1815: …show more content…
As it was discussed above, Emma’s world is presented through Emma’s eyes, and “the narrative tracks Emma’s attention as it moves between different groups in the various Highbury drawing-rooms” and “the narration of overhearing” allows readers to follow several events (Wiltshire 2014: 130). This kind of narration enables Jane Austen not only to narrate the two strands of her plot concurrently, but also through syntactical means to evoke the physical setting in which such overhearing can plausibly take place (Wiltshire 2014: 136). For instance, during the ball at the Crown Inn, readers know that Emma is dancing with Frank Churchill. Readers also know the dialogue between Mr. Elton and Mrs. Weston because when Emma is close to Mr. Elton she can hear “every syllable of a dialogue which just then took place between him [Mr. Elton] and Mrs. Weston” (Austen 1815:
2.1. The figure of narrator in the novel “Emma” by Jane Austen
At first, considering the division into first- and third-person narrator, the narrator in Jane Austen's novel Emma is a third-person narrator. The narrator opens the novel giving readers information about the main character, and the narrator presents to readers events as they happen. From the grammatical perspective, he narrates in the third person. However, Skinner has recognised that Jane Austen in her novel Emma “elided …show more content…
Elton asked Emma to draw Harriet’s portrait and complimented Emma’s drawing, we know not only what Emma actually answered him, but also what she thought: “Yes, good man! – thought Emma – but what has all that to do with taking likeness? You know nothing about drawing. Don’t pretend to be in raptures about mine. Keep your raptures for Harriet’s face” (Austen 1815: 42). Another example of the narrator being aware of Emma’s thoughts can be found during the walk Emma had with Harrier and then Mr. Elton joined them; at this moment of the novel Emma is still convinced that Harriet and Mr. Elton can have a future together: ‘To fall in with each other on such an errand as this’, thought Emma; ‘to meet in a charitable scheme’ this will bring a great increase of love on each side. I should not wonder if it were to bring on the declaration. It must, if I were not here. I wish I were anywhere else (Austen 1815: …show more content…
As it was discussed above, Emma’s world is presented through Emma’s eyes, and “the narrative tracks Emma’s attention as it moves between different groups in the various Highbury drawing-rooms” and “the narration of overhearing” allows readers to follow several events (Wiltshire 2014: 130). This kind of narration enables Jane Austen not only to narrate the two strands of her plot concurrently, but also through syntactical means to evoke the physical setting in which such overhearing can plausibly take place (Wiltshire 2014: 136). For instance, during the ball at the Crown Inn, readers know that Emma is dancing with Frank Churchill. Readers also know the dialogue between Mr. Elton and Mrs. Weston because when Emma is close to Mr. Elton she can hear “every syllable of a dialogue which just then took place between him [Mr. Elton] and Mrs. Weston” (Austen 1815: