Pride and Prejudice book - why is it like this?

[DizBelle]

I'm reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Occasionally, in the book, there are words that are "missing". For example, there is a line that says

"....for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle Lord ------ and to the great surprise of the party ......"

The part I'm wondering about is the "------" in the text. There is actually a line in the text like the Lord's name was omitted. Why is that? I'm wonder if it is because I'm reading the unabridged version and this is the way she wrote it. Any Literature teachers out there?

 

[Quinn222]

I'm reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Occasionally, in the book, there are words that are "missing". For example, there is a line that says

"....for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle Lord ------ and to the great surprise of the party ......"

The part I'm wondering about is the "------" in the text. There is actually a line in the text like the Lord's name was omitted. Why is that? I'm wonder if it is because I'm reading the unabridged version and this is the way she wrote it. Any Literature teachers out there?

I haven't read it in a while but it's possible for privacy sake. 'fitzwilliam' would indicate the illegitimate son of william.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I rented the 2005 version of the movie Pride and Prejudice the other night, and as a Special Feature to the DVD they showed some photos of Jane Austen and her home, etc. I noticed that they showed her manuscript was handwritten. Maybe it had something to do with the customs of the day??

Another thing I thought was interesting they mentioned was that many modern love stories such as Bridget Jones Diary were based on the same story line as Austen's Pride and Prejudice. If you get a chance, maybe rent the DVD. (I'm still trying to decide which Mr. Darcy I like better - Colin Firth or Matthwe MacFadyen).

 

[piglet too]

I think is might have something to do with that it is an unabridged copy. My parents work for a book store and get new works in all the time that are missing info, or still have lots of editing to do.

 

[LukenDC]

It was common practice in 18th and early 19th century British lit to omit proper names that were not an essential part of the story. Proper names for the social elite and nobility were especially susceptible to this practice. Samuel Richardson, Ann Radcliffe, and Henry Fielding, among others, also used that technique. It makes it appear as if the characters could be related to any number of people and it encourages the reader to fill in the blank with names from their communities, making the story seem a bit closer to the reader. Omitting the names of important society figures also prevented the story from becoming dated as soon as that individual died.

I am always happy to learn of people reading the great classics. I love Jane Austen's novels (I have read them all) and 18th century British lit in general is one of my passions.

 

[georgina]

I have often wondered about that too. When the book talks about the army, the name of the location is sometimes omitted too - as in the _______shire militia. Darcy's first name is also Fitzwilliam, so I don't think it is an illegitimacy thing.