In Stuart Tave’s critical review of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of his main points of discussion is Austen’s chronology. He discusses how although not explicitly stated, Austen consistently includes details that reveal time within the novel. For example, the Netherfield ball is given no specific date upon it’s first mention in the novel; however, as one continues to read there are clues that tell the reader that the ball was on Tuesday, November 26. Furthermore, the entire novel covers a period from October to October of the year she turns 21. Because the time period of the story is not very long, Austen focuses on little events in Elizabeth Bennet’s life and emphasizes their importance by mentioning the time, the day, and/or the month that they occurred. Also, the dates make it simpler for the reader to follow the story, it’s characters, and all of their actions. There are many subtle details throughout the story that illustrate time and this is a strength of Austen’s writing because it provides the reader with a sense of time but not in an overly obvious manner.
In addition to time, Tave discusses the value of the small scope in which Pride and Prejudice takes place. While some critics may disagree with Austen’s choice to use a very narrow setting, Tave praises it because it is “enormously exhilarating and liberating; it offers to those who are capable of exerting themselves to discover its meaning the control of the essential qualities of their lives [and] it challenges our own narrowness” By limiting the scope, Austen is able to delve deeper into the characters and fully develop the relationships. These relationships then provide insight into the society of the time and allow the reader to compare his/her world to the world of the Bennet’s.
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