Discussion Topic
Comparison of narrative techniques and language use in "The Custom of the Country" and "Far from the Madding Crowd"
Summary:
In "The Custom of the Country," Edith Wharton uses a satirical narrative technique and sophisticated language to critique societal norms and the pursuit of wealth. Conversely, Thomas Hardy's "Far from the Madding Crowd" employs a pastoral narrative style with descriptive, poetic language to explore rural life and human relationships, focusing on themes of love and fate.
Compare the narrative technique and language use in The Custom of the Country and Far from the Madding Crowd.
The novels The Custom of the Country and Far from the Madding Crowd have similar narrative techniques since they each employ third-person narrators, dialogue, and characterization.
The third-person narrators allow Edith Wharton and Thomas Hardy to know everything about the characters and events in their respective novels. The third-person narrator in Hardy’s novel allows Hardy to detail how Bathsheba thinks and proceeds after receiving news that her husband has died. Similarly, the third-person narrator in Wharton’s novel lets Wharton delve into how the characters respond to Ralph and Undine’s divorce.
Another technique that propels the narrative is dialogue. Through conversations, the reader's knowledge of the characters and plot points expands. Dialogue clarifies that Troy has supposedly drowned in Hardy’s novel. It reinforces the scandalous nature of Undine’s behavior in Wharton's novel.
The narrative techniques also rely on characterization. Hardy and Wharton create distinct characters with specific traits. These characters...
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clash with one another to produce a compelling plot. InFar from the Madding Crowd, the overbearing William Boldwood, the tempestuous Frank Troy, and the loyal Gabriel Oak play off against one another. In The Custom of the Country, Wharton characterizes Undine as “fiercely independent and yet passionately imitative.” To build a dramatic narrative, Wharton pits Undine's singular character against conventional and staid characters like Ralph.
Since the narratives are in the third-person, the language isn’t restrained. Wharton and Hardy are free to use whatever words they wish since their narrators aren’t characters and, thus, don’t have to narrow their diction.
Compare narrative points and literary techniques in "The Custom of Country" and "Far from the Madding Crowd".
The generated response does a good job of covering the narrative points and literary techniques of Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd, but it does not touch on Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country, so let’s look at a few points to help you fill out your knowledge of the latter novel and prepare your comparison and contrast.
The narrative arc of Wharton’s novel is somewhat cyclical. Undine moves from husband to husband and lover to lover, always thinking she will find happiness and fulfillment but never actually attaining either, at least not for very long and not in any deep way. You might trace that narrative arc and compare it to that of Hardy’s novel.
Wharton’s story includes literary techniques like foreshadowing, parallelism, repetition, imagery, and even a bit of burlesque. There are also strong elements of comparison and contrast. Think, for instance, about Undine’s life in Apex versus her life in New York versus her life in Paris.
You will also want to discuss the irony in the novel. Undine ends up remarried to her first husband, something she never would have believed possible, although by the end of the novel, Undine is beginning to feel dissatisfied yet again. Think, too, about the tragedy of Paul, who is caught up in the middle of his mother’s desires and mostly ignored and neglected.