The tone of many novels is set within the first few lines or pages; the reader
can also tell the author's style through diction detail, and syntax. Jane
Austin's Pride and Prejudice is a novel such as this- Austin's opening sentence
sets the tome for the rest of the book preparing the reader for her satirical
treatment of regency manners and morals, the novel will become, learns her style
of the novel, and it also sets up foreshadowing for the novel. "It is true
universally acknowledge, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must
be in want of a wife," is the first sentence of the novel, it sets the tone
and explains to the reader the plot of the story. She tells how she wants her
daughters married-no matter the circumstances. The sentence tells about the
social standings, to marry a man with high social status when the women are
lower/middle class, the girl's beauty must be amazing and visa versa -the lower
class of the gentleman the less beauty counts for the female if they are high
class. Her tone is disparity, impatient, yet sophisticated. The mother is
desperate trying to get her daughters married- she will do anything "the
business of her life was to get her daughters married" of them. She does
not care to whom just as long as she he has money. Impatient, she is so mind set
on having her daughters married she forgets how important it is to let it happen
rather than forcing it so harshly. Lastly while all of this is going through her
mind she is still on the outside presenting herself in such a disposition that
her manners and movements are well respected. These three things set the tone
for this whole novel and are found right in the first sentence if one looks
closely. Jane Austin is ironic in the beginning sentence, yet it is barely
noticeable. She gives facts, truths, and even philosophy making the reader think
this is what the novel is to be about- then proceeds to tell the reader how the
only truths one will find is in society and their standings. She brings up that,
"he has servants…he was lively and unreserved," and how socially
that's a must when really it is only a plus. Austin does a very good job of
placing us in the time period; the truths and socialistic truths although
contradicts each other; it is what was actually true for the tome and she sets
us there very well. "____," tells the reader about a normal way to act
then. Jane Austin has a style like non-other, "___________," she
expresses her felling in a way like nobody else. In her opening sentence one can
just see she gets the point across yet it is in a way that makes the reader
think. These three things are what make up Pride and Prejudice-ironically enough
the first sentence reveals them all.