When a novel is written from the first person, we as readers gain insight about the author's personality and personal thoughts, but we also are given a different sense of other characters. By reading Olivia's descriptions of various people she comes across in the novel, we are automatically biased and basing our opinions of these characters off of her thoughts and notions about them. In order to properly analyze Olivia and the author's messages, it is imperative that the other characters are addressed and analyzed as well.
Mr. Merton and Mrs. Merton are examples of characters that Olivia describes in detail for the reader, making it harder to form one's own opinion for the character or hear other thoughts on the character as clearly. Mrs. Merton is given a negative outlook based on her appearance, but more so her personality traits, "there is such a splenetic tendency in every word she utters, such a look of design, with so much self importance..." (73). Automatically, we are supposed to think of this woman as self-centered and lacking great qualities. We are given dialogue in the novel, but as the first opinions and full details that are given make the biggest impression. The negative outlook on the female is also something to consider as readers. If Mrs. Merton is the one with lack of sense and rationality, there is less of a feminist stance in this situation. Comparing the way a woman is described here to Desmond's description of women is an interesting angle. Although Desmond was written by a woman, the main characters giving descriptions were male, and women were seen in a more positive light. Within The Woman of Colour, the writer is anonymous but the speaker of descriptions is female, which makes a connection that perhaps in this time period genders see people of their same gender more clearly, and reading these novels are important to understanding the opposite gender.
Mr. Merton is given a sarcastic halo by Olivia, describing him as a character with the best of qualities, "Yet his principles appear honest and upright, and I dare say he is a man who has passed through the world, maintaining a strict character for probity and integrity as a merchant" (74). Yet again, we are given a large set of information to the character's traits and what we as readers should think about them. We are supposed to appreciate Mr. Merton's facade and know that he may not be the most genuine character, but he is still not as critically judged as his wife. Still, the description of this woman creates an idea we are set to follow for the duration of the novel and take other thoughts after this as less important. Dialogue and following pursuits of the characters that Olivia describes in detail only assist her original thoughts but never negate them.
My main concern with Olivia's characterization and description of people in the novel is that her thoughts are the judge and jury on first impressions of the novel. The first impression you get of anyone in books, movies, TV, and reality have some bearing on how your future thoughts of them will be shaped and what they are known for. Whatever reputation people are given effects them hugely and Olivia's developments of her characters are no exception. This reminded me of Pride & Prejudice and Elizabeth and Darcy's original thoughts of each other and how long it took for them to surpass these impressions and end up together. Reviewing the movie trailer is available here.
Questions:
1) Olivia gives qualities of herself by her descriptions of other people, what qualities do we think those are? (i.e. judgmental, perceptive, genuine, etc.)
2) From the characterization or men and women, what do we think is the author's difference of perception of genders?
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