Miss Marjoribanks Literary Elements

Miss Marjoribanks Literary Elements

Genre

Social satire; Victorian fiction; comedy of manners.

Setting and Context

The novel is set in the fictional town of Carlingford in mid-19th century England. It captures the nuances of Victorian middle-class society, focusing on the intricacies of social relationships, gender roles, and class expectations in a small-town setting.

Narrator and Point of View

The story is told by an omniscient third-person narrator, who provides insight into the thoughts and motivations of the characters, often with a tone of irony and wit.

Tone and Mood

The tone is satirical, light-hearted, and witty, though at times it carries a touch of earnestness in its critique of societal norms. The mood is often humorous, with occasional moments of tension or poignancy as characters navigate their personal ambitions and societal expectations.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is Lucilla Marjoribanks, an intelligent and ambitious young woman determined to improve her social standing and bring refinement to Carlingford. The antagonist is less a singular person and more the societal norms and constraints that challenge Lucilla’s efforts and ambitions.

Major Conflict

The central conflict revolves around Lucilla’s efforts to assert her independence and influence in Carlingford’s social circles while contending with gender expectations and the constraints of Victorian society.

Climax

The climax occurs when Lucilla faces the reality that her carefully crafted plans for her life and social dominance may not align with the expectations of others or her own happiness.

Foreshadowing

Early hints about Lucilla’s strong-willed nature and her ability to adapt foreshadow her later success in navigating Carlingford society, as well as the eventual challenges to her aspirations.

Understatement

The narrator frequently uses understatement to humorously downplay Lucilla’s ambitious schemes or the importance of certain social events, emphasizing the triviality of societal preoccupations.

Allusions

The novel alludes to Victorian ideals of femininity, class, and propriety, as well as broader themes of reform and progress within 19th-century England.

Imagery

Oliphant’s descriptive prose vividly portrays the genteel surroundings of Carlingford, the drawing rooms where social battles are waged, and Lucilla’s fashionable interventions, creating a vivid picture of the setting and the characters' aspirations.

Paradox

Lucilla is both a rebel against societal constraints and a conformist to its rules, as she works within the system to achieve her goals while subtly challenging its expectations.

Parallelism

The novel draws parallels between Lucilla’s social maneuvering and the broader dynamics of power and influence in Victorian society, emphasizing the universality of such struggles.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

The drawing room symbolizes the center of social life and influence in Carlingford. Lucilla’s tea parties and other gatherings act as synecdoche for her larger social ambitions and strategies.

Personification

Society is personified as an ever-watchful, judgmental entity, reflecting the constant scrutiny and expectations placed on individuals, especially women, in Victorian England.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.