How does the author use language in the novel, Commonwealth?

The language used throughout is simple and unaffected, creating a sense of reading a family history. Combined with the non-linear structure, this creates a connection between past events and the current situation as it enfolds. Beyond the events, the trustworthiness of characters both major and minor is determined by how they use language. Characters like Bert and Marisol in Chapter 6 share a duplicity in their language. Marisol “eat [s] fish socially” (188), a statement that is not only pretentious, but is shown to be false when Marisol buys lobsters for everyone.

Characters such as Fix who use simpler language and are straightforward with their telling of events are depicted as having seemingly simple, but profound insights. With regards to Albie and he was named, Fix is the one to make the connection between how the Cousin family dynamics - i.e. Bert becoming increasingly selfish and distant from his family at the time of Albie's birth, as well as beginning of Bert's involvement with Beverly - influence Albie's early years: "'If I'd named Albie I wouldn't have given him such a stupid name. You could trace a lot of that kid's problems back to his name" (25). Fix is not only wise enough to realize the situation and Albie's childhood problems can not be blamed on him, however that he influenced Albie's naming foreshadows how Fix will have a small but critical influence on Albie's development. Instead of waxing philosophically or poetically about this, Fix's language is blunt and straight to the point.