Comment on language and meaning

Coming at the end of the Age of Reason and not quite yet to the Romantic Age, the language in this novel can be considered stiff. Most of the words have Latin, not Germanic, roots, which to our modern ears sounds esoteric. Some words that we rarely use today are used repeatedly, and the meanings may be somewhat different. For example, "intercourse" means "conversation." Instead of getting upset, people are "vexed."

Austen uses a great deal of dialogue in this and her other novels. She uses dialogue as the main convention for character development. For example, she doesn't have to tell us that Mr. Rushworth is ignorant. She just has him keep talking about his two-and-forty lines that he has to memorize for the play, and he continually talks about his fine, pink satin cape.