Inside the Mind of “Poor” Emma: Austen’s Representation of Consciousness

This piece examines Jane Austen's subtle use of focalization in "Emma" by confronting the gaps in terminology for it. I argue that Austen's ability to slip into the minds of her characters and vocalize their thoughts constructs a holistic representation of human consciousness for a fictional character. A framework that explains this technique is called spontaneous psychological focalization. SPF takes into consideration analysis of individual sentences while signifying broader implications on character psychology, the idea of a subconscious, and Austen’s place in the history of the modern novel.Bachelor of Art