The non-event, the event and techniques of representation in the novels of Frances Burney

• Main Author: Martin, Cassia Graye
• Published: University of Aberdeen 2015
• Subjects: 823
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648910

Frances Burney is often praised for her skills at capturing faithful portraits of contemporary society in her novels. Yet throughout her narratives are many scenes of unnatural, improbable and violent events which are normally associated with earlier traditions of romantic and sentimental fiction. Critics have attempted to resolve this seeming inconsistency in a variety of ways, some dismissing the strange juxtaposition as artistic immaturity. More recently critics have argued for a multifaceted Burney, who implements both scenes of sensational violence and polite etiquette. Pursuing instead a narratological approach, this thesis examines four innovative techniques that Burney uses to present sensational events in unconventional ways: the Non-Event technique, the Off-Page Event technique, the Split-Focus Event technique, and the Almost-Event technique. By using these narrative methods while foregrounding the conventionality of her plot material and working against generic expectations, Burney develops new ways of focusing the text upon the protagonist. Thus rather than the sensational events being evidence of her inability to liberate herself from earlier non-realistic traditions, they are instead an essential element to her influential methods of capturing 'life'.