The Misconception between Communication and Miscommunication

It is often said that communication, or lack of, can throw a major wrench in a story plot- but sometimes it can be considered a blessing in disguise. If you were to compare the story plot of Jane Austens’ Pride and Prejudice against that of Graham Swifts’ Waterland, you would hardly find any similarity. However the effects that communication and miscommunication have on each of the characters create a parallel between the two novels.

Throughout Austens’ entire novel, miscommunication plays a key role in the relationships between characters. One of the most interesting miscommunications can be found between Jane and Mr. Darcy. Unfortunately, he mistakes Jane’s modesty for disinterest in his good friend Mr. Bingley. So, through failure to show her true feelings of love for this man she encourages his friend to act out, whisking him away to London and adding a good deal of tension to the plot.

Then, in a horrid act of communication, Caroline Bingley sends a letter to Jane explaining her brother will likely marry Mr. Darcys sister, “Georgiana Darcy…My brother admires her greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own…Am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?” Clearly, communication is not always in the best interest of the character. This news only caused great distress for Jane and so increased the dislike that Elizabeth felt for Mr. Darcy, upon her finding out that Mr. Bingleys leaving was all his own doing.

As is later discovered in the story, Elizabeth falls in love with a side of Mr. Darcy that she did not know existed. A side of him that she only discover...

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...this understanding, that he tells his life story to his history students, and through communicating with them, tries to bright the light to his own pathway and the errors that it contained.

Overall, it is quite clear why any story, no matter the content, must have a series of communication, or lack of, between the characters. It allows them to scheme against each other, to plot both harmful and good intentions and to allow the drama to spread amongst themselves. However, it’s a common misconception that these things must always be bad. After all, isn’t this the way the plot thickens, how the authors are so easily able capture your attention and perhaps most importantly, how they keep your eyes burning for more.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Introduction, Heron Books, London, 1968. Print

Swift, Graham. Waterland. Vintage Canada, 1983. Print.