Stuart Tave's "Limitations and Definitions" (p. 315-19)

Stuart Tave brilliantly analyzes Jane Austen's writing style by comparing it to her skill and adoration for dancing. Just as dancing drives "enjoyment and ability in moving with significant grace in good time in a restricted space," Austen's writing also behaves beautifully and gracefully for she writes with no restrictions. Austen tends to not worry about what others thought of her work, because when she was writing, she was limited to what resources were available. Her writing was accused for having no dimension for she did had her limits; however, the illustrious author certainly has reached her goal of expressing originality and her own meaning to many topics, such as human relations.  Each character Austen had introduced to us has been assigned their own part to live, just as dancers have their own choreography to perform. Characters acted in the way they were expected to during that time period. Within their "boundaries" the characters would "feel what should be felt, think what should be thought, do what should be done, neither too quickly nor too slowly for the occasion. There is no choice of standing still. One cannot 'dwell'" (p.317). Tave believes that Pride and Prejudice is slightly narrow for its worth for her story is about “messy lives, and most people are leading them, even when the surface of life seems proper; but custom is not the first fact of life.” (p. 318). Austen opens the blind eye by raising awareness of the social aspect of life in her own refreshing style. 

2. How else did Jane Austen "move with meaning?" 

1. Which significant character that Jane Austen created do you believe has the most spirit and "movement" in her novel? Explain.