6. • The following passage, describing Esther’s
experience of losing and regaining
consciousness under chloroform, is typical
of this style:
He placed a small wire case over her mouth and
nose. The sickly odor which she breathed from the
cotton wool filled her brain with nausea; it seemed
to choke her; life faded a little, and at every
inhalation she expected to lose sight of the circle
of faces. And then darkness began to lighten;
night passed into dawn; she could hear voices, and
when her eyes opened the doctors and nurses were
7. Other characters > described from the
outside.
Esther’ s experiences > direct information
Narrative > what Esther witnesses
8. • Esther’s observation of the race is
limited by her restricted view.
>> Narrator attached to Esther
There were two or three false starts, and
then, looking through the multitude of hats,
Esther saw five or six thin greyhoundlooking horses. They passed like shadows,
flitted by; and she was sorry for the poor
chestnut that trotted in among the crowd.
9. • Direct reference to the thoughts,
perceptions and emotions of Esther
which may be subjective.
>> Includes Esther’s knowledge or
ignorance
Esther thought him a nice little fellow, and tried
to persuade him to forgo his resolution not to
touch pudding, until Mr Swindles told her to
cheese it. The attention of the table being drawn
to the boy, Esther wondered at the admiration
10. • Views and attitudes of Esther
• Esther thinks about the objects
around her according to what she
should do with them.
There were plates to wash and knives to clean, and
when they were done there were potatoes, cabbage,
onions to prepare, saucepans to fill with water,
coal to fetch for the fire…
11. •
Judgments of Esther
He had gone through the baize door, and no doubt
was sitting by Peggy in the new drawing-room. He
had gone where she could not follow. He had gone
where the grand folk lived in idleness, in the
sinfulness of the world and the flesh, eating and
gambling, thinking of nothing else, with servants
to wait on them, obeying their orders and saving
them from every trouble.
12. References
•Chapman, S. (2002). 'From their Point of
View': voice and speech in George Moore's
Esther Waters. Sage.
•Fludernik, M. (n.d.). New Wine in Old
Bottles? Voice, Focalization, and New
Writing. In new literary history (pp. 619-638).
