An analysis of viewpoints by the use of frequent multi-word sequences in DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Abstract

This paper examines how particular multi-word sequences and a set of adjectives that are closely related to the leading protagonists’ viewpoints contribute to the character development and narrative construction in the fictional text, DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover (LCL). LCL is an iconic novel that explores sensuality and sexuality as being an essential part of humanity. To collect linguistic material for examination, I used a frequency list of the text of LCL as the primary source. From the frequency list, the most frequent mental verbs, perception verbs, body part nouns and adjectives were chosen for retrieving the most frequent 2/3-grams. These expressions, which occur frequently in the text, are primarily used for establishing the viewpoint of the leading character, Connie. These verbs, nouns and adjectives are also used to present the other main characters’ internal states, perceptions and viewpoints, although less frequently. These characters’ inner worlds, compared with Connie’s, whose intentions, motives and desires are transparent to the reader, appear to be less discernible and more distant from the reader. However, after Connie became intimately involved with the gamekeeper, Mellors’s viewpoint is more often introduced by similar lexical items to those that were applied to presenting Connie’s internal states. The analysis has revealed how particular linguistic means are related to different characters’ viewpoints.