Social Norms

8) Characters who violate social norms are often elements used to generate suspense in novels or short stories.  In the works of at least two writers you have studied, consider the roles played by such characters in generating suspense.

Austen and Atwood in their novels Pride and Prejudice and Oryx and Crake respectively, generate suspense by placing family-related characters that possess flawed characteristics leading them to violate social norms in their respective situations and creating conflict for the protagonist.

Austen and Atwood use characters that violate social norms such as Lydia and Jimmy´s mom respectively to generate suspense, characterizing them as naturally flawed and as blocking agents to the protagonist

1. Lydia

Lydia's flaw is mainly to be an attention drawer which leads her to break social norms for her to get married. Despite being the youngest sister she is the one that most ardently desires to find a husband as quickly possible. Comments such as," I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest"(chp 2), demonsate how she dosnet care how

 Elizabeth believes Lydia's " only encouragement [is]to attach herself to anybody"(chp 46), opposed to Elizabeth that wants a marriage based on love. Although they are sisters they have an indirect struggle

• Personality: untamed and fearless imprudent
• Youngest Bennet sister
• Result she violates "social norm" in those times where she runs away and marries Wickham
• "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest." chp 2
• " She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle's good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance." chp 9
• self-willed and careless chp 37
• We dressed up Chamberlayne in woman's clothes on purpose to pass for a lady, only think what fun! chp 39
• " Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself or her family ridiculous; a flirt, too, in the worst and meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond youth and a tolerable person; and, from the ignorance and emptiness of her mind, wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal contempt which her rage for admiration will excite. " chp 41
• The younger ones out before the elder ones are married! chp 29 Lady Catherine

2.Lydia Suspense. What will happen to the Bennets?

• Also she marries the liar bastard character
• Affect Elizabeth because in those times marriage is very important and such conduct influences the whole Bennet family
• She is the conflict occurs when Elizabeth and Darcy are about to happen, this may affect how Darcy may want to be with Lizzy
• Despite such suspense of what will happen to the family, Darcy once again is a gentleman and saves the day by helping pay the wedding in blah blah
• "I have just had a letter from Jane, with such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from anyone. My younger sister has left all her friends—has eloped; has thrown herself into the power of—of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him to—she is lost for ever." chp 46
• " Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, and fearless"chp 51
• I am only distressed by some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn. chp 46

3.Sharon

4.Sharon Suspense

• Leaves Jimmy causing him that the CorpSeCorps to constantly

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