Language and Meaning

Since this novel took place in the early part of the 19th century, the author used some of the linguistic tendencies of that era. Still, it was mixed with language used today so a reader felt the uniqueness of the time but didn't have a hard time reading it. This is shown in sentences such as the one in which Penelope considered her husband. The sentence describing him talked about his rakish and mischievous ways and called him a good and noble man. In the novel, when the men swear they use words like "bloody." It shocked everyone when men swore in the company of women or when women themselves swore.