Literary conventions in Jane Austen & Charlotte Bronte?

Question: Literary conventions in Jane Austen & Charlotte Bronte!?

I just finished "Pride & Prejudice" and now I'm reading "Jane Eyre" and I've noticed that both authors use an odd convention!. When they're talking about a certain place, they might write -------shire, as if they'd omitted the actual name of the shire!. also, when speaking about a certain person, they might say Mr!. ------------!. What's up with this and why do they do it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I asked an English professor this when I was in college and she said that it's a "one size fits all" kind of thing!. The readers could substitute the names of people and places they knew and make the story more realistic to them!.
also, it would be a more believeable story if people's names were blanked out like the authors were trying to protect privacy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I read "The Color Purple" last summer, and I noticed the same occurence!. Alice Walker called the main character Celie's husband Mr!. _______!. Since Mr!. _______ is very cruel to Celie, I interpreted the convention as indicating that Celie's husband was not worthy of a name, because he was so cruel and low!. However, I'm not quite sure of the situations in "Pride and Prejudice" and "Jane Eyre!."

Sorry I don't know more, but I hope my input somewhat helped!. :)Www@QuestionHome@Com

It was very common in eighteenth and nineteenth century novels, and not only in English literature, but in other European traditions as well!.Www@QuestionHome@Com