What is Free Indirect Discourse? Examples

 What Is Free Indirect Discourse—and How Can It Elevate Your Writing?

In the art of composition, it is no small difficulty to convey the sentiments and internal struggles of such persons without resorting to overt exposition. Yet there exists a method by which an writer may accomplish this task: the use of free indirect discourse. This narrative device, by which the thoughts and feelings of a character are related in a way that permits the author to maintain the illusion of omniscience (the all-knowing narrator) while at the same time providing insight into the private and even unspoken thoughts of a character, is one of the most sophisticated literary techniques. As an example, the following excerpt from Pride and Prejudice may be offered for the your consideration. In it, Jane Austen offers this moment of reflection from Elizabeth Bennet after an uncomfortable exchange with Mr. Darcy:

“She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd.”

 -- Chapter 36 of Pride and Prejudice

Here, we are not told Elizabeth thought herself absurd, nor are we given the scene through direct internal monologue. Instead, Austen allows us to dwell within Elizabeth, to see what she sees and feel what she feels. The judgment rendered—"blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd"—is Elizabeth’s own, but the rhythm and syntax retain a detached quality that prevents the reader from feeling as though they are being forced to view the world through a particular lens. Indeed, the effect is the opposite. As readers, we are drawn deeper into the moment and, consequently, deeper into the character. This, then, is the subtle genius of free indirect discourse: it allows the author to maintain a third-person narrator while simultaneously giving the reader a sense of being an intimate party to a character. 

Yet the artistry of free indirect discourse is not confined to matters of romance! It may be employed with equal grace to colour even the description of a house. Consider, for instance, the arrival at Barton Cottage in Sense and Sensibility:

"As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were the walls covered with honeysuckles."

-- Chapter 6 of Sense and Sensibility

What begins as a neutral observation quickly transforms into a reflection of the characters' inner thoughts. Though the narrator never declares, “they were disappointed,” the contrast between the ideal of a quaint, romantic cottage and the reality of Barton Cottage becomes evident as the reader is drawn into the characters' minds. We see, through the narrator, what is there: a small comfortable, compact, regular house. But then the narrator leads us, in turn, to see what the characters themselves see: a building that does not live up to expectations.  

As a somewhat indulgent and entirely unashamed demonstration of free indirect discourse, I offer the following excerpt from one of my WIPs. Admittedly, it is a bit of a self-serving exercise—after all, what better way to illustrate a technique than by shamelessly showcasing my own writing?

"Miss Fairfax's plans for the next day were laid out with more than usual caution and deliberation, and she provided herself with every necessary accessory for being smart, without excessive ornament, in case she should have the happiness of meeting Mr. Frank Graham. When she came to look over her wardrobe, she found that almost every thing was either marked, old, or seedy; and nothing presented itself in the light of being particularly pretty, except some lace which had been the work of many hours, and which she had never dared to wear because it was too valuable to trifle with. This, however, she resolved to fix on her dress—and it was put on with the pleasure of knowing that she would appear to advantage."

This passage is a good demonstration of FID because, even though the narrative is in the third person, we get a direct window into Miss Fairfax’s thoughts and feelings. For example, the fact that she lays out her plans "with more than usual caution" and chooses accessories "in case she should have the happiness of meeting Mr. Frank Graham" shows her emotional investment in the idea of meeting him, without directly saying, "Miss Fairfax hopes to meet him." It allows the reader to feel her quiet excitement and attention to detail, all while still maintaining the third-person narrative.

IN SUMMARY:

• Free Indirect Discourse (FID) is a narrative technique that allows the third-person narrator to blend seamlessly with a character’s inner thoughts and feelings, offering an intimate perspective without overt exposition or direct internal monologue.

• You use it in instances when you want to show a character's emotions or perceptions indirectly, letting readers experience their thoughts and feelings without explicitly stating them.