FREE INDIRECT THOUGHT
In the following passage from Lightning in May, John suspects for the first time that his wife may have tuberculosis. His reaction is expressed partly in direct speech introduced by verbs of manner (italicized) and partly in free indirect thought (underlined). By means of the latter, the writer or oral storyteller aims to represent the thoughts of a character. No reporting verb is used; indeed, there is no overt signal that the character’s, rather than the author’s, view or thought is being portrayed. What alerts us to the change of perspective is some ‘perspective-changing’ detail in the immediately preceding narrative – in this case ‘he opened the handkerchief’ and ‘he looked at her’:
‘Ruth,’ he breathed, ‘how long have you had this cough?’ He stood up and she followed. He opened the handkerchief again. There was no mistake. Silently he cursed himself. He saw her now in a completely different light. ‘How long?’ he demanded.
He looked at her then held her to him. It became bluntly clear to him now. The pale, tired face that was thinner; the droop of her body. All the symptoms that he had put down to her mental state had matured into a physical one. And now a cough. How could he have been so stupid? Yet he had to make sure.
‘Ruthy,’ he whispered. ‘Let’s get back to the surgery. I want Dr. Jenkins to see you.’
‘What is it, John?’ she queried.
(Gordon Parker, Lightning in May)
