The Study of Style as an Index of Personality

In the fifth part of “Some Ways of Studying Literature,” Hudson deals with ‘The Study of Style as an Index of Personality’. In common sense ‘style’ indicates the use of language in writing of literature. Many a times, while reading the literary work, we feel that “so and so must have written that.” We feel sure that no one else can put the things in this way. The reason behind this is that “the choice of words, the turn of phrases, the structure of sentences, their peculiar rhythm and cadence” has a direct link to the individuality of the writer.

Hudson cites the definitions of two writers to indicate how style is an index of writer’s personality. For Pope, style is “the dress of thought”, whereas for Carlyle, style is “not the coat of the writer, but his skin.” Hudson says that Pope failed to understand the organic character of the style. For him, style is something external form the writer which he can put on or take off at his will. Hudson says that style is not something external but it is the skin of the author from which he cannot be separated.  It is possible that during the initial stage of his career, a writer might follow another writer’s style but a stage comes when he moulds his own style. Hence it is rightly said that “every spirit builds its own house.”

Hudson agrees with Newman’s idea that style is the shadow of writer. Shadow follows the man wherever he goes; similarly style also follows the writer. Hudson also agrees with style is the personal use of language. He says that the throng and succession of ideas, thoughts, feelings, images, speculations which control the author finds the best expression in his own language. The personal experiences of a person cannot be other’s. Thus the personal use of language makes the style personal in outlook. Hudson makes it clear that majority of the men use the language of their time “as they find it” but a man of genius uses the language “to his own purposes, and moulds it according to his own peculiarities.”

The style is not only the living product of an author’s personality but also the transparent record of his intellectual, spiritual, and artistic growth. A careful observation of style will inform the reader of writer’s education, the influences that shaped him and mould his nature, the makers of his personality, the books he lived with, the development of his thoughts, his changing outlook upon the world and its problems, and, development of his creative genius and art. 

Thus, the style of writer makes the reader aware of his personality. Hence we can say that style is the index of writer’s personality.