6+ Reasons: Why Doesn't Sally Rooney Use Quotes?

why doesn't sally rooney use quotation marks

6+ Reasons: Why Doesn't Sally Rooney Use Quotes?

The absence of conventional dialogue markers, such as quotation marks, in Sally Rooney’s novels is a distinctive stylistic choice. This technique eschews the traditional method of signaling direct speech, presenting conversations without the visual cues typically employed to separate dialogue from narrative prose. For instance, instead of writing “I agree, she said,” Rooney might write “I agree she said,” merging the spoken words seamlessly into the surrounding text.

This stylistic decision yields several effects. It can create a sense of immediacy and intimacy, drawing the reader closer to the characters’ thoughts and interactions. The removal of visual interruptions allows for a smoother, more fluid reading experience, mirroring the natural flow of thought and conversation. Furthermore, the lack of traditional markers can blur the lines between internal monologue and external dialogue, reflecting the often ambiguous and subjective nature of communication. Historically, this technique aligns with a modernist tradition of stream-of-consciousness writing, prioritizing psychological realism over strict adherence to conventional grammatical structures.

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