The Character Network in Liviu Rebreanu’s Ion: A Quantitative Analysis of Dialogue

Abstract

This study revisits what is widely considered “the first modern novel” in Romanian literature, Liviu Rebreanu’s Ion, from a network theory perspective. Isolating the dialogue and quantitatively analysing the interventions of every character and their interactions in the fictional world, it provides a blueprint for the exploration of social and personal dynamics between characters. In recent years, rural literature in Romania has undergone a recontextualization process. Following in the footsteps of these approaches, our research provides the first character network of Ion and outlines who talks, how much, and to whom. It also explores how differences in social class influence speaking time or the structure of the individual discourses, taking an in-depth look at the relationship between and roles of the two characters who talk most.