Done by Ergasheva Mokhinur Group number 254

Done by Ergasheva Mokhinur

Group number 254

Course work on the novel “Persuasion” by Jane Austen

Introduction

The novel was well received in the early 19th century. Great fame came later in this century, continues in the 20th century, and up to the 21st century. A large scientific discussion on the work of Osten has since been published. Anne Elliot noted among Austin heroines for her relative maturity. As Belief is Osten’s last completed novel, she is perceived as her most mature mature novel, showing a refinement of the literary concept of an indicative woman approaching forty years old. Unlike Reason and Feeling and Pride and Prejudice, Belief was not rewritten from previous draft novels that Austin had originally begun before 1800. Her use of free indirect discourse in the narrative was over 1816 in full evidence.

The first edition of The Persuasion was jointly published with the previously unpublished Northanger Abbey at the end of December 1817 (1818, indicated on the title page), and the second two volumes of a set of four volumes, with a preface for the first time publicly identifying Ostn as the author of all her novels. Neither Northenger Abbey nor Persuasion was published under the working title Austen Used. Later editions were published separately.

Four television adaptation novels were made in the UK, starting in 1960 with a mini-series featuring Daphne Slater in Beliefs. Anne Ferbank starred next in the 1971 version with Brian Marshall; Amanda Routh played a major role in the 1995 version with the participation of Kiaran Hinds; and Sally Hawkins co-starred in 2007 with the participation of Rupert Penry-Jones and did for ITV1. Another was made in the USA in 1995.In a letter to his niece Fanny Knight in March 1817, Austin wrote of The Belief that she had a novel “which could appear in about twelve months, therefore.” John Murray published The Persuasion, along with the Northanger Abbey, complete with four volumes, printed in December 1817, but from 1818. The first advertisement appeared on December 17, 1817. The Austin family retained their copyrights for 1,750 copies, which are quickly sold.Henry Austen did not deliver a “Biographical Notification” to his sister, which reveals her identity, and she is no longer an anonymous author. Although readers of Belief may conclude that Osten intended “persuasion” to be the unifying theme of the story, the title of the book is not hers, but her brother Henry, who named him after her untimely death. Of course, the idea of persuasion goes through a book, with vignettes as part of the story, as variations on the subject. But there is no known source, documents that Osten intended to name his novel. Whatever her intentions might have been, she spoke of him as The Elliott, according to family tradition, and some critics believe that probably the name she planned for him.

On the other hand, literary critic Gillian Beer finds that Austin was deeply concerned about the levels and application of “persuasion” used in society, especially with regard to the pressure and choices faced by young women, her day. Beer writes that for Osten and her readers, persuasion is truly “fraught with moral hazard”; she notes, in particular, that Austen was personally shocked by what she came to consider as her own delusion of advice to her beloved niece Fanny Knight on the very question of whether Fanny should accept a particular fan, although that would mean a lengthy engagement. Beer writes: Jane Austen's anxieties about conviction and responsibility are passionately expressed here. She refuses to become part of the mechanism with which Fanny maneuvers herself in forming an engagement. In order to be an understudy motive of other people's actions scares her. But Jane Austen cannot escape some coaxing, even dissuader. Fanny eventually rejected her fiancé, and after the death of her aunt she married the others. Thus, beer explains Osten was well aware that the human quality of persuasion - to convince or to convince, right or wrong - is fundamental to the process of human communication, and that in her novel “Jane Austen gradually draws out the consequences of discriminatory“ simple ”and“ unfair ”persuasions ". Indeed, the story winds through a series of situations in which people are influential or try to influence other people - or themselves. Finally, beer draws attention to "the whole incubation of the novel about pressure from the authorities, temptations, as well as new ways open by Persuasion At the beginning of Persuasion, we learn about the history of the Elliot family, as set out in The Baronetcy, Sir Walter Elliot’s most treasured book. The Elliots are an old landowning family. Sir Walter lost his wife fourteen years before the beginning of the story, and he has three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. The youngest daughter, Mary, is married to Charles Musgrove, a son of a nearby old and genteel family. Sir Walter is deeply in debt as result of his tendency to lavishly overspend. Lady Russell, a close friend of the family, advises Sir Walter to reduce his spending. He horrified by this suggestion, as he feels it will be beneath him to live more simply. Soon, however, it is clear that there is no choice in the matter, and the family decides to rent out Sir Walter’s estate, Kellynch Hall, and relocate to rented accommodations in Bath. They quickly find suitable tenants for Kellynch Hall. Their names are Admiral and Mrs. Croft, and they are wealthy and polite. As can be easily gleaned from his name, the Admiral is an officer of the Navy. He and Mrs. Croft have a very happy marriage. While Sir Walter dislikes the Navy’s propensity for bringing “men of obscure birth into undue distinction,” he is happy with having the Admiral and his wife as tenants. The middle daughter, Anne Elliot, is eager to meet the Crofts, as she knows that Mrs. Croft is the sister of a man who proposed marriage to Anne in the past. She is still in love with him, but hasn’t seen him in several years. His name is Captain Frederick Wentworth. At the time he proposed, he wasn’t yet a captain and Lady Russell persuaded Anne to turn down the offer of marriage because he didn’t have enough money or a good enough social position. Anne hopes that she may be able to see Captain Wentworth again. Sir Walter leaves with Elizabeth and her friend Mrs. Clay (a widow and from a lower social class than the Elliot family) for Bath. Anne will go to Bath later, but first she visits her younger sister Mary at Uppercross Cottage. When Anne gets to Uppercross, she has the chance to spend a lot of time with the entire Musgrove family. Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove have three children: Mary’s husband, Charles, and two young ladies, Louisa and Henrietta. Anne admires how much affection the Musgroves have for their children, and finds the bustle of the household exciting. There is soon news that Captain Wentworth is now back from sea and is with his sister at Kellynch. Captain Wentworth becomes friends with Mr. Musgrove, and as a result the frequently visits Uppercross. Anne is excited to see him again, but his behaviour towards her seems quite detached and only polite. It appears that he likes Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove better. Anne feels she has to resign herself to the reality of having lost Captain Wentworth forever. Captain Wentworth suggests that they all enjoy a trip to Lyme to see his friends, the Harvilles. During this Lyme trip, Anne is noticed by an attractive gentleman who they later discover is Mr. Elliot, a cousin of Anne and the heir of Kellynch. The group embarks on a walk on the beach one morning. It is during this walk that Louisa is knocked unconscious in a terrible fall. Anna is able to keep a level head and takes a leadership role in taking care of Louisa. While the doctor says that Lousia will recover, she will need to stay in Lyme for several months. Captain Wentworth feels that it’s his fault that Louisa fell, and he does everything he can to help the Musgrove family. Anne goes back to Uppercross to assist Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove in taking care of their younger kids. After a few weeks pass, she departs to stay with Lady Russell. After Christmas, Anne and Lady Russell go to Bath to rejoin Anne’s father and Elizabeth. Anne isn’t looking forward to seeing her family, as she feels they will greet her with indifference. She finds, though, that while it’s certainly true that they do not care about her as they should, they seem quite happy to have her in Bath. While Anne is in Bath, she is formally introduced to Mr. Elliot, the man who looked at her admiringly in Lyme. Mr. Elliot is now on much better terms with his formally estranged uncle, Sir Walter Elliot. While Anne does wonder what Mr. Elliot’s movies might be in the sudden reconciliation, she does think that he is a charming gentleman. Mr. Elliot is noticeably attentive to Anne, and it is soon clear that he hopes that she will one day marry him. Anne comes in contact with an old school friend called Mrs. Smith who is also in Bath. She is a widow and is experiencing financial hardship. It is from Mrs. Smith that Anne finds out the Mr. Elliot has an alarming hidden past. It seems that he has treated Mrs. Smith badly and hopes to marry Anne only to make sure that he will be the sole heir of Kellynch and the baronetcy. Mr. Elliot is worried that Sir Walter will choose to marry Mrs. Clay and have a son with her, making him lose his inheritance and the title. He has created a plan to try to prevent this happening. Anne is horrified when she hears this. When the Crofts arrive in Bath, they bring news of two engagements. Henrietta is to marry Charles Hayter (her cousin) and much more surprisingly, Lousia will marry Captain Benwick. Captain Benwick is a gentleman she met in Lyme while she was recovering from her injury. Anne is happy to hear that Lousia is marrying someone other than Captain Wentworth, and that therefore the captain is free to marry someone else. Captain Wentworth soon makes his appearance in Bath. He is much wealthier than he was eight years earlier when he proposed to Anne, and it is because of this change of circumstance that he is admitted into Sir Walter Elliot’s social circle. The captain believes that Anne is attached to Mr. Elliot, and he becomes very jealous. He eventually writes a love letter to Anne in which he declares his continued love for her. He and Anne become engaged. Mr. Elliot is annoyed that this plan to convince Anne to marry him has been ruined. He decides to proceed with his plan to ruin Mrs. Clay’s chances to marry Sir Walter, by running away with her and ruining her reputation. This means that there is no longer any chance that Sir Walter will marry her. Both Lady Russell and Sir Walter approve of Anne’s engagement to Captain Wentworth Persuasion” like many of Jane Austen’s novels starts by introducing a family and character, in this case the Elliots and Sir Walter Elliot, before pushing them into a complex web of romantic pretenses or class-fueled disagreements. Sir Walter Elliot, a widower, must deal with the complexities associated with providing for his three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. While the Elliots are considered a distinguished, land-owning family, when the reader engages and ruminates over Sir Walter Elliot’s disposition towards money, his vanity and provinciality manifest. This creates a sense of hypocrisy and irony, as vanity erodes or contradicts the dignity associated with Sir Walter Elliot’s own sense of class identity. For instance, he balks at the suggestion of his advisor, Lady Russell, who suggests that he spend less to preserve the family’s estate, and he further judges the character of Admiral and Mrs. Croft - two of their new tenants - on the basis of the Admiral’s service in the Navy. To be clear, his judgment of the couple is one of skepticism because he believes that the Navy plays a role in elevating “men of obscure birth into undue distinction.” In this manner, class politics along with personal, familial, and romantic interests play an important role in the rising action and climatic resolutions in “Persuasion.”

The evil of Mrs. Clay’s marriage to Sir Walter lies in her inferior social class and obsequious character. It is also worth noting that any son born of such a marriage would immediately become the heir to Sir Walter’s baronetcy. Anne and Lady Russell agree that such a match should be prevented, though they continue to differ on their assessment of Mr. Elliot. As Anne grows more confident in her judgment and powers of discernment, she becomes more comfortable with disagreements between her and those she respects. She respects Mr. Elliot, but feels that his estimation of good company in terms of family connections to be misguided; she feels that good company is defined by good conversation more than rank. However, they both agree that Mrs. Clay is decidedly not good company for Sir Walter.As Anne has now arrived, Mrs. Clay suggests that perhaps she should leave Bath now but Elizabeth and Sir Walter insist that she stays. This causes Anne to worry even more that her father might be attached to Mrs. Clay. It still does not seem that Elizabeth thinks that this is at all possible. Lady Russell is annoyed by the situation, and she is vexed at the thought that Mrs. Clay could ever have any precedence over Anne in the Elliot household. Lady Russell finds Mr. Elliot charming and sensible. She believes that he is all that he should be and is pleasant, moderate, and correct in all of his opinions. She does not suspect what his real motives for reconnecting with the family might be. Anne believes that Mr. Elliot hopes to court Elizabeth. She comes to understand that there will be times that she will disagree with Lady Russell. It is soon understood that Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret have recently arrived in Bath. These are estranged cousins of the Elliot family, and Lady Dalrymple is nobility. It is her status that makes Sir Walter so eager about the possibility of renewing the family’s acquaintance with her. He knows that being associated with her will allow him to move in Bath’s best social circles. Anne is disappointed by the fact that Sir Walter and Elizabeth seem to be in awe of Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, thinking they should have more pride. Sir Walter sends a letter of apology to the Dalrymples, and he is forgiven. Anne is embarrassed by the fact that her family talks constantly of these relatives to everyone. She believes that Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret are uninteresting and unaccomplished, and she is not very interested in meeting them.Anne remains unsettled with Mrs. Clay’s constant presence in the Elliot home. One morning, she overhears Mrs. Clay saying to Elizabeth and Sir Walter that perhaps it is time for her to leave, now that Anne is living there. Elizabeth assures Mrs. Clay that there is no need for her to leave, and then she confides that she truly prefers Mrs. Clay to Anne. Sir Walter also confirms that Mrs. Clay has only been with them a short time and should not be leaving so soon. Later, when Anne is alone with her father, Sir Walter comments on Anne’s improved looks. He asks her if she is using any lotions. Anne answers in the negative; she has not been using anything. Sir Walter recommends a special cream, and he says he made the same offer to Mrs. Clay. Then Sir Walter suggests that Anne inspect Mrs. Clay’s complexion so she will see the effects this ointment has had. Mrs. Clay, Sir Walter tells Anne, no longer has any freckles. These incidents make Anne consider the possibility that her father might one day marry Mrs. Clay. Both her father and sister are very much affected by Mrs. Clay. If Elizabeth should marry first, then there would be no problem; Elizabeth would not be forced to find a place to live on her own. Anne believes she would live with Lady Russell if her father should marry. One day while speaking to Lady Russell, Anne realizes that she and Lady Russell do not have the same thoughts about Mr. Elliot. Lady Russell finds that Mr. Elliot has completely turned his character around. Now that Mr. Elliot is a widower, Lady Russell believes it is only natural that he would be seeking a new wife. She also thinks that the mistakes he made in the past were because of his youth. He has matured, and so naturally his character has improved. She forgives him for having turned his back on Elizabeth and the rest of the Elliot family. She also tells Anne that if Mr. Elliot should want to marry Elizabeth, that would be an excellent decision on his part. Anne, on the other hand, still thinks there is something suspicious in Mr. Elliot’s pursuit of Elizabeth. She still cannot figure out what he would gain in the marriage. Internally, Anne also berates Mr. Elliot for seeking a new wife so shortly after his first wife’s death. She believes he should spend more time in mourning. Despite her misgivings, Anne has to admit that she enjoys Mr. Elliot’s company. She knows no one else who is as pleasing to be around. She enjoys conversing with Mr. Elliot about Lyme. This is not to say that she enjoys everything about him. Mr. Elliot is obviously more concerned about social rank than Anne is. In this way, Mr. Elliot reminds...

The Elliots of Kellynch Hall, a family of minor nobility, are in financial trouble. Their sense of how important they are has long been larger than their bank account allows. The duct-tape patching job they've been doing on their finances is finally falling apart, so they come up with a last-ditch plan: move out of the ancestral mansion and rent out the place to someone else to increase their income. And so the Elliots move out, and the newly rich Admiral Croft and his wife move in. While the Crofts are total strangers to the Elliots, it turns out Mrs. Croft's brother, Captain Wentworth, is not. In fact, eight years ago Wentworth and the middle Elliot daughter, Anne, had hit it off so well that, after dating for a few months, they were already talking marriage. Wentworth's service in the navy, however, didn't give him enough steady income or social status to please Anne's family and her mentor, Lady Russell. Eventually Lady Russell persuaded Anne to break it off with Wentworth, and Anne has been kicking herself ever since. Meanwhile, Wentworth has struck it rich, but has never gotten back in touch. Back in the present, Anne's snobby dad Sir Walter, her equally snobby older sister Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's hanger-on Mrs. Clay head off to the fashionable town of Bath where they can show off more cheaply than at home. Anne goes to stay first with Lady Russell, and then with the youngest of the Elliot clan, Mary, who is married with children to Charles Musgrove. Things start to get more exciting (and more awkward) when Captain Wentworth comes to visit his sister. Not only is he still angry at Anne for dumping him, but he's doing some intense flirting with her cousin-in-law, Louisa Musgrove. Anne and the Musgroves go to the nearby seaside village of Lyme Regis with Wentworth to visit his old friend Captain Harville. As a bonus, they get to meet Harville's cheerful family and his depressed friend, Captain Benwick, who is working through the death of his fiancée by reading the saddest poetry he can find. A fun time is had by all (even Benwick seems to be enjoying himself once he finds out that Anne has read some of his favorite odes to depression), until Louisa tries to show off by leaping off a staircase into Wentworth's arms, but instead takes a headfirst dive into the pavement. While everyone else is staggering about like zombies, only Anne keeps her brains and gets Louisa medical attention. Louisa stays in bed at Lyme with the Harvilles to avoid knocking her brain about any further, while Anne goes with Lady Russell to see what her dad and sister have been up to in Bath. It turns out they've been making friends with one William Elliot (and yes, he's related to them). Mr. Elliot is going to inherit Kellynch Hall and the family title when Sir Walter dies. The last time the two Elliot branches met, bad stuff went down and they weren't talking to each other for a while, but now all seems to be fine and dandy. Elizabeth has her eye on Mr. Elliot, despite his having blown her off before, but Anne is the one he's interested in. Anne attends dreary rounds of parties where her family embarrasses her by sucking up to the next rank above them on the social ladder. Then she gets a letter from her sister Mary with the best gossip she's heard in years: Louisa is getting married! But not to Captain Wentworth (phew!). Louisa's brain has been jostled into a liking for poetry, and she and Captain Benwick are planning to make some sweet poetry of their own, leaving Captain Wentworth to look elsewhere for a wife. And that elsewhere he decides to look turns out to be the town of Bath, as Anne finds out when she runs into him one rainy morning when she is out shopping with Elizabeth, Mrs. Clay, and the attentive Mr. Elliot (who the local gossips are convinced is going to marry Anne). Wentworth and Anne cross paths again at a concert, where Anne realizes both that Wentworth is still madly in love with her – and that he's mad jealous of Mr. Elliot. Anne visits her old friend Mrs. Smith, who has some dirt to dish on Mr. Elliot: in short, he ruined her life and is a selfish hypocrite. Anne is relieved to have some ammo behind her if her family hassles her about wanting to marry Wentworth instead of Mr. Elliot. The next time Anne and Wentworth have an opportunity to exchange meaningful glances with each other, as star-crossed lovers tend to do, Anne tries to send him some signals under the radar that he should just propose (again). Apparently some of her signals get through, as Wentworth leaves her a note that basically says "I like you. Do you like me? Check Yes or No" (or it would, if Wentworth were a middle-school girl). Soon after, they run into each other on the street and finally manage to get all their misunderstandings sorted out. Marriage bells ring, even Lady Russell comes around, and all is well.

Analysis

We are introduced to the concept of place. Place can mean an individual’s position both geographically and in the social structure. These two questions are connected. Mr. Elliot argues that while if the Elliots were in London, their “present, quiet style of living” might make them relatively insignificant, in Bath they have the ability to socialize within prominent circles. Anne is offended by the idea that one’s location can determine one’s social worth. There is more nuance and complexity in her understanding of social standing. She feels that value comes not only from birth and wealth but also manners, accomplishments, and interests. The Elliot family is thought to be the very best in Somersetshire, while in Bath, they are beneath the Dalrymples. Anne sees the Dalrymples as uninteresting and unaccomplished, and she takes offence by the idea that they could be considered above her. Anne is very conscious of class. This is one reason why she is so horrified at the idea of having Mrs. Clay as a step-mother. Anne isn’t used to being seen as beneath anyone. In certain ways, she has even more pride than her sister and father. She is distressed by the idea that a respected, landed family like the Elliots should have to rent rooms in a city while it rents its ancestral home out to others. Anne dislikes how little her sister and father appear to be distressed by this. Austen apparently believes that it can be a positive thing to have a reasonable amount of pride, as long as it has its basis in true merit rather than only appearances.Anne hears that an old school friend of hers, Miss Hamilton now Mrs. Smith, is in Bath. After school, Mrs. Smith had married a rich man, but he was extravagant. Two years ago, he had died, leaving her a widow and deeply in debt. Soon afterwards, s he contracted rheumatic fever and was crippled by her illness. Anne decides that she must go visit her old friend, who is now almost entirely excluded from society. When she visits Mrs. Smith, she finds that her friend's good spirits and good manners have not left her, though she is now in an awful situation. Mrs. Smith makes a living by selling her needlework to the wealthier women of Bath. They re-establish their f riendship and Anne promises to visit often. One night, the Elliots receive an invitation to the Dalrymples' place, and Anne tells her family she must decline it because she has an engagement to visit Mrs. Smith. Sir Walter is horrified that Anne should be visiting such a poor neighborhood and is appalled that she chooses to associate with someone so much lower in consequence than herself. The dinner party allows Mr. Elliot and Lady Russell to talk. Mr. Elliot expresses his high regard for Anne's character, and Lady Russell becomes convinced that he means to court Anne and not Elizabeth. This decision pleases Lady Russell immens ely, as she would love to see Anne, her favorite, holding her mother's place as Lady Elliot of Kellynch Hall. She thinks Anne is just like her mother in disposition and virtue. Though Anne loves the idea of becoming the future Lady Elliot, she remains suspicious of Mr. Elliot's motives and character. She finds him agreeable, but neither warm nor open. Mrs. Smith is the first impoverished character in the novel, and she illustrates the extent to which women are dependent on numerous factors (primarily men) for their health, wealth, and rank. Further, as an impoverished and crippled widow, she is a social pariah The twelve years since they last saw each other have transformed Anne from a blooming, silent girl to an elegant woman with gentle and kind manners, while they have transformed Mrs. Smith from health and confidence to poor, infirm widowhood. She now sells needlework for a living and attended by a nurse, who brings her gossip. Nonetheless, Mrs. Smith’s trials have not dispelled her good sense and spirits. Anne marvels at her resilience and attributes her joy to an “elasticity of mind,” which enables her to find comfort, positivity, and employment even in the midst of hardship. As women in patriarchal England, both are indebted to factors outside of their control or merit for their current situation. Mrs. Smith was once wealthy, married, and healthy; her fall in fortune has precipitated from the disaster of her husband’s death and illness. Yet Austen also suggests that elasticity of mind such as Mrs. Smith’s may cultivate resilience in all circumstances—another tribute to the virtue of flexible dispositions over fixed wills. When Anne turns down a dinner invitation with the Dalrymples because of a previously arranged visit to Mrs. Smith, Sir Walter and Elizabeth discover their renewed friendship with disdain. They feel such a connection to be degrading. That Sir Walter and Elizabeth include Mrs. Clay in their intimate circle but scorn Mrs. Smith, both widows, reveals a degree of inconsistency and lack of discernment in assessing good company, privileging wealth merely for wealth’s sake. Lady Russell later reports to Anne that Mr. Elliot displayed the highest regard for her during dinner. He finds her a most extraordinary young woman, and admires her compassionate visits to Mrs. Smith. Lady Russell has become convinced that his interest is in Anne, not Elizabeth; she is greatly pleased by the suitability of such a match and would love to see Anne succeed her mother as Lady Elliot of Kellynch Hall. However, while Anne finds Mr. Elliot agreeable and sensible, she distrusts his past; he is neither open nor warm, and is too generally pleasing to everyone. Lady Russell’s persuasive power over Anne has diminished with time, as Anne in her maturity trusts her own discernment more. Although the pull of duty and love embodied in the vision of holding her mother’s aristocratic title is still strong for Anne, she also perceives qualities in Mr. Elliot that make her reluctant to marry him. Anne finds out that Mrs. Smith (who used to be Miss Hamilton) is now in Bath. She is an old school friend of hers. Mrs. Smith married a wealthy but extravagant man. He died two years ago, and she is now a widow and deeply in debt. Shortly after this, Mrs. Smith became ill with rheumatic fever. This illness crippled her. Mrs. Smith’s illness and poverty has caused her to be excluded from society. Anne decides that she will visit her. When Anne goes to see Mrs. Smith, she finds that her friend still has her pleasant manner and good spirits. This is all the more admirable given the stressful situation she is in. Mrs. Smith earns money by selling her needlework to wealthy women in Bath. Anne promises to visit again soon. An invitation from Lady Dalrymple arrives one evening. Anne informs her family that she will have to decline it as she must visit Mrs. Smith instead. Sir Walter is disgusted that Anne should visit in such a poor neighborhood and that she wants to associate with someone with so little consequence. Mr. Elliot and Lady Russell talk at the dinner party. Lady Russell becomes convinced that Anne is the object of Mr. Elliot’s interest rather than Elizabeth. She is pleased by this, as nothing would make her happier to than to see Anne as Lady Elliot of Kellynch Hall, like her mother. Lady Russell thinks that Anne closely resembles her mother in virtue and disposition. Even though it cannot be denied that Anne is attracted by the idea of being Lady Elliot, she maintains her suspicion of Mr. Elliot’s character and motivation. She doesn’t find him to be very open or warm in nature. One of the most important features of Austen novels is their use of irony. Irony occurs when the truth is hidden not to deceive but rather to achieve artistic or rhetorical effects. In Austen’s novels, we see irony used to hint at deep observations on customs and social life. It is ironic that Captain Benwick chooses to propose to Louisa, as they’re a very unlikely match. Yet the fact that the engagement takes place suggests that there are many different kinds of marriages. We learn that not every couple resembles Anne and Captain Wentworth, who are perfectly matched in temperament. Instead, people sometimes choose their marriage partner based on something they are searching for at a particular point in their lives. Louisa and Captain Benwick are both in rather vulnerable and needy situations. Louisa is recovering from her accident, while Captain Benwick is still getting over his fiancee’s death. While Austen clearly finds amusement in this match, she doesn’t automatically disapprove of an engagement made in these kinds of conditions. We see that Austen’s irony works to highlight her skepticism on the topic of true love. It is obvious that the connection shared by Anne and Captain Wentworth is extremely rare, and we see the practical needs of finding someone who has a good fortune and will make you tolerably happy. Love can be a question of shared learning, not just shared passion. The perils women face in a society where their social position is able to change so drastically are evident in Mrs. Smith’s situation. The death of her husband has led her to fall drastically in consequences and rank. This is an instance of how cruel a strongly class-based society can be. Mrs. Smith is crippled and poor and is almost entirely without friends. Not many people are willing to visit her at her lodgings. The fact that Anne is willing and eager to visit her shows that she has the strength of character to look past social rank, as well as independence of mind. The main character of the novel, Anne Elliot, is a 27-year-old 'spinster' who is intelligent and warm. Her father, Sir Walter Elliot, is a very vain man who, though a baronet, holder of a hereditary title, finds himself in dire financial straits and in risk of losing their home, Kellynch Hall. Anne has an older sister, Elizabeth, who is silly and also unmarried. Their anxious younger sister, Mary, is married to Charles Musgrove of Uppercross Hall, the son of a local squire, or village leader.Anne was once engaged to a sailor, Captain Frederick Wentworth, but she broke off the engagement because her family and friends disapproved of the match. Because of her father's spending, the family must rent out their home to Captain Wentworth's sister and brother-in-law, Sophia and Admiral Croft. Sir Walter and Elizabeth move to the resort town of Bath, while Anne remains at Uppercross with Mary and the Musgroves, Charles's family. Captain Wentworth appears in Uppercross to visit his sister and interacts with the Musgroves, and, inevitably, Anne. Anne's feelings toward Captain Wentworth are complicated, and he is distant with her at first. Charles's sisters, Henrietta and Louisa, flirt openly with Captain Wentworth, and everyone is sure he will marry one of them, even though Henrietta is already engaged to Charles Hayter, a local clergymen, and her cousin. The group takes a trip to Lyme, a city by the sea, to visit one of Captain Wentworth's old shipmates, Captain Harville. While there, Anne meets Captain James Benwick, a dark man who recently lost his fiancée. Anne and Captain Benwick share a similar love of poetry and become friends. In Lyme, Anne also briefly meets Mr. William Elliot, her cousin and the heir to Kellynch Hall. Anne's flirtation with both men is noticed by Captain Wentworth, who continues his own flirtation with Louisa. One day, Louisa is joking around with Captain Wentworth and has a serious fall, which results in a concussion. She has to stay behind in Lyme to recover, and Captain Wentworth, who blames himself for encouraging her, stays with her, while Anne travels to Bath to be with her father and sister.In Bath, Anne reconnects with Mr. Elliot, who is there to seemingly reconcile with Sir Walter. Elizabeth thinks Mr. Elliot is in love with her, but Lady Russell, a long-time family friend, knows that he is in love with Anne. Anne, however, does not like Mr. Elliot and is suspicious of him. Sophia and Admiral Croft also come to Bath and tell Anne that Louisa is engaged to Captain Benwick, which surprises and also relieves Anne, who believed Captain Wentworth and Louisa would marry. Captain Wentworth arrives soon after and tries to renew his friendship with Anne, although he is jealous of Mr. Elliot's flirtation with her. The baronet of Kellynch Hall, Sir Walter Elliot, lives with his daughters Elizabeth and Anne. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, has overseen the affairs of Kellynch Hall since her mother’s death thirteen years ago. Sir Walter feels closest to Elizabeth, who shares his values and good looks. Anne’s opinion is valued very little. As for the youngest daughter Mary, she lives with the Sir Walter Elliot is a conceited man, vain of both his good looks and his title. He lives at his country seat, Kellynch Hall, with two of his daughters, Elizabeth and Anne. Elizabeth, handsome and much like her father, is the oldest and her father’s favorite. Anne, sweet, self-effacing, and quietly intelligent, is ignored and underrated by both. Mary, the youngest daughter, is married to an agreeable young man named Charles Musgrove; they live in an untidy house at Uppercross, three miles from Kellynch Hall. Living beyond his means had brought financial disaster to Sir Walter. On the advice of his solicitor and of a family friend, Lady Russell, he is persuaded to rent Kellynch Hall and take a smaller house in Bath. Anne would have preferred to take a modest house near home, but as usual, her father and sister have their way in the matter. Reluctantly, Sir Walter lets his beloved country seat to Admiral Croft and his wife, who is the sister of a former suitor of Anne, Captain Frederick Wentworth. Anne and Captain Wentworth had fallen in love when they were both very young, but the match had been discouraged. Anne’s father felt that the young man’s family was not good enough for his own, and Lady Russell considered the engagement unwise because Captain Wentworth had no financial means beyond his navy pay. Anne had followed their advice and broken the engagement, but Wentworth had advanced and became rich in the navy, just as he had said he would. Anne, now twenty-seven years old, has not forgotten her love at age nineteen, and no one else has taken Captain Wentworth’s place in her affection. With all arrangements completed for the renting of Kellynch Hall, Sir Walter, Elizabeth, and her friend, Mrs. Clay, are off to Bath. Before they depart, Anne warns Elizabeth that Mrs. Clay’s is not a disinterested friendship and that she is scheming to marry Sir Walter if she can. Elizabeth will not believe such an idea, nor will she agree to dismiss Mrs. Clay. Anne is to divide her time between her married sister, Mary Musgrove, and Lady Russell until Christmas. Mary and her family also live near her husband’s father and mother and their two daughters, Henrietta and Louisa. During her visit to the Musgroves, Anne meets Captain Wentworth again while he is staying with his sister at Kellynch Hall. She finds him little changed in eight years. Because the Musgroves take the Crofts and Captain Wentworth into their circle immediately, the captain and Anne meet frequently. He is coldly polite to Anne, but his attentions to the Musgrove sisters lead Mary to begin matchmaking. She cannot decide, however, whether he prefers Henrietta or Louisa. When Louis a encourages Henrietta to resume a former romance with a cousin, Charles Hayter, it seems plain that Louisa is destined for Captain Wentworth. Further events increase the likelihood of such a match. During a visit to friends of Captain Wentworth at Lyme Regis, Louisa suffers an injury while the captain is assisting her in jumping down a steep flight of steps. The accident is not his fault, for he had cautioned Louisa against jumping, but he blames himself for not refusing her firmly. Louisa is taken to the home of Captain Wentworth’s friends, Captain and Mrs. Harville and Captain Benwick. Quiet, practical, and capable during the emergency, Anne has the pleasure of knowing that Captain Wentworth relies on her strength and good judgment, but..

Main Characters

Anne Elliot

The novel's protagonist, Anne Elliot is the middle daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, a landed baronet from a socially important family. Quiet and reserved, yet clever and practical, Anne sees the foolishness in her father's lavish spending. Because she is neither the most beautiful nor the most image-conscious of his daughters, Sir Walter often overlooks Anne, slights her, and dismisses her opinions. Though Anne seeks love, she is conscious of her duty to her position and the prudence of making a suitable match. Seeking to please those around her, in her youth, she was persuaded from following her true desires. In contrast to both of her two sisters and to the other young female characters in the novel, Anne is level-headed, considerate of others, and humble. She balances duty and passion in a composed and respectful way.

Read an in-depth analysis of Anne Elliot.

Captain Frederick Wentworth

The object of Anne's affections, Captain Wentworth is a gallant Naval officer who, well-educated and well-mannered, has made his own fortunes by climbing the Naval ranks. He values constancy, practicality, and firmness of mind in women, characteristics that will make a good Navy wife. Though Captain Wentworth is almost universally liked and respected for his gentle nature and kind attentions to others, Sir Walter disdains him for his 'lower' birth.

Read an in-depth analysis of Captain Frederick Wentworth.

Sir Walter Elliot

The father of Anne Elliot, baronet, and owner of Kellynch Hall, Sir Walter is a caricature of the impractical titled upper classes. Extraordinarily vain, Sir Walter lines his dressing room with mirrors, and agrees to be seen in public only with attractive or well-born people. Conscious of keeping up grand appearances, Sir Walter spends lavishly, and brings his family into debt. A poor judge of character, he is easily fooled by those who would take advantage of him.

Read an in-depth analysis of Sir Walter Elliot.

Elizabeth Elliot

The eldest daughter of Sir Walter and the older sister of Anne, Elizabeth Elliot is her father's favorite. Like her father, she is vain and primarily concerned with keeping up appearances and associating with important people. At the end of the novel, Elizabeth is the only one of the Elliot daughters to remain single, there being no one of adequate birth to suit her taste.

Mr. William Elliot

Anne Elliot's cousin, and heir to Kellynch Hall, Mr. William Elliot is a smooth talker who everyone agrees is "perfectly what he ought to be." Only six months after the death of his first wife, and at the end of a marriage that was generally known to be unhappy, Mr. Elliot is searching for a new bride. Good- looking and well-mannered, Mr. Elliot talks his way back into the good graces of Sir Walter, yet Anne questions his true motives.

Mary Elliot Musgrove

The youngest Elliot sister, Mary is married to Charles Musgrove and has two small boys. She is high strung, often hysterical, and always aware of the imagined slights others have done to her. A rather inattentive mother, Mary focuses on social climbing.

Charles Musgrove

Mary's husband, and heir to the great house at Uppercross, Charles is a relatively good-natured man who patiently endures his wife's trials. He would have preferred to marry Anne Elliot.

Louisa Musgrove

Charles's younger sister, Louisa is young, accomplished, and headstrong. She falls easily in love and admires the Navy excessively.

Henrietta Musgrove

Younger sister of Charles and older sister of Louisa, Henrietta is also young and fun-loving. Though she is not as decisive as Louisa, Henrietta sees the charms both of her cousin Charles Hayter and of the dashing Captain Wentworth.

Mr. & Mrs. Musgrove

The parents of Charles, Henrietta, and Louisa, the Musgroves have provided a balanced, happy home for their children at Uppercross. They are a landed family, second in rank in the parish only to the Elliot

s. They are practical, and want only happiness for their children.

Charles Hayter

Cousin to the Musgroves (his mother is the sister of Mrs. Musgrove), the Hayter family is nevertheless enmeshed in a much lower social circle because of their 'inferior, retired, and unpolished way of living.' Charles Hayter, the eldest son, however, chose to be a scholar and a gentleman, and consequently has much more refined manners. He will one day inherit his family's land, and he hopes to court his cousin Henrietta and make her his wife.

References

Irvine, Robert Jane Austen, London: Routledge, 2005 p.81.

^ Tomalin, Claire (1997). Jane Austen: A Life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 256. ISBN 0-679-44628-1.

^ Irvine, Robert (2005). Jane Austen. London: Routledge. p. 81. ISBN 978-0415314343.

^ Jump up to:a b c d Irvine, Robert (2005). Jane Austen. London: Routledge. p. 82. ISBN 978-0415314343.

^ Jump up to:a b Kelly, Gary "Religion and Politics" pages 149-169 from The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austenedited by Edward Copeland and Juliet McMaster, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 page 159.

^ Jump up to:a b Kelly, Gary "Religion and Politics" pages 149–169 from The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austenedited by Edward Copeland and Juliet McMaster, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 page 159.

^ Irvine, Robert (2005). Jane Austen. London: Routledge. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0415314343.

^ Wiltshire, John "Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion" pages 58–83 from The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austenedited by Edward Copeland and Juliet McMaster, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 page