A Connection Deeper than Most...

In the article "Jane Austen Changes Her Mind" Austen scholar Christopher Clausen questions the change of values shown in Persuasion. He argues that Austen had begun to realize the value of making a suitable match based on love and mutual compatibility rather than a marriage based on the social standards,which were evident in her earlier novels. In my opinion, however, that Austen's redefined her stories came from a certain point of her life that altered her previous views.

Through the study of her letters written to her family, Jane Austen herself was viewed in a role in social class, sometimes not as a writer. A neighboring friend of the Austen family, Mary Russell Mitford, prompted by a letter written to her from a Miss Hinton, passed along her view of Jane Austen's reputation in society to a baronet, Sir William Elford. She wrote, "...she was no more regarded in society than a poker or a fire or a fire screen or any other thin, upright piece of wood or iron that fills its corner in peace and quiet." It was noted that the author of such a remark was sister-in-law to a man who was in a lawsuit with Jane Austen's brother over an inheritance. However, individuals whose only purpose is to categorize each person in society had taken its hold on Austen, and its voice is heard through Anne Elliott in Austen's last novel Persuasion. This may be the reason for Austen's letter to her sister in which she writes about the character of Anne simply saying "She is almost too good for me" (Chapman 487).

Austen's final heroine, Anne Elliott, portrays the evolution Austen went through to achieve the conclusion in Persuasion of social justice and individual acceptance of others in different classes. Anne's initial "persuasion" to partially succumb to the influence of the aristocratic society lessens as she begins to fully comprehend the value of the emotional wealth of true friends, and moreover, true love. As she reunites with Captain Wentworth, of her own desire and not by her family's influence, she discovers that her high society family is inferior in every aspect.

The parallel of Anne's growth as a compassionate woman, to Austen's growth as a compassionate writer is felt immensely through the novel. To value virtue over vanity, cultural and class diversity over conformity is to be free from the narrow confines of the ignorant mind. This is ultimately Austen's powerful message.

Bennett vs. Elliott

As you know, Jane Austen’s female characters are known for their admirable qualities and strong morals. Although Anne Elliott has been a women with a consistent strength throughout the book, she is often seen as weak because of her demure manner. As opposed to the other heroines of Austen’s works, Anne Elliott is the most submissive. Looking at another work of Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice) the protagonist of this work is far more dominant than Elliott. Elizabeth Bennett, who is the main character of Pride and Prejudice, is infamous for her courage in mind and quick assertions about people. In the book, she frequently speaks her opinion, even if she comes from a poor family, and demonstrates her own authority through witty banter.

Even when she faces strong opposition, she never doubts her own opinion, which is often mistaken for pride. At the time a woman’s ability to hold her opinions true was always considered obstinate. Elliot and Elizabeth’s nature also contrasts because of the different environment they grew up in. Elizabeth came from a poor background, (as mentioned earlier in the blog) and because and she tried to defend herself from being mistreated, she is known for being stubborn and defensive. By being a female and of the lower class, she needs find these strengths to defend herself from society. As a poor woman, she was always thought of as inferior to others. In comparison to Elizabeth, Anne comes from an upper-class. Her background allows her to be less defensive on the outside, but Jane Austen empowered her by giving her a more subtle might. Anne is considered weak in comparison to other characters because she is constantly conforming to her family’s ideals on what a rich woman needs to act like, but she later defies this and gains her own strength through her own desires.

In these two genius works by Jane Austen, women are empowered by their environments, and social classes. If Elizabeth were to be called the “stronger” one of the two, then the reader doesn’t know how ardent Elliott is in the inside.

On the Verge of Extinction....

This is a bit of a precaution, but today's post would be on a lesser focus on Anne and more of the society during this era. To give a little context, I was researching further on the book when I stumbled on a list of discussion questions. I skimmed through them pretty quickly, but I saw one that really struck me, “What value is placed on titles and the aristocracy?”

Let me tell you that my very being tingled with the anticipation of answered such a question, I just hope that it won’t be too long (Sorry Timmy…)

In Persuasion, Jane Austen compares three different types of characters and demonstrates how old traditions are being replaced by more ‘modern minds’. The three categories included; the people of high birth (like the Elliott’s), the rising middleclass who are rich (the Musgrove’s), and then there is another set of people who create their own fortune: the naval families.

Now, the Elliott’s represent the old traditional money and rank. This family is a perfect representation of how new ideas replace the out dated assumptions of society. The Elliott’s have depleted their fortunes but continue to live a lifestyle they cannot afford. By losing Kellynch, Sir Walter demonstrates how the old high birth family no longer held the power or influence of the past. They are effete and extravagant to the point where they are ‘not much educated, and not at all elegant’. The high class family live empty lives where ranking and appearances matter more than keeping finances in check. However, these families are quickly dying out as many other families follow in their footsteps. This shows how society no longer places enormous value on rank or titles, since the Kellynch Hall had to be rented to tenants, who coincidently, were the brother-in-law Admiral Croft (and his wife) of Captain Wentworth.

The second class becomes more dominate in society. This family, the Musgrove’s, do have the finical support but not the title to enforce it. This was certainly a difficult time to move up into the ranks as many of the old money refuse to accept the new money folks. Thus, to ensure a doorway into that society, many of the new money sought marriages to those of high class families. And since many of them did not have their fortunes anymore, marriage didn’t seem to such a farfetched idea. In the novel, the youngest of the Elliot daughters had in fact married for much of the same reasoning. However, the marriage had set backs as the new money folks saw themselves rising and the old saw themselves plummeting. Sir Walter’s appreciation for his children rides heavily on his own values, thus when Mary married she “acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs. Charles Musgrove…” (p. 598) As a result, many of the higher families felt as if they were being pulled down from their high rankings to the low classes. As the separation between the old money and new money became harder and harder to separate, the emergence of a new class set fire to many of the assumptions.

With their vigor, bravery, friendliness and loyalty to one another Anne find the naval families bewitching. "Only they know how to live" (p.763), she believes. In Persuasion, there are a number of naval families introduced but the Wentworth’s are an example of the rising influence the Navy has gained. This was influenced by Jane Austen’s own life, as England was at war with Napoleon during the events in the novel. Basically, the war provided the means for the Navy to obtain power and wealth. As a result the naval men return to the sea regularly, Admiral Croft had even commented that Wentworth’s courtship would have to be short because, “We [the] sailors, Miss Elliot, cannot afford to make long courtships in time of war’ ” (p. 638) The sea savvy men of this novel had not only portray a quickly developing class but also demonstrates admirable traits for society to follow. When a carriage driven by Admiral Croft comes perilously close to hitting a post, Mrs. Croft grabs the carriage reins from him and prevents the carriage from crashing. The narrator comments, "by coolly giving the reins a better direction herself...they neither fell into a rut, nor ran foul of a dung-cart." (p.638) Mrs. Croft displayed a controversial picture of female strength. Since women weren’t allowed to ride with the men, who steered the carriage, the fact that Sophia Croft sat with her husband and at one point, had taken the reins from him shows the complete trust and love this man places in his wife. The naval family was a representation of a class that did not find in necessary to mold themselves to the original image of a naval officer, but to one that live life to the fullest and worked hard for their gains.

To sum it all up, out of all three classes, the naval one had proved to be the most admirable. However, they hold the least rank and power in comparison to the other two classes. In reality, most naval officers lived lives that would be very similar to the peasants. Unless you have high ranking, which is gained through paying the commissions for status (and it’s pretty pricey), naval and regular soldiers don’t receive much assets from their occupation. Thankfully, this class emerged during the war with Napoleon and the need for Navy and its subordinates was endless. In Persuasion, Jane Austen has painted the role of the naval families as the most commendable to follow. She is basically showing the declining importance of rank and title in society for a more favorable one.

*Wow, that was a long post…I think I may have been off topic and there are probably plenty of mistakes but at the moment, I don’t care. It doesn’t really focus on Anne but more of a theme of the book. But to my reader (mainly Timmy), did the separation of the three classes better society or worsen it? Do you think that the naval family was the correct class to admire or is there another one you find more deserving?