Essay on Jane Austens Attitudes to Marriage in Persuasion

Jane Austens Attitudes to Marriage in Persuasion In Persuasion, marriage is one of the major themes of the novel, and Austens attitudes towards marriage are present in chapter four of the novel. The first episode in which we can examine Austens attitudes to marriage is in chapter four. In chapter four we must notice that there is no direct speech, which shows that all of the narration is Austen, with her views and opinions being presented to us. When talking of Mr. Wentworth, Austen says He was a remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit and brilliancy and of Anne an extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste and feeling. In a novel so concerned with wealth and status we must†¦show more content†¦Austen also comments ?Lady Russell, though with more tempered and pardonable pride, received it as a most unfortunate one.? Austen here shows that people can be misinformed, as for the majority of the time, Lady Russell?s opinions are sound and well informed. Austen adopts the tone of Lady Russell when speaking about Anne Elliot and views of the marriage; ?Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty, and mind, to involve herself at nineteen in an engagement with a young man who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence.? This judgement sounds as if it could be Lady Russell. By doing this Austen confirms that her judgements of Anne and her behaviour regarding Captain Wentworth is of value. This judgement does however, talk about marriages of class and wealth as being two of the most important factors concerning marriage. We can see that Lady Russell has Anne?s best interests at heart. Lady Russell advising Anne?s marital decisions echoes a quotation from Claire Tomalin?s ?Jane Austen, a life? where she says of Austen?s short novel ?Lady Susan?; ?She will try to force her daughter into marrying the man she has chosen for her, but will not be seen to bully her. She sends her to make ?good connections?, which shows how well she understands English society.? This concept can be applied to marriage inShow MoreRelatedPersuasion Analysis1270 Words   |  6 PagesIn Jane Austen’s Persuasion, unlike many of her previous works the protagonists involved are middle aged lovers; Anne and Wentworth, who struggled with love before. The narrator of the story has given up on Anne’s prospective of marriage, and so has Anne; however, knowing the conformist pattern of protagonists in her novels, the reader can expect the outcome of Anne’s relationship. 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