Social Class

" She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than its national importance" (Austen, 203).

Anne chose her own happiness over that of her position in society. Society has been the major theme of this novel, and we now get to see how the author herself values social class. Austen has showed that it is better to lead a happy life then lead a proper one.

Michaelmas

"'In general she has been in very good health, and very good looks since Michaelmas'" (Austen, 115).

Michaelmas is a feast celebrating St. Michael the Archangle. Austen is showing the reader that her characters are somewhat religious, and she is connecting the readers back into the time setting of her novel. Austen is also stating that religion is an important part of society and that religion can affect ones place in it. The highest members of society are all religious (the king is the head of the church) and the higher one climbs, the more religious they must become.

Links:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379920/Michaelmas

Mr. Elliot

" A very fine woman, with a large fortune, in love with him! Sir Walter seemed to admit it as a complete apology..." ( Austen, 113).

Mr. Elliot had been the heir to Anne's fathers estate, and had been exiled from the family when he had disgraced himself by marrying outside of his class. His wife had died, and now that he was free of her, Sir Walter was prepared to forgive him and welcome him home with open arms. This shows that the most disappointing thing one could do was to socially disgrace their family. Austen is again strengthening her theme of society by hinting that the boundaries of society should not be followed if the consequence is sacrificing what one believes in or their happiness.

Camden-place

" Their house was undoubtedly the best in Camden-place" (Austen, 112).

Camden-place in Bath was a place of high society living. Only people of a certain class were accepted into Camden-place with open arms. This shows that although Anne's family was in debt, they had not become social outcasts. Austen is connecting her theme of high society back into the readers mind, since Anne's absence has disconnected her from her families customs and obligations.

Links:

http://www.tuktuktours.co.uk/history.htm

Walking

" Anne and Henrietta, finding themselves the earliest of the party the next morning, agreed to stroll down to the sea before breakfast..." (Austen, 85).

Walking has been an almost constant activity of Anne in this novel. Not only does it characterize Anne, but it is also an important motif. It symbolizes the future, while the characters themselves think of the past. Anne will have to find her way through this turmoil(walking while lost) in order to find true happiness and peace.

Love

" Yes,- he had done it. She was in the carriage, and felt that he had placed her there, that his will and his hands had done it, that she owed it to his perception of her fatigue, and his resolution to give her rest..." (Austen, 77).

It is now plainly obvious that Anne regrets her decision of not marrying Captain Wentworth. She clearly still holds many feelings for him, and is living in a dream like state, only truly aware of him and his feelings. Austen is foreshadowing that their story together isn't over yet, and it is one of the main plots of her book, Persuasion.

Stile

" Mary finding a comfortable seat for herself, on the step of a stile..." (Austen, 73).

Stile is defined as " a step or set of steps for passing over a fence or wall ". There are words from the late nineteenth century scattered throughout her book, which only helps Austen keep the reader settled in the setting of her novel. Austen is also using the images of steps to support her theme and motif of society. The steps symbolize the different sects of the social class of England during the Victorian period. The higher the step, the better off one is in the eyes of their respected society.

Links:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stile

Captain Wentworth

" She received no other answer than an artificial, assenting smile, followed by a contemptuous glance, as he turned away, which Anne perfectly knew the meaning of" (Austen, 73).

Although Anne has been separated from Captain Wentworth for eight years, it appears as though she can still easily read him. Austen uses this to draw a connection between the two characters, foreshadowing that their story isn't over just yet.

Setting

" Charles Musgrove and Captain Wentworth being gone a shooting together,, as the sisters in the cottage were sitting quietly at work, they were visited at the window by the sisters from the mansion house." (Austen, 70).

It is crucial for the readers of this novel to always remember the setting in which this story is told. The late eighteen hundreds had very different social graces then today, such as the men doing activities in the outside world while the females stay at home to do the calmer work. This is important because if her theme is social class then the reader has to read the book through the eyes of a person in the late nineteenth century.

Henrietta

"'It would not be a great match for Henrietta, but ...'" (Austen, 65).

Austen has clearly made marriage an import theme of here book. She has profiled every major character by their marital status, and the characters seem obsessed with finding husbands for themselves or for their offspring. It also seems that marriage is a very public business, and families can not keep mistakes hushed up. This is yet another way Austen is showing her theme of society.

Regrets

" Alas! with all her reasoning's, she found, that to retentive feelings eight years may be little more than nothing" (Austen, 53).

Austen is now confirming that Anne still has feelings for her past lover. This is yet another example of the importance of regret to this novel, and shows that Austen is starting to develop this motif early in the story. She is also foreshadowing that Anne's one true love interest will be her long lost Captain for the rest of the novel.

Ann Elliot

" Anne Elliot, with all her claims of birth, beauty, and mind, to throw herself away at nineteen; 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, but in the chances of a most uncertain profession, and no connexions to secure his farther rise in that profession; would be, indeed, a throwing away..." (Austen, 27).

Anne gave up her happiness for a chance to remain in the same society she had grown up in and been prepped for. Austen is showing that she regrets her decision, at least slightly. It was unfortunate that she had to choose a more profitable marriage over someone she could of been truly happy with. Austen is also foreshadowing the future plot of the novel. By bringing up this past conflict of Anne's early in her novel, a reader can guess that the conflict isn't resolved and will be an important plot in the book.

The Fall from Society

" What! Every comfort of life knocked off! Journeys, London, servants, horses, table- contractions and restrictions every where. To live no longer with the decencies of a private gentlemen! No, he would sooner quit Kellynch-hall at once, than remain in it on such disgraceful terms" (Austen, 17).

Austen is showing the reader the importance of outwardly appearance when it comes to society. Their fall from high class would be swift and painful if anyone saw that the family was no longer living with the luxuries of their respected class. The importance of their place in society is very important to Ann's family.

High Sheriff

" -serving the office of High Sheriff" (Austen, 9).

In 19th century Brittan, a High Sheriff is a post appointed by the crown. This distinguishes the person as someone of importance and high society. Austen is telling the reader how Sir Walter Elliot's family rose into their power. She is once again hinting at her theme of society.

Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Sheriff

Baronetage

" never took up any book but the Baronetage..." (Austen, 9).

A baronetage is defined as "the whole body of baronets". Austen is referring to a book which tells the history of the nobles who had preceded Sir Walter Elliot. Austen is already referring to her characters life style within the first paragraph of her novel, hinting that class(and money) is an important theme of her book.

Links:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Baronetage