Family In Persuasion

In Persuasion by Jane Austen, Austen comments on the dynamics of friends and family. During Austen’s time, one’s family was their most influential connection. A person’s family determined their class, and therefore, supposedly, their happiness and ability to succeed. Someone in a high ranking family was considered fortunate solely because they were part of the elite group of society. Austen however, sees folly in this way of thinking and creates a character named Anne. Anne has almost every advantage in society. Her father is a baron and owns a beautiful estate. Society saw Anne as in the perfect spot to reach an ultimate, coveted societal position. She was expected to marry well and only associate with those who would be deemed good connections.

Smith, who was not considered a profitable connection, because of Mrs. Smith sweet manner and good companionship. Mrs. Smith was Anne’s old school teacher. She was once “fine looking, well grown...in all the glow of health and confidence of superiority” (124). However Mrs. Smith is now widowed, poor, and crippled. Anne’s association with Mrs. Smith is detestable to Sir Walter. He can see no advantage in the connection. He says to Anne, “A widow Mrs. Smith…and what is her attraction? That she is old and sickly. ‒ Upon my word Anne Elliot you have the most extraordinary taste! Everything that revolts other people, low company, paltry rooms, foul air, disgusting associations are inviting to you” (128). Sir Walter’s disdain for Anne and Mrs. Smith friendship highlights how much Anne focuses on people’s character rather than their situations in life. Anne chooses Mrs. Smith to be a part of her family because she has “good sense and agreeable manners which [Anne] had almost ventured to depend on, and a disposition to converse and be cheerful beyond her expectations. Neither the dissipations of the past…nor the restrictions of the present; neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits” (125). Anne chooses to visit Mrs. Smith over the noble Dalrymples, despite Mrs. Smith’s inability to give Anne any advantage in the social