We, Still, Like Our Own Best.

In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the author wastes no time to begin satirizing. We are first introduced to Sir Walter, the wealthy, although frivolous father of Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Sir Walter is depicted as being self-absorbed, selfish and, pretentious. He is not evil, he is simply old-fashioned. Austen uses his character to poke fun at the declining aristocracy. Sir Walter is a very impractical man who practices lavish living to maintain his appearance. However, his refusal to let go of this way of life threatens his family’s future. His situation is comical, and Austen uses heavy satire to express the predicament of being unable to “devise any means of lessening their expenses without compromising their dignity, or relinquishing their comforts” (Austen 11). Austen attacks Sir Walter as he upholds the importance of appearance and elitism. Sir Walter greatly contrasts to Wentworth, a self-made, manly man. Wentworth personifies Austen’s idea of a modern gentleman. 

Austen also pokes fun at how rigid her society’s structure is. The only way for social mobility in Austen’s world is through marriage, or by joining the navy. However, Sir Walter looks down even on the navy saying “I should be sorry if any friend of mine were belonging to it” (Austen 16). Austen also challenges the separation of work between a husband and wife. She advocates for a more equal marriage. Admiral and Mrs. Croft exemplify this marriage in the way they drive their carriage. Admiral Croft and his wife drive the carriage sitting next to each other and share the responsibility. 

Despite all this, Austen doesn’t entirely abandon ideas of class, and hierarchy. Her protagonist, Anne, is in no way a perfect egalitarian (not that I expect her to be). Although she strays from acting like typical women at the time, she is not catty, or hysterical. In fact, when Louisa smacks her head, Anne manages to keep a level head and care for her instead.  However, she also greatly dislikes Mrs. Clay simply because she is very against the idea of her father marrying a woman of lower class. Anne remains dutiful to her family. Instead of marrying the love of her life, she broke off the engagement because her father and Lady Russell did not think it was appropriate. When she finally does marry Wentworth, it is now safe. Wentworth has risen in wealth and social standing in the previous years, and thus, the marriage does not challenge the class system. Despite ideas of deviating from the social standards, Anne still returns to her known realm and doesn’t exactly step out of tradition.

Works Cited:

 Austen, Jane. Persuasion. New York: Knopf, 1992. Print.