Hgskolan i Halmstad Sektionen fr Humaniora Engelska 61-90

The Importance of Class and Money A Marxist Analysis of Jane Austens Persuasion

Therese Andersson C-essay Tutor Kristina Hilde rand

Abstract
This essay analy!es ho" issues related to money and so#ial #lass are $resented in %ane Austen&s Persuasion' The method used "ill e a #lose reading as "ell as as$e#ts of (ar)ist literary #riti#ism* a theory that "ill e $resented in the se#ond #ha$ter' +a#kground information a out the author and her time "ill then e gi,en in the third #ha$ter' -n #ha$ter four* the #hara#ter of Sir .alter Elliot "ill e analy!ed* in #ha$ter fi,e Eli!a eth Elliot* and in #ha$ter si) .illiam Elliot' Some of the other #hara#ters "ill e analy!ed* more riefly* in the se,enth #ha$ter' Con#lusions "ill then e dra"n in the eighth and final #ha$ter'

Table of contents
A stra#t'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''/ Ta le of #ontents'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''0 1' -ntrodu#tion'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''1
/' Theory and method''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''2 /'1 Close reading''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''2
/'/ (ar)ist literary #riti#ism''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''2

0' +a#kground''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''3 0'1 %ane Austen and her time'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''3

0'1'1 Titles and ranks''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''9

0'/ Class in %ane Austen&s no,els''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''11 0'0 (oney in %ane Austen&s no,els''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''10 1' Sir .alter'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''11 2' Eli!a eth''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''19 6' (r Elliot''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''/1 3' 4ther #hara#ters'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''/1 5' Con#lusions'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''/5

+i liogra$hy''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''00

1. Introduction1
Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch-hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he foun istresse occupation for an i le hour, an consolation in a one; there his faculties were rouse into a miration an omestic affairs, over the

respect, by contemplating the limite remnant of the earliest patents; there any unwelcome sensations arising from change naturally into pity an contempt, as he turne

almost en less creations of the last century ! an there, if every other leaf were powerless, he coul rea his own history with an interest which never faile ! this was the page at which the favourite volume always opene " #$usten %&'

Already in this first senten#e of the last of %ane Austen&s finished no,els* Persuasion, "e find one of the main themes of the story 6 that #lass is "hat is most im$ortant' As the reader $ro#eeds further into the no,el* the o$inion that #lass is the only thing that matters is made e,en more o ,ious' 7nless someone is of a #ertain #lass* the fa#t that he or she has money does not matter 6 irth alone #ounts' .hen someone o$enly ,alues money o,er #lass* su#h as (r Elliot in his #hoi#e of a "ife* this $erson is fro"ned u$on' .e are also $resented "ith a different $oint of ,ie"8 that of (r Elliot* "ho* as a young man* ,alued money more than the title he "ould e,entually inherit' +ut as the story $rogresses* it is made #lear that neither the o$inion that #lass is su$erior to fortune nor that money is etter than so#ial status is #onstant 6 it #hanges "ith the #ir#umstan#es* an in#onsisten#y that #an e seen in se,eral of the no,el&s main #hara#ters' Some* su#h as Sir .alter and his daughter Eli!a eth* go from #onsidering #lass as the most im$ortant thing to ,aluing money more9 others* like (r Elliot* after ha,ing #onsidered money etter than #lass* start to think the o$$osite' -n this essay - "ill analy!e the attitudes to"ards #lass and money held y the #hara#ters of Persuasion* as "ell as ho"* for some* these attitudes #hange during the $rogress of the story' - "ill dis#uss se,eral of the #hara#ters* ut "ill fo#us $rimarily on Sir .alter* Eli!a eth and (r Elliot' - "ill start y $resenting and dis#ussing the theory and method that 1

- "ould like to thank my tea#her in :Ad,an#ed literary "riting&* Anna ;<hraeus* for all the hel$ she has gi,en me "ith this essay

"ill use efore $ro,iding a#kground information a out the author* %ane Austen* as "ell as a out the #on#e$ts of money and #lass during her lifetime9 ho" Austen "as affe#ted y this9 and ho" this is $ortrayed in her no,els' - "ill then analy!e ,arious $assages of the no,el that highlight the attitude to #lass and money that the #hara#ters of the no,el ha,e* as "ell as the fa#t that these attitudes #hange during the #ourse of Persuasion' - "ill argue here that the attitude to"ards #lass and money is de$endent on oth the situation of the $erson in =uestion and on surrounding #ir#umstan#es* and that these attitudes #hange during the #ourse of the story of Persuasion'

2. Theory and method

- "ill do a #lose reading fo#using on the s#enes of the no,el "hi#h sho" the #hara#ters& attitudes to"ards #lass and money and ho" these attitudes #hange' As$e#ts of (ar)ist literary #riti#ism "ill also e used'

2.1. Close readin

Close reading* or e)$li#ation* is* as the term im$lies* to read a "ork or $assage #losely and to look at and analy!e >#om$le) interrelations and am iguities of the form and the #ontent of the "ork? @Childers and Hent!i /06A' .hen doing #lose reading* one fo#uses on "ords* images* and sym ols* instead of the #hara#ters or the $lot of the story' Tensions* $arado)es and irony are noted and analysed* and the goal of literature* a##ording to this theory* is to a#hie,e a >re#on#iliation of di,erse im$ulses? @/06A

2.2 Marxist literary criticism

(ar)ist literary #riti#ism has* as the name indi#ates* its asis in the theories of Karl (ar) and his asso#iates' The main idea of (ar)ism is that >instead of making a stra#t affirmations a out a "hole grou$ of $ro lems su#h as man* kno"ledge* matter* and nature* he e)amines ea#h $ro lem in its dynami# relation to the others and* a o,e all* tries to relate them to histori#al* so#ial* $oliti#al* and e#onomi# realities? @+4A' (ar) argued that the real foundation of so#iety "as the e#onomi# stru#ture* that $oliti#al and legal su$erstru#tures rose from this

ase* and that >BiCt is not the #ons#iousness of men "hi#h determines their e)isten#e9 it is on the #ontrary their so#ial e)isten#e "hi#h determines their #ons#iousness? @+4A' The most fundamental argument of (ar)ist literary and #ultural theories is that they do not see art as something that is se$arate from so#iety 6 art is* as Eagleton says* >$art of the :su$erstru#ture& of so#iety? @2A 6 and the #entral #on#ern of (ar)ist literary #riti#ism is the relationshi$ et"een the e#onomy and the literature' (ar)ist #riti#s argue that art is so#ial e#ause it is $rodu#ed and re#ei,ed in #on#rete #onte)ts* and e#ause the #reator is someone "ith a #lass* gender and ra#ial identity 6 the author is* una,oida ly* >$art of her o"n #onte)t? @Haslett 5A' Art* in (ar)ist readings* >is inter$reted as a material $ra#ti#e* $erha$s e#ause it relies on :te#hnology&D is #on#retely realised in situations "hi#h themsel,es are materialD or is ought and sold like other #ommodities? @5A' The first thing that one needs to do in order to do a (ar)ist analysis is then* a##ording to Eagleton* >to understand the #om$le)* indire#t relations et"eenD "orks Bof artC and the ideologi#al "orlds they inha it? @6A' The interest of (ar)ist literary theories is #onse=uently to try to $la#e the "ork in an o,erall #onte)t* sin#e >BaCrt #annot e)ist outside so#iety? @Haslett 12A' 4r* as Eagleton e)$resses it* to analyse literature >in terms of the histori#al #onditions "hi#h $rodu#e it? @)iA' .hat makes (ar)ism different from other theories is that it $rioritises the "ay in "hi#h #ulture is #reated* distri uted and o tained as a tangi le and so#ial $ra#ti#e' The e#onomi# mode of so#iety is ,ital for (ar)ist theorists e#ause it is the finan#ial system that often de#ides ho" art "ill e #onstru#ted @Haslett 5A' Something else that sets (ar)ist #riti#ism a$art from other theories is not that it looks to history to understand a "ork of art 6 this a$$roa#h to literary analysis #an e found else"here* for e)am$le in histori#al or iogra$hi#al theories 6 ut the "ay in "hi#h it understands history itself @Eagleton 0A' (ar)ist literary theories are not homogenous* and there is no one "ay to do a (ar)ist analysis* ut all a$$roa#hes ha,e in #ommon that they try oth to #on,ey the relationshi$ et"een literature and so#iety and to #hallenge the se$aration "hi#h this relationshi$ entails' Eiterature is situated "ithin the larger $arameters of so#ial* e#onomi#al and #ultural history* effe#ti,ely erasing the di,ision et"een :literary& and :#ultural& theory' @Haslett 9-10A' (ost (ar)ist #riti#s also assume that >the o Fe#ts "e ,ie" as "orks of literature or art are the $rodu#ts of histori#al for#es that #an e analy!ed y fo#using on the material #onditions in "hi#h they are formed? @Childers and Hent!i 132A' (ar)ist #riti#s dis#uss these #onditions in terms of >#ontrol of #a$italD y #lasses? 6 usually* the #lass that is in #ontrol of the material items* also #ontrols the intelle#tual and #ultural s$heres @132A'

(ar)ist #riti#s also #laim that the as$e#ts that "e a##e$t as #hara#teristi#s of a #ertain age* are only e)$ressions of the #lass that dominated during that $eriod of time' @132A Art or literature $rodu#ed in a #ertain en,ironment is ideologi#al* signifying the #lass #onfli#ts at "ork at the time* and it is the Fo of the (ar)ist analyst to sho" these #onfli#ts as they are $ortrayed in the te)t' (ar)ist #riti#ism also tries to #reate "hat it elie,es is >$rogressi,e $oliti#al and so#ial #hange?9 the final goal generally eing a #lassless so#iety @Childers and Hent!i 136A' (ar)ist literary #riti#s see literature as tied to so#ial $o"er* thus literary analysis is often related to larger issues in so#iety' -n the end* (ar)ist literary #riti#ism is only a small fra#tion of a mu#h larger attem$t to e)$ose the inner ma#hinery of our #i,ili!ation' @E-CCTA/' -n other "ords9 >(ar)ist #riti#ism is $art of a larger ody of theoreti#al analysis "hi#h aims to understand ideologies? as Eagleton $uts it @)ii-)iiiA'

!. "ac# round
!.1 Jane Austen and her time
%ane Austen "as the se#ond daughter and the se,enth #hild of the Ge,erend Heorge Austen and his "ife Cassandra @ orn EeighA* and "as orn on Ie#em er 16 in 1332' At the time of Austen&s irth* the family "as li,ing in Ste,enton in the #ounty of Ham$shire on the south #oast of England' Austen had se,en si lings8 si) rothers and one sister* Cassandra* "ho "as her #losest #om$anion through life' Her father* Heorge Austen* "as a s#holar and en#ouraged his #hildren&s lo,e of learning "hile her mother* Cassandra* "as kno"n for making u$ stories and ,erses' Austen&s so#ial net"ork "as e)tensi,e* #onsisting of family as "ell as friends* and the lo,ing en,ironment she li,ed in "as an im$ortant sour#e of ins$iration "hen it #ame to her "riting' She "rote a out the $arts of the "orld and the so#ial arena that she kne" est* and the settings in her no,els are ,illages and #ountry to"ns* as "ell as larger #ities su#h as +ath and Eondon' The #hara#ters of her no,els are also deri,ed from the so#ial s$heres "here she herself #ould e found* su#h as the #ountry #lergy 6 her father "as* as already mentioned* a #lergyman 6 and the minor landed gentry* to "hi#h her rother elonged'

This a re,iation "ill in the rest of this essay refer to the -nternet $age >English 60A 6 Contem$orary Criti#al Theory?' ;or 7GE* see the i liogra$hy

-n 1501* at the age of 30* Heorge Austen retired and mo,ed his "ife and daughters from Ste,enton to +ath' -n %anuary 1502* Heorge Austen $assed a"ay* and his "ife and daughters mo,ed to Southam$ton* "here they remained for four years* until Austen&s rother Ed"ard finally managed to $ro,ide them "ith a large #ottage on his o"n estate in the ,illage of Cha"ton* not far from Ste,enton' Austen remained here until she* in (ay 1513* "as taken to a surgeon in .in#hester due to her de#lining health' She died on %uly 15* and "as uried in .in#hester Cathedral si) days later' Austen ne,er married* ut there are indi#ations that she* in 150/* agreed to marry Harris +igg-.ither* "ho "as the heir of a Ham$shire family* only to #hange her mind the follo"ing morning' There are also se,eral #ontradi#tory stories "hi#h talk of her eing in lo,e "ith someone "ho died' Iuring the time of %ane Austen&s life* #lass "as $art of the e,eryday life* and* sin#e she "rote realisti# no,els* Austen needed to o ser,e the fine differen#es et"een so#ial le,els' Her no,els should sho" $eo$le >in their so#ial roles* andD e $re#ise a out the differen#es et"een them? @Co$eland and (#(aster 1/5A' The $ortraits of #hara#ters from the higher #lasses in her no,els suggest that she found >nothing di,ine a out royalty? and little that "as >s$e#ial a out $eers? @116A' -n Austen&s "orld* so#ial status "as al"ays $ertinent* ut $eo$le "ere to e Fudged y standards higher and more dura le than this' @1/9A Austen "as* due to her father eing a #ountry #lergyman* $art of the #lass that historian Ia,id S$ring #alled :$seudo-gentry& 6 >u$$er $rofessional families li,ing in the #ountry? @10/A' These families had #onne#tions "ith the "ealthier landed-gentry families* ut had ,ery different e#onomi# situations' @10/A Sin#e "omen in that time "ere su$$osed to take their status in so#iety from their hus ands* Austen* as an unmarried "oman* "as to an e)tent outside the #lass system' 4n the other hand* Austen had the ad,antage of eing a le to mo,e et"een t"o different #lass situations9 she li,ed "ith her "ido"ed mother and sister in a #ottage that elonged to her rother* ut she #ould also s$end time at her lando"ner rother&s #ountry estate' @112A -t #an also e noted that %ane Austen li,ed during the +ritish industrial re,olution and that the +ritish so#iety "as #hanging drasti#ally* as "ere the te#hnologi#al and e#onomi#al s$heres' A##ording to Cantor* money "as re$la#ing $ro$erty as >the fundamental form of "ealth? @1/9A' The $oliti#al $o"er also shifted9 from ha,ing elonged to the aristo#ra#y* the $oliti#al arena "as no" also o$en to $eo$le from the gro"ing middle #lass' @1/9A

Among the gentry and the landed gentry in Austen&s time* there "ere different le,els of in#ome' 4n the lo"er le,els* the num er of ser,ants "as a good indi#ator to a family&s in#ome9 on the slightly higher le,els* the $ur#hase of a #arriage "ould fun#tion in the same "ay9 and for the ,ery "ealthy $eo$le* the :house in to"n& "ould signal the amount of money $ossessed' @Co$eland and (#(aster 101A 4n an in#ome of J100 a year* a family #ould em$loy only one ser,ant on a lo" salary* "ith J000 a year* another ser,ant #ould e added to the staff* and "ith J200 a year* three ser,ants #ould e ke$t' .ith an in#ome a$$roa#hing J1000 a year* the kee$ing of a #arriage "as made $ossi le* and "ith more than J1000 annually* one "ould e a le to $ur#hase a house in Eondon' @Co$eland and (#(aster 102-103A (arried "omen had no legal right to money in Austen&s time* and the rights of unmarried "omen "ere ruthlessly defi#ient' The irony of this "as that "omen "ere res$onsi le for the administration of the household* ut legally $re,ented from e)er#ising any #ontrol o,er the finan#es* a duty "hi#h lay "ith the man of the house' -n other "ords* if the man "ent ankru$t* it "as still the res$onsi ility of his "ife to maintain the household' @103A !.1.1 Titles and ran#s 4n to$ of the so#ial ladder in %ane Austen&s time "as* of #ourse* the Goyal ;amily' +elo" Goyalty* "e find "hat is kno"n as the Keerage* a system of titles and no ility and a $art of the +ritish honours system' The highest title in the Keerage is Iuke and Iu#hess* under "hi#h are four titles9 highest is (ar=uis and (ar=uise* then #omes Earl and Countess* after that Lis#ount and Lis#ountess* and finally +aron and +aroness' @%ACA0 Those "ho held more than one title "ould go y the highest of them9 the oldest son "ould then ha,e the se#ond highest and any younger sons "ould ha,e the title Eord' These titles "ere kno"n as #ourtesy titles9 only the Iuke himself had a title in his o"n right* in other "ords a title that had een either inherited or esto"ed on the $erson in =uestion' .hen the $ossessor of the title died* the oldest son "ould inherit the title' The other #hildren "ould kee$ their titles' -f there "as no son* the title #ould $ass to the oldest daughter* ut it "as more likely that the title "ent to the #losest male relati,e' @%ACA The Keerage did not in#lude Knights or +aronets* oth referred to as :Sir&' These titles "ere generally esto"ed "ithout the $ri,ileges of the Keerage or a seat in the House of
0

This a re,iation "ill in the rest of this essay refer to the -nternet $age >The %ane Austen Centre?' ;or 7GE* see the i liogra$hy

Eords' The titles of Knight 6 there "ere t"o different ty$es 6 "ere not hereditary and the #hildren of a Knight "ere usually only #alled (r or (iss* though the "ife of a Knight had the title of Eady' A +aronet#y* on the other hand* #ould e inherited y a male heir' The heir "ould then e#ome +aronet* ut "as efore this not gi,en any s$e#ial title* nor "ere the other #hildren of the +aronet' The "ife of the +aronet "as* as the "ife of the Knight* #alled Eady' @%ACA +eneath +aronets and Knights* Es=uire or S=uire #ould e found* the S=uire on#e ha,ing een the assistant to a Knight' The title of S=uire "as later used to refer to a son of a Knight or the Eord of a (anor* and the title #ould also e gi,en to $eo$le "ith Fudi#iary ties' 4n the le,el elo" S=uires* there "ere the mem ers of the #lergy and arristers* as "ell as Ma,al and Army offi#ers9 elo" this le,el one #ould find the +urgess and the Neomen9 and* finally* at the ottom of the so#ial ladder* the $oor' @%ACA There "as a differen#e et"een titles that "ere inherited and titles that "ere esto"ed for $arti#ular ser,i#e during Austen&s time' The titles of +aronet and Knight* as mentioned a o,e* "ere oth signalled y the title :Sir&* ut sin#e the +aronet#y "as an inherited title* it "as more $restigious than the Knighthood' Iifferen#es in "omen&s titles "ere also o ,ious' A "oman #ould e a :Eady& y irth* as the daughter of an Earl* or she #ould a#hie,e the title y marrying a +aronet or a Knight' -f she had the title y irth* she "ould maintain it regardless of the status of her hus and* "hereas if she gained the title y marriage* she "ould lose it if she #hose to remarry a :(r&' @Co$eland and (#(aster 116-113A There "ere also differen#es et"een si lings9 in general* the oldest son "ould inherit not only his father&s title 6 if there "as a title to inherit 6 ut also the maFority of the land' This $ra#ti#e "as to $reser,e the family name and estate9 if the estate "as di,ided e=ually et"een the si lings* it "ould ultimately disa$$ear' The oldest son* "ho "ould e,entually #ome into the family estate* "as often raised to la!iness* "hile the younger sons had to "ork for their li,ing' Sisters in a family also had different titles' The oldest daughter "ould e #alled :(iss& follo"ed y the last name* "hile the younger daughters "ould e #alled :(iss& follo"ed y their first name' -t "as also #ommon $ra#ti#e that the oldest sister "as $resented to so#iety efore her younger sisters' .hen one sister married* she automati#ally o tained a higher status than her older* unmarried sisters' @119-1/0A

10

!.2 Class in Jane Austens no$els

As Io"nie states* the e,ents in most of %ane Austen&s no,els #entre around the issue of so#ial status* "hi#h* $erha$s* is not sur$rising #onsidering the fa#t that* as "e ha,e already seen* #lass "as an im$ortant $art of so#iety in those days' The su Fe#t des#ri ed in her no,els is >the #om$le) intera#tion of the ,arious grou$s "hi#h made u$ the ruling #lass of Heorgian England? @3/A' The ,ery to$ of the so#ial ladder* the royalty* are ne,er de$i#ted in Austen&s no,els 6 the $erson of highest rank $resented is most likely Eord 4s orne in The Watsons 6 and the #hara#ters that ha,e titles are rarely $resented in a fa,oura le "ay' Eord 4s orne is >not mu#h etter than a fool?* and Sir .alter Elliot in Persuasion is o sessed "ith his so#ial status9 e,en Sir Thomas +ertram in Mansfield Park* "ho is >the est of them? o,er,alues the im$ortan#e of himself and his family @Co$eland and (#(aster 116A' The $rofessional #lass 6 Austen&s o"n so#ial #lass 6 seems to e the one that is most fa,oured in her no,els9 se,eral of her heroines marry #lergymen like Austen&s o"n father' @1/0A The landed gentry seems res$e#ted* as other heroines marry into the lando"ning gentry* and Austen&s t"o most eligi le heroes* (r Iar#y in Pride and Prejudice and (r Knightley in Emma* #ome from this #lass' A negati,e side of the landed gentry #an* ho"e,er* e seen in (r Gush"orth in Mansfield Park* "ho is >morally and intelle#tually not "orth mu#h more than his name signifies? @113A' The lo"er so#ial #lasses are rarely re$resented in Austen&s no,els' .hat "as later to e #alled the "orking #lass is hardly $resent at all9 the only #onne#tion the main #hara#ters ha,e "ith this so#ial #lass is through the ser,ants* "hi#h #orre#tly des#ri es reality as it "as at the time' The fe" glim$ses "e do #at#h of this #lass are of gy$sies and rural la ourers' Ser,ants "ere generally not gi,en s$eaking roles* though Austen did re#ogni!e that they had a dis#rete influen#e on their masters' The $oor are not talked a out often* ut there is some #onta#t et"een the "orld of the u$$er #lass and that of the $oor' @1/3-1/5A -n Austen&s no,els the heroine often marries a man "ith an in#ome as "ell as a so#ial status markedly a o,e her o"n' (oney is not the only thing that matters* ho"e,er* something that is sho"n "hen Eli!a eth +ennet turns do"n (r Iar#y&s initial $ro$osal in Pride and Prejudice* indi#ating that she is not marrying him only for his fortune' @113A

11

-n the relationshi$ et"een Eli!a eth +ennet and (r Iar#y "e #an also see that Austen a$$ears to su$$ort "hat (#(aster #alls the >relati,e flattening of the degrees of distin#tion a o,e the #ountry gentry? @115A' 4n the other hand* Austen notes the in#lination to e highly #ons#ious of the so#ial le,els elo" this #lass in Emma* something that is done "ith irony' @115A -n her no,els* it is also #lear that Austen elie,ed that "ith the $ri,ileges of the u$$er #lass #ame res$onsi ilities 6 for e)am$le* to treat $eo$le "ith #ourtesy and res$e#t* as "ell as to handle one&s money res$onsi ly' This #an* for e)am$le* e seen in Pride and Prejudice* "here Eli!a eth +ennet turns do"n (r Iar#y&s $ro$osal e#ause he is $roud and $retentious* and in Persuasion* "here Sir .alter must lea,e his residen#e to a man of the na,y e#ause he has ignored his res$onsi ilities and only "anted to enefit from the ad,antages' @115-119A The im$ortan#e of #onne#tions @#onne)ionsA in the u$$er #lasses is made o ,ious in Emma* "here the differen#e et"een :old& and :ne"& u$$er #lass #an e seen' (rs +ates used to e the "ell-kno"n "ife of the ,i#ar* and after his death* she and her daughter li,e on a slim in#ome 6 ut they still ha,e #onne#tions in the neigh ourhood* "hi#h seems more im$ortant than all the money in the "orld' The o$$osite is sho"n in the Coles* "ho ha,e a #onsidera le amount of money and many ser,ants* ut no #onne#tions to s$eak of' @1/2-1/6A ;inally* as (#(asters so fittingly says a out Austen&s treatment of #lass in her no,els9
With amuse etachment, she registers e(actly the social

provenance of each of her characters, an )u ges them for the ways in which they )u ge each other* +he importance assigne her social satire*" #,opelan an -c-asters ./0' to class istinction is the source of much of her come y an her irony, as of

1/

!.! Money in Jane Austens no$els

A##ording to Co$eland* %ane Austen "as >BfCrom the start of her #areerD a shre"d o ser,er of the e#onomi# terrain of her #lass* though al"ays from the #hilly and e)$osed $osition of an e#onomi#ally marginal female mem er of it?* and single "omen "ithout money are a re#urring feature in her no,els @Co$eland and (#(aster 112A' -n#ome is a su Fe#t that is dis#ussed o$enly in Austen&s no,els9 either the in#ome of the #hara#ter is $ro,ided in $lain num ers* or a hint is gi,en y the des#ri$tions of said #hara#ter&s house* #arriage and ser,ants* for e)am$le @100A' As Io"nie says* Austen >goes to #onsidera le lengths? to $ro,ide the reader "ith information a out her #hara#ters& finan#ial situations in most of her no,els @30A' Austen&s attention to money in her no,els #an e seen to #hange during her #areer9 in the early no,els the fo#us "as sim$ly on the la#k of ri#hes as a finan#ial issue for "omen* ut as her "riting $rogressed* "omen "ere in,ol,ed in in#reasingly more #om$li#ated e#onomi# dealings' @Co$eland and (#(aster 10/A -n Sense and Sensibility* Elinor and (arianne dis#uss their >hearts& desires? as the le,el of in#ome they "ish their future hus ands to ha,e9 in Pride and Prejudice* one of the main issues is Eli!a eth +ennet&s la#k of money in relation to (r Iar#y&s fortune9 and in Persuasion* "omen are a#tually seen as more suita le to #ontrol finan#es than men sin#e >B"Chile Eady Elliot li,ed* there had een method* moderation* and e#onomy* "hi#h had Fust ke$t BSir .alterC "ithin his in#ome8 ut "ith her had died all su#h right-mindedness* and from that $eriod he had een #onstantly e)#eeding it? and "hen the situation gro"s more #om$li#ated* Sir .alter turns to Eady Gussell' @Co$eland and (#(aster 100* Austen 10A -t #an also e noted* as Clausen has* that Persuasion is the first no,el "here Austen has the hero of the story making his o"n "ay in life' -n the $re,ious no,els* most of the heroes ha,e een either eldest sons "ho only needed to manage the family estate* or younger sons "ho ha,e een thrust into the #hur#h9 Ca$tain .ent"orth is the only hero in a %ane Austen no,el "ho e,en tries to etter his situation in life' @9/-90A As (#(aster e)$resses it* Ca$tain .ent"orth is a >relati,ely self-made man? "ho has made his fortune y "orking' @Co$eland and (#(aster 1/1A

10

%. &ir 'alter
Sir Walter Elliot1 was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there1 he coul rea his own history with an interest which never faile ! this was the page at which the favourite volume always opene "2 #$usten %&'

This $assage* already mentioned in the introdu#tion* esta lishes Sir .alter&s attitude to"ards #lass in the eginning of the no,el' The only thing that #an #heer Sir .alter u$ is* a$$arently* to read a out his o"n status in so#iety 6 ne,er mind that he has three daughters' This outlook on life sho"s the ,anity that is so o ,ious in Sir .alter* oth regarding his a$$earan#e and* more im$ortantly* his $la#e* and the $la#e of his family* in so#iety' -n the follo"ing $ages "e are allo"ed to learn of Sir .alter&s attitude to"ards his o"n #hildren* "hi#h is also tainted y the im$ortan#e of #lass9 Eli!a eth is dear to him sin#e she #an still e e)$e#ted to >one day or another* marry suita ly?* in other "ords* add to the status of the family name y raising or em$hasi!ing hers9 (ary only >a#=uired a little artifi#ial im$ortan#e? as a mem er of the Elliot family y > e#oming (rs Charles (usgro,e?9 and Anne is treated adly* negle#ted and has her feelings and thoughts ignored e#ause >BhCe had ne,er indulged mu#h ho$e* he had no" none* of e,er reading her name in any other $age of his fa,ourite "ork? @05* 03A' These short =uotations sho" that the lo,e and attention Sir .alter gi,es his daughters is de$endent on "hat they ha,e already added or "hat they #an* or "hat he thinks that they #an* add to the so#ial status of the Elliot family name' (ary has already made her mat#h* and sin#e it "as a relati,ely good one* she has een granted the honour of ha,ing an additional entry in the allim$ortant +aronetage' Eli!a eth still has the $otential to marry "ell* and add to the status of the family* and for this she is highly ,alued y her father* "hereas Anne* in Sir .alter&s mind* is already a lost #ause of sorts' He does not e)$e#t her to #ontri ute to the status of the family name* so he #hooses not to $ut any effort into his relationshi$ "ith her9 >she "as only Anne? @03A' ;urthermore* Sir .alter&s attitude to"ards #lass in relation to money #an e seen in his rea#tion to (r Elliot&s marriage to >a ri#h "oman of inferior irth?9 he >resented it? @09A' The fa#t that it is $ointed out that the ri#h "oman is of inferior irth sho"s that this is more im$ortant than the fa#t that (r Elliot has gone ehind Sir .alter&s a#k* reFe#ted his
1

;or the entire =uotation* see the introdu#tion

11

$re#ious daughter and married another "oman' The fa#t that y doing this he as#ertained that the title of the Elliot family "ould no longer e in Sir .alter&s line of the family is also an im$ortant fa#tor9 in the e,ent of Sir .alter not remarrying and ha,ing a son* the title of Eady Elliot "ould $ass from his family to this "oman that is* in his mind* elo" him and his daughter' This $assage #learly sho"s that Sir .alter thinks that status in so#iety is infinitely more im$ortant than money9 he "ould* $ro a ly* not ha,e had anything to o Fe#t to if (r Elliot had married a "oman of e=ual or su$erior irth' Another im$li#ation that Sir .alter fa,ours #lass o,er money #an e found in his attitude to"ards his o"n finan#ial situation9 >He had #ondes#ended to mortgage as far as he had the $o"er* ut he "ould ne,er #ondes#end to sell? @11A' This attitude* along "ith Sir .alter&s rea#tion "hen Eady Gussell $resents her e#onomi# $lan to hel$ him #lear himself of de t* sho"s that he #onsiders money as inferior to #lass' -t is only disgra#ing to sell Kellyn#h* ut it is no disgra#e to e in de t "ithout the a ility to $ay the $eo$le he o"es money' -t is more im$ortant to u$hold the image of his title than to try to do something a out his finan#ial $ro lems' The fa#t that he is "illing to lea,e Kellyn#h efore retren#hing on the lu)ury that he elie,es is due his $osition* only em$hasi!es this attitude' -n renting out Kellyn#h and mo,ing to +ath* he #an still maintain his image* "hereas if he had stayed at Kellyn#h and a$$lied a more #ontrolled e#onomi# strategy* e,eryone "ould ha,e een a le to see that Sir .alter of Kellyn#h Hall had finan#ial issues* and this is "orse than a#tually ha,ing them' (oreo,er* in Sir .alter&s attitude to"ards the Ma,y #an "e see that he $refers the :old& u$$er #lasses 6 the ones that are ased on old* inherited titles 6 to the ne" and u$#oming ones 6 the ones "ho ha,e "orked for their $la#e in so#iety' He resents the Ma,y e#ause it rings >&$ersons of o s#ure irth into undue distin#tion&? and raises >&men to honours "hi#h their fathers and grandfathers had ne,er dreamt of&? @19A' The fa#t that he uses the $hrase :undue distin#tion& sho"s that he #onsiders himself as eing "orthy of this distin#tion sim$ly e#ause he has inherited his title and money* "hereas men of the Ma,y 6 and* "e may assume* others "ho ha,e a#ti,ely im$ro,ed their $la#e in so#iety 6 "ho ha,e a#tually "orked for their money and so#ial ad,an#ement* do not deser,e it' This o,erestimation of his o"n #lass only sho"s Sir .alter&s refusal to a##e$t that the "orld #hanges' Cantor #omments on Sir .alter&s attitude to"ards the Ma,y* saying that* though Sir .alter is sim$le-minded in the matter* he does still reali!e that the English so#iety has een resha$ed y the Ma$oleoni# "ars* something that #an e seen in his #om$laint that the Ma,y hel$s men "ho do not deser,e it to rise to a etter $la#e in so#iety' A##ording to Cantor* 12

this sho"s that Austen understood that the so#ial and e#onomi# e,olution in England "as more su##essful in #reating a ne" so#iety than the re,olution in ;ran#e9 >The ;ren#h guillotine their aristo#rats9 the English sim$ly uy them out? @1/9A' Sir .alter&s ignoran#e as to "ho the >&gentleman "ho li,ed at (onkford&?* that She$herd refers to "hen they are dis#ussing the Crofts renting Kellyn#h* is sho"s that* in his mind* the only thing that #an make someone a gentleman is $ro$erty and irth @Austen 2/A' Sir .alter is #onfused a out the term that She$herd uses e#ause he thought that y gentleman he meant >&some man of $ro$erty&? @2/A' -n Sir .alter&s o$inion* >&(r .ent"orth "as no odyD =uite un#onne#ted9 nothing to do "ith the Strafford family&? @2/-20A' Sin#e (r .ent"orth* a$$arently* did not o"n any $ro$erty nor #ame from a family high on the so#ial s#ale* he "as nothing to Sir .alter' The issue of the nature of a gentleman is e)$lored y Cantor* "ho #laims that* to Sir .alter* > eing a gentleman is sim$ly a matter of irth and family #onne#tions? @10/A' This $oint of ,ie" is* a##ording to Cantor* $ro,en to e the "rong "ay of thinking y the "ay that Eady Gussell intends to e)tri#ate Sir .alter from de t* "hen she says that* though >a great deal is due to the feelings of the gentleman?* there is >still more due to the #hara#ter of an honest man? @100A' Cantor argues that the $lot of Persuasion sho"s that >middle-#lass figures may e a#ting more :no ly& than aristo#rats? and that Austen* as a >su$$orter of aristo#rati# $rin#i$les?* "as a le to understand the shift of traditionally aristo#rati# standards from the disa$$earing aristo#ra#y to the u$#oming middle #lass @100A' This as$e#t of #lass and lando"nershi$ is further dis#ussed y (artin* "ho #laims that* in Austen&s no,els* gentlemen "ere >as a rule* the o"ners of landed estates? @109A' He further argues that the #on#e$t of eing :gentlemanlike& in the "orld of Austen is >#om$le) and fluid?* something that #an take a slightly different meaning >either from the user* or from the situation "hi#h $rom$ts its use? @110A' Austen "as also* a##ording to (artin* mainly #on#erned "ith >the inter$lay et"een t"o distin#t meanings of :gentleman&* an ethi#al meaningD and a so#ial meaning?* "here the so#ial meaning referred to stri#tly su$erfi#ial as$e#ts* su#h as ho" men talked and dressed for e)am$le* something that #ould e $lain a#ting @110A' (artin further states that the "ay a gentleman "as defined in Austen&s "orks #hanged in Persuasion' -n $re,ious no,els* there had een a link et"een the gentleman o"ning $ro$erty and ethi#al issues9 this #onne#tion has een a andoned in Persuasion* and the eha,iour of those "ho "ere $re,iously seen as :gentlemen& is em odied in >the trea#herous s#heming of (r Elliot and in the near-#ari#ature figures of Sir .alter and of his eldest daughter? @111A' 16

Sir .alter&s thoughts after he has de#ided to let Kellyn#h Hall to Admiral Croft further sho" his attitudes to"ards #lass9 >&- ha,e let my house to Admiral Croft& "ould sound e)tremely "ell9 ,ery mu#h etter than to any mere (rD An admiral s$eaks his o"n #onse=uen#es* and* at the same time* #an ne,er make a aronet look small' -n all their dealings and inter#ourse* Sir .alter must e,er ha,e the $re#eden#e'? @Austen 20A' -n other "ords* as long as it does not refle#t adly u$on himself* Sir .alter is $erfe#tly ha$$y to let his house' -t is im$ortant that the $erson allo"ed to rent the estate is not a :no ody& in so#iety* ut at the same time* he #annot e : etter& than Sir .alter himself' E,erything #omes a#k to Sir .alter&s status in so#iety and "hat $eo$le think of this status' The "ay that Sir .alter talks a out +ath after Anne has arri,ed in Camden Kla#e is also an indi#ation to his attitude to"ards #lass9 the first thing he says is that their house is >undou tedly the est in Camden Kla#e? and that their a#=uaintan#e is >e)#eedingly sought after? @121A' The only reason that Sir .alter and Eli!a eth are ha$$y to see Anne is e#ause they #an sho" off their status in +ath' Additionally* the im$ortan#e of #lass* and #onne#tions "ith $eo$le higher u$ on the so#ial ladder* is #learly seen in the rea#tions of Sir .alter and Eli!a eth "hen it is announ#ed that their #ousins* the Io"ager Lis#ountess Ialrym$le and the Honoura le (iss Carteret* are #oming to +ath' The interest that Sir .alter sho"s in re-a#=uainting himself and his family "ith the relati,es is rather odd9 it has een more than thirteen years sin#e the in#ident that #aused the t"o families to lose #onta#t* "hy has he not tried to #orre#t the error #ommitted all those years ago efore this timeO -t a$$ears that it is only "hen #onne#tions "ith relati,es #an enefit himself and the status of his family that they matter' This "ay of thinking is also o ,ious in the relationshi$ "ith (r Elliot' Sir .alter had no interest in seeking (r Elliot&s a#=uaintan#e after the death of his "ife* ut no"* "hen he thinks that he has reason to elie,e that (r Elliot might e interested in Eli!a eth* the relationshi$ is ,ery im$ortant' Another situation "hi#h sho"s Sir .alter&s attitude to"ards $eo$le he #onsiders elo" him is "hen Anne refuses to go "ith him and Eli!a eth to ,isit the Ialrym$les e#ause she has a $re,ious engagement "ith (rs Smith9 >&.estgate +uildingsP& said he9 :and "ho is (iss Anne Elliot to e ,isiting in .estgate +uildingsO 6 A (rs Smith' A "ido" (rs Smith* 6 and "ho "as her hus andO 4ne of the fi,e thousand (r Smiths "hose names are to e met "ith e,ery "hereO&? @169A' .ith this s$ee#h* Sir .alter sho"s his disregard* and #ontem$t* for $eo$le of lo"er so#ial #lasses than his o"n' He ho$es that he* y reminding Anne of "ho she is* "ill e a le to $ersuade her to #an#el her meeting and go "ith the rest of the family to 13

a more :suita le& a$$ointment' He also sho"s his disregard of other $eo$le&s feelings* as he s$eaks a out (rs Smith as a >&$oor "ido"* arely a le to li,e&? in front of (rs Clay* "ho is in a ,ery similar $osition herself @130A' -t #an also e seen that Sir .alter ,alues #onne#tions and #lass higher than friendshi$9 he e)$e#ts Anne to gi,e u$ a meeting "ith her friend to s$end her e,ening "ith $eo$le she has no feelings for "hatsoe,er' The turn of e,ents* so to s$eak* #omes "hen Sir .alter sho"s his re#ognition of Ca$tain .ent"orth at the #on#ert' Anne* from seeing Ca$tain .ent"orth o"ing in the dire#tion of her father* #on,eys that Sir .alter has >Fudged so "ell as to gi,e BCa$tain .ent"orthC that sim$le a#kno"ledgement of a#=uaintan#e? @191A' The fa#t that Sir .alter has a##e$ted Ca$tain .ent"orth as an im$ortant mem er of so#iety is em$hasi!ed y his #on,ersation "ith Eady Ialrym$le* "hen he #alls Ca$tain .ent"orth >&BaC ,ery "ell-looking man&?* something that #an e #om$ared "ith his earlier refle#tions that men of the na,y suffered from de#ay in their a$$earan#e due to their "ork @193A' These "ords are an indi#ation that Sir .alter has* after many years* and 6 $erha$s more im$ortantly 6 many thousands of $ounds* a##e$ted Ca$tain .ent"orth' The #om$lete #hange of attitude that Sir .alter has to"ards Ca$tain .ent"orth #an e seen in the last #ha$ter* "here Sir .alter has gone from thinking that Ca$tain .ent"orth marrying Anne "ould e >a ,ery degrading allian#e? to #onsidering it >,ery far fromD a ad mat#h for her? @22* /20A' The only thing that has #hanged in the situation is that Ca$tain .ent"orth is no" a "ealthy man* "hereas the fortune of the Elliot family has een redu#ed so mu#h that Sir .alter has een for#ed to let Kellyn#h Hall9 so though the union rings no so#ial status to the family* Sir .alter has reali!ed that money is* in some #ases* more im$ortant than #lass' Sir .alter&s #hange of attitude to"ards Ca$tain .ent"orth is dis#ussed y Cantor* "ho #laims that the fa#t that .ent"orth has earned himself a fortune in the years that he and Anne ha,e een a$art is the reason that Sir .alter* in the end* #onsiders him an a$$ro$riate mat#h for his daughter' Cantor says that though Austen does not >trum$et the fa#t?* she is >$ortraying a maFor shift in the alan#e of $o"er in Gegen#y England? 6 that the aristo#ra#y is slo"ly eing $ushed to the side to make room for the in#reasing middle #lass* a transfer that is most o ,iously seen in the e)#hange of Sir .alter for Admiral Croft as the $ro$rietor of Kellyn#h Hall @1/9A'

15

(. )li*abeth
3Eli4abeth5 ha , while a very young girl, as soon as she ha known 3William Elliot5 to be, in the event of her having no brother, the future baronet, meant to marry him1 an in one of their spring e(cursions to 6on on, when Eli4abeth was in her first bloom, -r Elliot ha )ust engage was invite in the stu y of the law; an Eli4abeth foun been him force into the intro uction* 7e was at that time a very young man, e(tremely agreeable, an every plan in his favour was confirme * 7e to Kellynch 7all1 but he never came* +he following e8ually agreeable, again spring he was seen again in town, foun #$usten %0'

encourage , invite an e(pecte , an again he i not come*"

This =uotation sho"s Eli!a eth&s attitude to"ards her o"n so#ial status9 she has* already efore meeting (r Elliot* de#ided to marry him* sim$ly e#ause he is the heir to her father&s title' -t does not matter "hat kind of $erson he is* ho" he looks* or if he e,en deser,es her affe#tion9 the only thing she is #on#erned "ith is the title that "ould go "ith the marriage' .hen a#tually meeting (r Elliot* she finds him >e)tremely agreea le?9 "hether she a#tually does find him agreea le or not is im$ossi le to say* e#ause she is so determined that she "ill marry him that she has no #hoi#e ut to find him agreea le @09A' The fa#t that* e,en after he reFe#ts the first in,itation to ,isit Kellyn#h* he is in,ited again* only em$hasi!es ho" #om$letely uninterested Eli!a eth is in anything other than (r Elliot&s status' -t is $erfe#tly #lear that (r Elliot is not the least it interested in #ourting Eli!a eth* and y sim$ly not #oming to Kellyn#h he sho"s himself to e an im$olite $erson* ut none of this matters 6 at least not "hen a title is in,ol,ed' ;urther on* "e #an again see Eli!a eth&s o session "ith #lass and status* "hen "e learn that Eli!a eth #ould see >only in B(r ElliotC* a $ro$er mat#h for Sir .alter&s eldest daughter? and that >BtChere "as not a aronet from A to Q* "hom her feelings #ould ha,e so "illingly a#kno"ledged as an e=ual? @10A' So Eli!a eth is not only una le to $i#ture herself marrying : elo"& her o"n so#ial status* she #an really only see herself marrying her father&s heir and through doing so e#oming the rightful lady of her o"n family' The fa#t that she #annot #onsider (r Elliot again after his first "ife died might sho" some kind of #ommon sense* ut the only reason that she #annot is that >he hadD s$oken most disres$e#tfully a out

19

them all* most slightingly and #ontem$tuously of the ,ery lood he elonged to? and >BtChis #ould not e $ardoned? @10A' -t is* a$$arently* a greater sin to talk ill of the family than to reFe#t Eli!a eth* a suita le mat#h "hen it #omes to #lass* to marry a "oman of a lo"er rank' Another in#ident "hi#h sho"s Eli!a eth&s attitude to* or $erha$s faith in* #lass is "hen Anne tries to dra" her attention to the fa#t that their father #ould de,elo$ an interest in (rs Clay' Eli!a eth so #om$letely disregards Anne&s thoughts* saying that >(rs ClayD ne,er forgets "ho she isD And as to my father* - really should not ha,e thought that he* "ho has ke$t himself single so long for our sake* need e sus$e#ted no"' -f (rs Clay had een a ,ery eautiful "oman* - grant you* it might e "rong to ha,e her so mu#h "ith me9 not that any thing in the "orld* - am sure "ould indu#e my father to make a degrading mat#h? @6/A' +y #onsidering it #om$letely im$ossi le that Sir .alter "ould e,er marry a "oman elo" his o"n so#ial status* Eli!a eth sho"s her elief that #lass is e,erything9 e,en more im$ortant than lo,e' Eli!a eth sho"s that she shares her father&s attitude to"ards men of the Ma,y "hen it is kno"n that Admiral Croft is due in +ath' .hen Sir .alter suggests that they introdu#e the Admiral to the Ialrym$les* Eli!a eth re$lies9 >&4hP no* - think not' Situated as "e are "ith Eady Ialrym$le* #ousins* "e ought to e ,ery #areful not to em arrass her "ith a#=uaintan#es she might not a$$ro,eD .e had etter lea,e the Crofts to find their o"n le,el'&? @133A' +y saying that the Crofts should find their o"n :le,el&* Eli!a eth sho"s her o$inion that the Crofts are elo" not Fust the Ialrym$les* ut themsel,es as "ell' +y saying that they had etter not introdu#e the Crofts to their #ousins* she also sho"s her fear of eing turned a"ay from the Ialrym$les y introdu#ing them to the :"rong& $eo$le' The most im$ortant thing is to e seen as friends of the Ialrym$les* sin#e the a#=uaintan#e "ith them raises the Elliots& o"n so#ial status* and this situation must not e disru$ted y anything' Eli!a eth&s a$$re#iation of #lass* and her fear of other $eo$le #onsidering her lo"er than "hat she herself thinks she is* is also sho"n "hen the (usgro,es #ome to +ath' She does not "ant to gi,e a dinner $arty* e#ause that "ould sho" >the differen#e of style* the redu#tion of ser,ants? to >those "ho had al"ays een so inferior to the Elliots of Kellyn#h? so she #hooses to ha,e an e,ening $arty instead @//1A' Eli!a eth is so eager to maintain the image of the :Elliots of Kellyn#h& that she is a le to talk herself into not in,iting her sister "ith family to dinner* ut only to an e,ening gathering' This eha,iour sho"s that Eli!a eth ,alues #lass* and the image of #lass* mu#h more than family' Another in#ident that #learly sho"s Eli!a eth&s attitude to"ards #lass o##urs during the #on#ert' Anne is ha$$y e#ause she elie,es that Ca$tain .ent"orth is still in lo,e /0

"ith her* "hereas Eli!a eth is ha$$y e#ause she enters the #on#ert room >arm in arm "ith (iss Carteret* and looking on the road a#k of the do"ager Lis#ountess Ialrym$le efore her? @191A' .e #an here see that the only $ossi le sour#e of ha$$iness for Eli!a eth is "hen her so#ial status is in fo#us* and $refera ly high-lighted y a $erson of e,en higher #lass* su#h as the Ialrym$les' She does* most likely* find no satisfa#tion in the musi# or the #on,ersation* ut Fust eing seen in $u li# "ith $eo$le "ho make her look good is enough for her' Eli!a eth* like Sir .alter* a##e$ts that money #an e more im$ortant than #lass at the #on#ert* though a$$arently un"illingly' The real #hange of attitude for Eli!a eth* ho"e,er* #omes "hen she in,ites Ca$tain .ent"orth to the e,ening $arty she is thro"ing for the (usgro,es9 >The truth "as* that Eli!a eth had een long enough in +ath* to understand the im$ortan#e of a man of su#h an air and a$$earan#e as BCa$tain .ent"orth&sC' The $ast "as nothing' The $resent "as that Ca$tain .ent"orth "ould mo,e a out "ell in her dra"ing-room'? @/00-01A' Eli!a eth reali!es that Ca$tain .ent"orth* "ith all his money* is good #om$any in +ath* regardless of his la#k of so#ial status' -n other "ords* money has e#ome more im$ortant than #lass'

+. Mr )lliot
As "e ha,e ,ery little first hand information a out (r Elliot* mu#h of his #hara#ter is deri,ed from "hat (rs Smith tells Anne' -t a$$ears that (r Elliot* "hen he as a young man "as a$$roa#hed y Sir .alter* #onsidered money as mu#h more im$ortant than a title9
9-r Elliot1 at that perio of his life, ha one ob)ect in view ! to make a fortune, an by a rather 8uicker process than the law* 7e was etermine to make it by marriage* 7e was etermine , at least, not to mar it by an impru ent marriage; an : know it was his belief1 that your father an sister, in their civilities an invitations, were esigning a match between the heir an the young la y; an it was impossible that such a match shoul in epen ence*9" #$usten /;<' 9-oney, money was all that he wante * 37is wife9s5 father was a gra4ier, her gran father ha been a butcher, but that was all nothing* have answere his i eas of wealth an

/1

She was a fine woman, ha

ha

ecent e ucation, was brought

forwar by some cousins, thrown by chance into -r Elliot9s company, an fell in love with him; an not a ifficulty or a scruple was there on his si e, with respect to her birth* $ll his caution was spent in securing the real amount of her fortune, before he committe himself* =epen upon it; whatever esteem -r Elliot may have for his own situation in life now, as a young man he ha not the smallest value of it* 7is chance of the Kellynch estate was something, but all the honour of the family he hel as cheap as irt*9" #/;>'

These t"o e$isodes sho" ho" (r Elliot felt a out #lass as a young man9 he did not #are a out the title he "as to #ome into "hen Sir .alter died* saying that >if aronet#ies "ere salea le* any ody should ha,e his for fifty $ounds?* "hi#h sho"s that "hat he "anted "as money @/05-/09A' The only $art of his future inheritan#e that he "as interested in "as the Kellyn#h estate* "hi#h #ould generate money* something that "as ,ery im$ortant to him' The fa#t that he* in the letter to his friend* (rs Smith&s late hus and* insults the Elliot name y "riting that he "ished he had >any name ut Elliot? and that he is >si#k of? the name sho"s that he does not e)$e#t e,er to e in a $osition "here he "ould #are a out the title* as he must reali!e that Sir .alter might find out a out him s$eaking ill of the family @/10A' .hen he "rites that his first ,isit to Kellyn#h >"ill e "ith a sur,eyor? that #an hel$ him to > ring it "ith the est ad,antage to the hammer? he further em$hasi!es that his only #on#ern is money @/10A' +ut (r Elliot&s attitude to"ards #lass has* a$$arently* #hanged "hen he #omes to +ath* $ossi ly e,en efore the a#tual story of Persuasion starts' T"o situations "here "e #an see (r Elliot&s attitude to"ards #lass is "hen he and Anne dis#uss the Ialrym$les and* thought not as o$enly* (rs Clay9
9-y i ea of goo company, -r Elliot, is the company of clever, wellinforme people, who have a great eal of conversation; that is what : call goo company*9 ?@ou are mistaken1 that is not goo company, that is the best* Aoo company re8uires only birth, e ucation an manners, an with regar to e ucation is not very nice* Birth an goo manners are essential1 you have a better right to be fasti ious than almost any other woman : know; but will it answerB Will it make you happyB Will it not be wiser to accept the society of these goo la ies in 6aura-place, an en)oy all

//

the a vantages of the conne(ion as far as possibleB @ou may epen upon it, that they will move in the first set in Bath this winter, an as rank is rank, your being known to be relate to them will have its use in fi(ing your family1 in that egree of consi eration which we must all wish for9" #.C/-.C%' 9375ere you are in Bath, an the ob)ect is to be establishe here with all the cre it an ignity which ought to belong to Sir Walter Elliot* @ou talk of being prou , : am calle prou : know, an : shall not wish to believe myself otherwise, for our pri e, if investigate , woul have the same ob)ect, : have no We must feel that every a oubt, though the kin may seem a little ifferent* :n one point, : am sure, my ear cousin1 we must feel alike* ition to your father9s society, among his e8uals or superiors, may be of use iverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him*9 7e looke , as he spoke, to the seat which -rs ,lay ha been lately occupying*9" #.C%'

These t"o $assages sho" that (r Elliot feels that the most im$ortant thing is to asso#iate "ith $eo$le "ho make a $erson look etter9 one should* a$$arently* only so#iali!e "ith $eo$le "ho are :e=uals or su$eriors&* in other "ords higher u$ on the so#ial ladder' +ut this in itself is some"hat of a $arado)9 if $eo$le only asso#iate "ith those "ho are e=ual or a o,e themsel,es* there "ould not e anyone "ho "ould "illingly mi) "ith $eo$le elo" their o"n so#ial #lass* hen#e it "ould e im$ossi le to asso#iate "ith $eo$le "ho are higher on the so#ial s#ale' -t is also interesting to study the se#ond $assage "ith the ad,antage of kno"ing that* in the end* (r Elliot takes (rs Clay to Eondon and sets her u$ in a house there9 >B(r ElliotC soon =uitted +ath9 and on (rs Clay&s =uitting it like"ise soon after"ards* and eing ne)t heard of as esta lished under his $rote#tion in Eondon* it "as e,ident ho" dou le a game he had een $laying? @/2/A' -t "ould a$$ear that* though he tells Anne that he does not "ant Sir .alter to make a degrading mat#h* his a#tual interest is to kee$ (rs Clay a"ay from Sir .alter and* y doing this* a,oiding the $ossi ility that Sir .alter $rodu#es an heir' His des$eration to e#ome Sir .illiam is e,ident here9 he is "illing to take (rs Clay to Eondon* effe#ti,ely destroying oth their re$utations* to retain his future title' Cantor #laims that (r Elliot&s use of the terms :good& and :the est& #om$any is a referen#e to the Hreek meaning of aristo#ra#y 6 rule of the est 6 and that Austen "ith this

/0

"anted to $oint to the shift in the +ritish so#iety* "here the middle #lass "as re$la#ing the aristo#ra#y* not only in terms of "ealth* ut also "hen it #ame to $oliti#al $o"er9 that >the understanding of the aristo#ra#y BhadC een se,ered from the understanding of the est? @100A' Cantor argues that Persuasion sho"s that the aristo#ra#y no longer ased their right to rule on natural merit or su$rema#y in ,irtue* ut $urely on irth and* in reality* on sno ery' E,en if (r Elliot only says these things to Anne e#ause he "ants to $re,ent Sir .alter from marrying (rs Clay and y doing so assure himself of the title he is going to inherit* it still sho"s that he has no" #hanged his mind a out #lass' 4ne $ossi ility #an e that he no"* "hen he has all the money he #ould "ant* has started to reali!e that the aronet#y "ould hel$ him rise in so#iety* as (rs Smith says9 >Ha,ing long had as mu#h money as he #ould s$end* nothing to "ish for on the side of a,ari#e or indulgen#e* he has een gradually learning to $in his ha$$iness u$on the #onse=uen#e he is heir toD He #annot ear the idea of not eing Sir .illiam? @Austen /1/A' This #an e seen in #ontrast to the fa#t that (r Elliot* "hen younger* "rote to (rs Smith&s late hus and that he did not #are if Sir .alter remarried* sin#e then he "ould finally e left alone' (r Elliot&s rea#tion to the ne"s that Anne is marrying Ca$tain .ent"orth also sho"s his ne" a$$re#iation of #lass' -t "as* a$$arently* not his main o Fe#ti,e to marry Anne* ut to* as (rs Smith says >"at#h Sir .alter and (rs Clay? @/10A' .hen the o$$ortunity* as he sa" it* to marry Anne $resented itself* he reali!ed that he "ould $erha$s e a le to use his role as Sir .alter&s son-in-la" to $re,ent him from marrying (rs Clay' +ut "hen this $ossi ility disa$$eared* he turned to his se#ond $lan9 to remo,e (rs Clay from the $resen#e of Sir .alter* effe#ti,ely erasing the risk of Sir .alter remarrying 6 or at least marrying (rs Clay' +y this a#tion* he tried to as#ertain his o"n right to the title of Sir .illiam Elliot* and has gone from ,aluing money more than this title* to #onsidering so#ial status as more im$ortant than "ealth'

,. -ther characters
The three #hara#ters analy!ed a o,e 6 Sir .alter* Eli!a eth and (r Elliot 6 are the ones in "hom the im$ortan#e $la#ed on money and #lass #an e seen most o ,iously in the no,el* and the ones "ho #an e seen to #hange their minds in the matter* ut other #hara#ters also sho" an interest 6 if only on a su #ons#ious le,el 6 in the im$ortan#e of money and so#ial status'

/1

The $eo$le "ho a$$ear to e the least interested in money and #lass in the no,el are the (usgro,es' This #an e seen in their relationshi$ "ith their relati,es* the Hayter family* "ho are finan#ially and so#ially less "ell off* "here there is no >$ride on one side* and no en,y on the other? and "ith "hom they >had al"ays een on e)#ellent terms? @95A' -t is also $ossi le to see the la#k of im$ortan#e of #lass and money in regards to the marriages of the (iss (usgro,es* and mostly in Henrietta 6 more than on#e are "e made to understand that the most im$ortant thing for the (usgro,es is that their daughters are ha$$y* the fa#t that their hus ands do not ha,e mu#h money is less rele,ant9 >Charles&s attention to Henrietta had een o ser,ed y her father and mother "ithout any disa$$ro ation' :-t "ould not e a great mat#h for her9 ut if Henrietta liked him&? @95A' The unim$ortan#e of #lass for the (usgro,es #an also e seen "hen the (iss (usgro,es talk to Anne a out the fa#t that (ary al"ays "ants to >take $la#e of? (rs (usgro,e9 they think that >it "ould e a great deal etter if she "ere not so ,ery tena#ious? @3/A' They do not dou t >her right to ha,e $re#eden#eD ut it "ould e more e#oming in her not to e al"ays insisting on it? @3/A' -n other "ords* they do not think it is ne#essary to dis$lay one&s #lass to other $eo$le' This #an e seen in #om$lete #ontrast to (ary* as "ell as Sir .alter and Eli!a eth* "ho #onstantly "ant other $eo$le to see "hat #lass they elong to' +ut e,en here "e #an see that there is a line that #annot e #rossed 6 as Charles (usgro,e says in regards to (ary #onsidering Charles Hayter as a ad mat#h for Henrietta9 >:-t "ould not e a great mat#h for HenriettaD and you "ill $lease to remem er* that he is the eldest son9 "hene,er my un#le dies* he ste$s into ,ery $retty $ro$ertyD - grant you* that any of them ut Charles "ould e a ,ery sho#king mat#h for Henrietta* and indeed it #ould not e9 he is the only one that #ould e $ossi le&? @99-100A' So it a$$ears that* though the (usgro,es ha,e nothing against so#iali!ing "ith their finan#ially and so#ially inferior relati,es* there "ill e no more union et"een any of the younger #hildren* as only the eldest Hayter son "ould e good enough for the (usgro,e #hildren' Charles further sho"s that e,en the (usgro,es ,alue money to a #ertain e)tent "hen talking a out the $ossi ility of Ca$tain .ent"orth marrying one of his sisters9 he starts y saying that he has >ne,er seen a $leasanter man in his life? and then goes on to dis#uss .ent"orth&s fortune* "hi#h is >notD less than t"enty thousand $ounds? for se,eral lines @99A' This dis#ussion #learly sho"s that though it is im$ortant that the man in =uestion is $leasant* his fortune does matter* if not more* then at least e=ually' Eady Gussell #an also e seen to ,alue money and #lass9 it is* after all* e#ause Ca$tain .ent"orth has neither that she dis#ourages the union et"een him and Anne* a union /2

"hi#h she #onsiders "ould ha,e een >a most unfortunate one? @22A' She does not "ant Anne to in,ol,e herself "ith a man >"ho had nothing ut himself to re#ommend him? and >no #onne)ions to se#ure e,en his farther rise? in the na,y @22A' She thinks that Anne* if she marries Ca$tain .ent"orth* "ould e >snat#hed off y a stranger "ithout allian#e or fortune? 6 in other "ords* "ithout so#ial status or money @22-26A' The im$ortan#e Eady Gussell $la#es on money and #lass #an also e seen in the fa#t that she a$$arently en#ourages Anne to marry Charles (usgro,e* though she must kno" that Anne has no affe#tion for him9 >Eady Gussell had lamented BAnne&sC refusal9 for Charles (usgro,e "as the eldest son of a man* "hose landed $ro$erty and general im$ortan#e* "ere se#ond* in that #ountry* only to Sir .alter&s? @23A' Eady Gussell also #onsiders Sir .alter as a man deser,ing res$e#t* sim$ly ased on the fa#t that he is a +aronet9 >she had $reFudi#es on the side of an#estry9 she had a ,alue for rank and #onse=uen#e* "hi#h linded her a little to the faults of those "ho $ossessed them?* >she ga,e the dignity of a aronet all its due?* and she "as >aristo#rati# in her ideas of "hat "as due? to the Elliots @1/A' Eady Gussell does* ho"e,er* a$$ear to reali!e that a title is not the only thing that matters* at least not to other $eo$le* "hen she says that >though a great deal is due to the feelings of the gentleman* and the head of a houseD there is still more due to the #hara#ter of an honest man? @10A' Eady Gussell&s ,ie" of #lass is also seen "hen the Ialrym$les #ome to +ath' She says that she >had e)$e#ted something etter?* "hi#h #an only mean that she* sin#e the Ialrym$les are no ility* assumed them to e* automati#ally* $leasant $eo$le @16/A' Though they are* as Anne e)$resses it* >nothing?* Eady Gussell still thinks they are >an a#=uaintan#e "orth ha,ing? sim$ly e#ause they are no ility and "ill raise the status of the Elliots in +ath @16/A' Anne is also influen#ed y the $o"er of money* e,en if it is through Eady Gussell' -t is interesting to note that Anne says that >she should yet ha,e een a ha$$ier "oman in maintaining the engagement B"ith Ca$tain .ent"orthC* than she had een in the sa#rifi#e of it?* "hen she kno"s that he has made a fortune in the "ars @25A' This #an e seen in #ontrast to the fa#t that Anne* after ha,ing een reunited "ith Ca$tain .ent"orth later in the no,el* a#tually #laims the e)a#t o$$osite* that she >should ha,e suffered more in #ontinuing the engagement than BsheC did e,en in gi,ing it u$? @/15A' .e "ill* of #ourse* ne,er kno" if Anne "ould ha,e felt that she "ould ha,e een ha$$ier if she had maintained the engagement if Ca$tain .ent"orth had returned to +ritain "ithout any money* ut it is not a far lea$ to assume that she "ould ha,e felt ,ery differently in that #ase' /6

The fa#t that Anne does ,alue #lass to a #ertain e)tent #an also e seen in that she does not "ant her father to form an atta#hment to (rs Clay* that >results the most serious to his family from the intima#y "ere more than $ossi le? @6/A' .hat other reason #an there e for Anne to dis#ourage this $ossi le roman#e than the fa#t that (rs Clay is of an inferior #lass than her fatherO That Sir .alter #ould ,ery "ell ha,e gotten married again after Eady Elliot&s death is dis#ussed earlier in the no,el* and it is e,en $ointed out that the fa#t that he did not remarry needs e)$lanation' So it does a$$ear as if Anne is only against the relationshi$ e#ause it "ould e a degrading mat#h for her father' -t is* of #ourse* im$ossi le to kno" "hether Anne "ould ha,e dis#ouraged the relationshi$ if it e#ame an a#tual fa#t9 ut it is #lear to see that she does not "ant to risk this ha$$ening' Another #hara#ter that $la#es a great deal of im$ortan#e on money and #lass is (ary' The first in#lination "e ha,e of her attitude is "hen Anne arri,es at 7$$er#ross and (ary suggests they go for a "alk* #ontinuing y saying that they should not ,isit the (usgro,es efore they ha,e #ome to see Anne at the #ottage* e#ause they >ought to feel "hat is due to? Anne as (ary&s sister @63A' (ary #onsiders herself and her sisters as etter than the (usgro,es sin#e they are daughters of a +aronet* something that #an e seen se,eral times* for instan#e "hen she #om$lains to Anne that (rs (usgro,e >"as ,ery a$t not to gi,e B(aryC the $re#eden#e that "as her due? @3/A' (ary sho"s that her attitude to"ards $eo$le of :ne"& u$$er #lasses is similar to that of her father "hen she and Charles dis#uss "hi#h of the (iss (usgro,es Ca$tain .ent"orth is likely to marry' She says that it "ould e >a no le thing? for Henrietta if .ent"orth "as made a +aronet* ut that she herself >ne,er BthinksC mu#h ofD ne" #reations? @99A' -t does a$$ear that (ary "ould a$$re#iate .ent"orth eing made a +aronet* ut* as "e later reali!e* only if he marries Henrietta' After Anne and .ent"orth are married* (ary #learly sho"s that she does not "ant her sister to take $re#eden#e of herself* saying that >if they #ould ut kee$ Ca$tain .ent"orth from eing made a aronet?* she "ould e $erfe#tly ha$$y @/2/A' -n (ary&s ho$e that .ent"orth marries Henrietta* "e #an also see that she ,alues #lass9 it is only e#ause Henrietta has sho"n an interest in Charles Hayter* "hom (ary #onsiders a ad mat#h* that (ary is #on,in#ed that .ent"orth $refers Henrietta to Eouisa' Sin#e (ary >looked do"n ,ery de#idedly u$on the Hayters? it suits her $ur$oses est if .ent"orth marries Henrietta* thus remo,ing her from the arms of her #ousin @99A' Here "e #an also see the fa#t that (ary* like Eli!a eth* ,alues #lass and money more than lo,e9 (ary says that she does not think that >any young "oman has a right to make a #hoi#e that may e /3

disagreea le and in#on,enient to the principal $art of her family? @99A' -n other "ords* the feelings of the rest of the family in regards to the $otential marriage of a young "oman are more im$ortant than the feelings of the young "oman herself' (ary&s attitude to"ards #lass* and the fa#t that she "ants other $eo$le to kno" "hat #lass she elongs to* #an e seen during the "alk to .inthro$* "hen she an)iously assures Ca$tain .ent"orth* "ho does not #are in the least* that she has >ne,er een in the house a o,e t"i#e? in her life and that it is >,ery un$leasant* ha,ing su#h #onne)ions? @109A' .ent"orth has not #ommented on the situation at all* ut (ary still feels the need to dis$lay her o"n #lass and the fa#t that she does not so#iali!e "ith $eo$le of inferior status'

.. Conclusions
-n #on#lusion* a #hange of attitude "hen it #omes to #lass and money #an e seen in the three main #hara#ters that - ha,e fo#used on* Sir .alter* Eli!a eth and (r Elliot* during the #ourse of the story' These #hanges #an also e seen to ha,e their roots in $ersonal #hanges as "ell as e)ternal #ir#umstan#es' Sir .alter* "ho* in the eginning* thinks of #lass as su$erior to money* resents the Ma,y for ringing men "ho do not deser,e it into res$e#tful $la#es in so#iety* #annot see ho" a man "ithout $ro$erty #an e a gentleman* and disregards the feelings of $eo$le "ho he #onsiders to e eneath him* in the end reali!es that money is more im$ortant than #lass 6 at least "hen one has less money than one might "ant or need' Eli!a eth* "ho from the start of the no,el is seen as someone "ho ,alues so#ial status infinitely more than "ealth* #annot imagine marrying elo" her o"n status in so#iety* truly elie,es that lo,e #annot o,er#ome #lass* and is ha$$iest "hen her o"n so#ial status is e,ident and em$hasi!ed* finally reali!es that money #an gi,e a $erson a higher $la#e in so#iety and make them a desira le a#=uaintan#e' (r Elliot* "ho married a "oman "ho "as elo" him on the so#ial ladder in order to o tain "ealth* disregarded the title he "as to inherit and "ished he #ould ha,e a different name* #hanges his mind "hen he has all the money he #ould "ant and starts to desire the title that he may inherit one day* doing e,erything he #an to make sure that this "ill ha$$en' -t a$$ears* in short* that the attitudes to #lass and money #hange oth as the situation of the #hara#ter #hanges* and as the e)ternal #ir#umstan#es #hange'

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Ca$tain .ent"orth is* in the end* #onsidered a good mat#h for Anne for t"o reasons9 he has himself o tained a fortune sin#e he and Anne last met* and the fortune of the Elliot family has een signifi#antly redu#ed' (r Elliot "ishes to e#ome Sir .illiam e#ause he no" has the money he desired "hen younger' -t #an also e seen that other #hara#ters in Persuasion, "ho at first a$$ear to $la#e no ,alue on so#iety&s a$$re#iation of #lass and money* do in fa#t* if not ,alue them* then at least reali!e and re#ogni!e that the issues do e)ist' Anne* "ho "anted nothing more than to marry Ca$tain .ent"orth* "ith a fortune or "ithout* still de#ides to end the engagement after eing ad,ised to do so y Eady Gussell' She #an also e seen to* if not dis#ourage* then at least try to $re,ent a relationshi$ et"een her father and a "oman of inferior irth' E,en the (usgro,es* "ho on first a$$earan#e seem to disregard e,erything that has to do "ith money and #lass* kno" that there is an in,isi le line that #annot e #rossed9 they do not mind so#iali!ing "ith their less "ell-off relati,es* and it is not a $ro lem that Henrietta "ants to marry the eldest son of the family* ut the idea that any of the younger #ousins "ould* in the future* marry into the (usgro,e family is unthinka le' -n short* e,en the #hara#ters "ho do not want to ,alue #lass and money* are for#ed to a#kno"ledge the fa#t that so#iety does 6 that there are oundaries e,en if you do not "ant to admit that they are there'

/9

"iblio raphy
/rimary
Austen* %ane' Persuasion' Eondon8 Kenguins +ooks Etd* 1952'

&econdary
"oo#s Childers* %ose$h and Hary Hent!i* eds' Columbia ictionary of Modern !iterary and Cultural Criticism' Me" Nork8 Colum ia 7ni,ersity Kress* 1992' Co$eland* Ed"ard and %uliet (#(aster* eds' The Cambridge Companion to "ane #usten' Cam ridge8 Cam ridge 7ni,ersity Kress* 1993' Eagleton* Terry' Mar$ism and !iterary Criticism% Eondon8 Goutledge Classi#s* /00/' Haslett* (oyra% Mar$ist !iterary and Cultural Theories' +asingstoke8 (#(illan Kress Etd* /000' Articles Cantor* Kaul A' >A Class A#t8 Kersuasion and the Eingering Ieath of the Aristo#ra#y?' Khiloso$hy and Eiterature' /0'1 @1999A' 1/3-103' 5 4#t' /005' htt$8RRmuse'Fhu'edu'e!$ro)y' i 'hh'seRFournalsR$hiloso$hySandSliteratureR,0/0R/0'1#antor'ht ml Clausen* Christo$her' >%ane Austen Changes Her (ind?' Ameri#an S#holar' 65'/ @1999A' 5999' 1/ Mo,' /005' T htt$8RR"e 'e s#ohost'#om'e!$ro)y' i 'hh'seRehostRdetailO,idU1VhidU5VsidU0/60292 23e0-1619-5ff1-d31e3992 W0dYd UafhVAMU152196/ e/W10sessionmgr9V dataU%nM$dH79Q.h,#0Xt Hl/QXW0d

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Io"nie* %ames A' >.ho Says She&s a +ourgeois .riterO 6 Ge#onsidering the So#ial and Koliti#al Conte)ts of %ane Austen&s Mo,els?' Eighteenth Century Studies' 10'1 @/006A' 69-51' 9 4#t' /005' htt$8RRmuse'Fhu'edu'e!$ro)y' i 'hh'seRFournalsReighteenth#enturySstudiesR,010R10'1do"nie'html (artin* Hraham' >Austen and #lass?' .omen&s .riting' 2'1 @1995A 101-111' /1 4#t' /005' htt$8RRd)'doi'orgR10'1050R09699059500/000/5 Internet resources >(ar)ism? En#y#lo$Zdia +ritanni#a' /005' En#y#lo$Zdia +ritanni#a 4nline' 1/ 4#t' /005 Thtt$8RRsear#h'e '#omRe Rarti#le-02110[ >(ar)ism? En#y#lo$Zdia +ritanni#a' /005' En#y#lo$Zdia +ritanni#a 4nline' 1/ 4#t' /005 Thtt$8RRsear#h'e '#omRe Rarti#le-02111[ Tim S$urgin' English 60A 6 Contem$orary Criti#al Theory' 0 4#t' 1996' Ea"ren#e 7ni,ersity' 11 4#t' /005' Thtt$8RR"""'la"ren#e'eduRde$tREMHE-SHRC47GSESR60ARmar)ist'html[ >Titles and Kre#eden#e? The %ane Austen Centre 6 Cele rating +ath&s most famous resident' The %ane Austen Centre' 5 Mo,' /005 Thtt$8RR"""'Faneausten'#o'ukRmaga!ineR$age'ihtmlO $idU0/5Vste$U1[

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