Manners, Law and Society in Jane Austen's Persuasion
Added on 2023-06-03
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Running head: MANNERS, LAW AND SOCIETY
Manners, Law and Society
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:
Manners, Law and Society
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:
1MANNERS, LAW AND SOCIETY
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational
creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”
The above quoted lines of Anne Elliot from Jane Austen’s famous novel “Persuasion”
in a succinct manner provide an overview of the theme which dominates the majority of her
literary compositions. Campbell et al. (2017) are of the viewpoint that a close analysis of the
major novels of Jane Austen would reveal a female protagonist who instead of affirming to
the standard set of ideals or manners that the refined ladies of the age were expected to
display indulges in the kind of actions or manners which is repudiated by the society. As
opined by Wheeler (2016), the literary works of Austen can be seen as the great divide which
separates the literature of the 18th century from that of the 17th century and also the earlier
ages.
Zionkowski and Hart (2015) have stated that the basic difference between the works
of Austen and that of the earlier literary artists not only lies in the fact that she choose the
novel as her artistic vehicle in contrast to the general trend of poetry and play but also in the
themes that she choose to use in her works. For example, in the majority of her novels a
woman is seen who refuses to abide by the traditional norms, laws, mannerisms and other
standards set by the society for the fined gentlewomen or the ladies of the 18th century
(Russo, 2017). In this regard, Moore (2017) has argued that the majority of her novels belong
to the category of social novels or social chronicles wherein she tries to highlight the
mannerism, social trends, the lifestyle and the other aspects of the life of the 18th century
people of England. This essay will undertake a detailed analysis of Jane Austen’s novel
“Persuasion” in the light of Edmund Burke’s comment: “Manners are of more importance
than laws.....like that of the air we breathe in”.
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational
creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”
The above quoted lines of Anne Elliot from Jane Austen’s famous novel “Persuasion”
in a succinct manner provide an overview of the theme which dominates the majority of her
literary compositions. Campbell et al. (2017) are of the viewpoint that a close analysis of the
major novels of Jane Austen would reveal a female protagonist who instead of affirming to
the standard set of ideals or manners that the refined ladies of the age were expected to
display indulges in the kind of actions or manners which is repudiated by the society. As
opined by Wheeler (2016), the literary works of Austen can be seen as the great divide which
separates the literature of the 18th century from that of the 17th century and also the earlier
ages.
Zionkowski and Hart (2015) have stated that the basic difference between the works
of Austen and that of the earlier literary artists not only lies in the fact that she choose the
novel as her artistic vehicle in contrast to the general trend of poetry and play but also in the
themes that she choose to use in her works. For example, in the majority of her novels a
woman is seen who refuses to abide by the traditional norms, laws, mannerisms and other
standards set by the society for the fined gentlewomen or the ladies of the 18th century
(Russo, 2017). In this regard, Moore (2017) has argued that the majority of her novels belong
to the category of social novels or social chronicles wherein she tries to highlight the
mannerism, social trends, the lifestyle and the other aspects of the life of the 18th century
people of England. This essay will undertake a detailed analysis of Jane Austen’s novel
“Persuasion” in the light of Edmund Burke’s comment: “Manners are of more importance
than laws.....like that of the air we breathe in”.
2MANNERS, LAW AND SOCIETY
“Persuasion” published after the death of Jane Austen in 1817 is not only her last
novel but is generally considered to be among her most matured ones as well (Murphy,
2017). According to Garcia (2018), the novel, just like the other novels of Austen depicts the
flight and also the challenges faced by a girl in her late twenties who is from an old yet
financially unstable family. On the other hand, Campbell et al. (2017) have argued that the
theme of love is a common one in almost all the major novels of Austen including
“Persuasion”. Furthermore, just like “Pride and Prejudice” and others, this novel also depicts
the hardships faced by a woman in getting love and acceptance in the society which generally
associates love and acceptance with wealth (Wilson, 2015).
The novel narrates the story of Anne Elliot, a 27 year old woman from a financial
unstable family (Collins, 2016). The novel begins seven years after the engagement between
Anne Elliot and Commander Frederick Wentworth had been broken because of the
impoverished family background and also the financial status of Wentworth (White, 2018).
However, presently the Elliot family find themselves in stiff financial conditions and to
overcome this condition they decide to lease out their home and they move to Bath so as to
save money. The house is rented by an admiral whose wife’s brother is Wentworth, who has
become financially success in the past seven years (White, 2018). Anne and Wentworth in the
subsequent sections of the novel find that they have not been able to overcome the feelings
that they had for the other in the seven years. However, it is only at the end of the novel after
a series of trials and misadventures that the couple is being reunited after a time span of more
than seven years (Steiner, 2016). Zionkowski and Hart (2015) are of the viewpoint the
manners and also the clash of these manners that the novel seems to depict is as important to
the plot of the novel as the love story of Anne and Wentworth.
A basis overview of the novel would reveal that the novel is primarily concerned
with the love as were the majority of the novels which were written in the 18the century (The
“Persuasion” published after the death of Jane Austen in 1817 is not only her last
novel but is generally considered to be among her most matured ones as well (Murphy,
2017). According to Garcia (2018), the novel, just like the other novels of Austen depicts the
flight and also the challenges faced by a girl in her late twenties who is from an old yet
financially unstable family. On the other hand, Campbell et al. (2017) have argued that the
theme of love is a common one in almost all the major novels of Austen including
“Persuasion”. Furthermore, just like “Pride and Prejudice” and others, this novel also depicts
the hardships faced by a woman in getting love and acceptance in the society which generally
associates love and acceptance with wealth (Wilson, 2015).
The novel narrates the story of Anne Elliot, a 27 year old woman from a financial
unstable family (Collins, 2016). The novel begins seven years after the engagement between
Anne Elliot and Commander Frederick Wentworth had been broken because of the
impoverished family background and also the financial status of Wentworth (White, 2018).
However, presently the Elliot family find themselves in stiff financial conditions and to
overcome this condition they decide to lease out their home and they move to Bath so as to
save money. The house is rented by an admiral whose wife’s brother is Wentworth, who has
become financially success in the past seven years (White, 2018). Anne and Wentworth in the
subsequent sections of the novel find that they have not been able to overcome the feelings
that they had for the other in the seven years. However, it is only at the end of the novel after
a series of trials and misadventures that the couple is being reunited after a time span of more
than seven years (Steiner, 2016). Zionkowski and Hart (2015) are of the viewpoint the
manners and also the clash of these manners that the novel seems to depict is as important to
the plot of the novel as the love story of Anne and Wentworth.
A basis overview of the novel would reveal that the novel is primarily concerned
with the love as were the majority of the novels which were written in the 18the century (The
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