Faded Flowers
In the first few pages of Persuasion we are introduced to Sir Walter Elliot and his descendants via an entry in the Baronetage. Austen goes on to give her readers the briefest of snapshots of specific individuals. Sir Walter, for whom "vanity was the beginning and the end of...character" (6); his deceased wife, "an excellent woman, sensible and amiable" (6); Lady Russell, "of steady age and character" (7); Elizabeth, "very like [her father]" (7); Mary, who had "acquired a little artificial importance" through marriage (7); and finally, Anne--Anne who is "nobody" in the eyes of her father or sisters...Anne, who is "only Anne" to her immediate family...Anne, whose "bloom had vanished early"...Anne who is, well, just Anne.
And yet we suspect that this is not entirely true. We suspect that Anne is somehow much more than what we are first shown. (After all, this is her story, and you can't have a story about "nobody.")
As you read, be on the lookout for moments that hint at Anne's true identity and character, whether that be through her actions, her words, or her thoughts and observations, which often (but not always) reflect those of the narrator.
Who is Anne Elliot, really? Are your initial impressions confirmed throughout Book I, or do they change? If so, why? As always, be sure to include page number references. And remember that blog comments are now subject to grading. Write substantively and proofread carefully.
Happy reading.
From the point where I am at in the reading (the beginning of Chapter 5), Anne Elliot is, in my mind, a young woman who deeply desires to be accepted by her family. We know very little about her as of now, yet we have seen her make drastic decisions for the sole purpose of pleasing them.
ReplyDeleteShe fell in love with Captain Wentworth, a man who "had no fortune. He has been lucky in his profession, but spending freely, what had come freely, had realized nothing." (pg. 27). Anne fell deeply in love with him despite all that. However, Lady Russell felt differently. She despised his "sanguine temper, and fearlessness of mind" (pg. 27). Now, to some, this scenario may be of no value. So what if Lady Russell is not pleased with Anne's particular choice in men? However, to Anne, this left her in turmoil and "such opposition was more than she could combat" (pg. 27). After only a few months, Lady Russell persuaded her that "the engagement was a wrong thing"(pg. 27) and so she left the one she loved in hopes of gaining approval with her family.
The ironic situation behind all this is that Anne was and is still in love with him. Her feelings never left and now that he may be returning, her heart longs to see him again. This just goes to show that her decision was not a rational one. Rather, it was one she made purely based upon the opinions of others. To me, she seems to be easily persuaded and someone I would classify as a "conformer." She knows that she does not fit in with her family, yet she will do what it takes to meet their standards and gain their acceptance.
We will have to see if she continues this behavior throughout the rest of the book. Or, will she plot her own story and leave her family behind? I vote for the latter.
When reading the story the reader has sense that Anne is not a nobody. That is just the way her family sees her. When discussing what to do with her father’s estate because he needs the money, Anne’s thoughts and ideas were respected by Mr. Shepard. The other people talking also seemed surprised by what she was saying made sense. ( 20). This shows Anne is a smart woman but her family view her as a nobody and that is why they were surprised with her ideas and thoughts. Anne is important to Mary. When the family is moving to Bath, Mary wants Anne to stay with her. She said, “I possible cannot do without her.” (32). I believe this shows that the opinions of the story come more from her father and older sister. Another spot in the book that talks fondly about Anne Elliot is on page 26. It describes her as beautiful and having a good mind. Based on what I have read so far in the story I believe this story is going to disprove how they introduced the Anne. They are going to convince the reader that Anne is a somebody.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that at the beginning of the book I indeed thought Anne was a “nobody”; I was a bit disappointed to learn that we would be reading about someone whose “father had found little to admire in her” (7). The story became especially disheartening when Mary insisted that Anne accompany her to Uppercross Cottage: as Mary and Elizabeth discuss Anne’s situation and make her decisions for her, the narrator comments that “To be claimed as a good, though in an improper style, is at least better than being rejected as no good at all” (32). It was at this point in the book that I felt truly sorry for Anne, as her family treats her as though she is only a material possession.
ReplyDeleteMy opinions of Anne are beginning to change, however, the more we are given glimpses of her intelligence. For example, Anne seems to have a great deal more common sense than Mary; this is especially evident when Mary becomes upset with Anne for not coming to her aid at sooner, even though Anne points out that Mary gave no indication whatsoever that she was in need of any help (37). We also see Anne’s sharpness of mind when she recognizes that Admiral and Mrs. Croft’s driving is symbolic of their marriage (85-86) and when it is revealed that she is well-versed in poetry and literature (93-94). These snippets of Anne’s mental capacity, for me, make her seem a bit more credible, as if she really is more than a “nobody”.
The first introduction of Annie through the opinions of her father and other people was overwhelmingly negative, and portrayed her as being a shy, useless part of the family. Surprisingly reading on, a completely opposite portrayal of Annie comes out. Her sisters both Mary and Elizabeth both feel the same distaste toward her and does her father, but as shown (p. 36 & 40) Annie was the only one to come to Mary's assistance when she was ill. Mary depends on Annie for many different aspects in her life, but at the same time treats her badly and basically tells her she’s useless, by asking what Annie could have to possibly do, implying that Annie's sole important job should be to cater to Mary (p. 37). Annie serves to be a mediator between Mary and her husband and is shown to be the important "glue" that keeps everyone together and functioning knowing full well how low and useless her family thinks of her and still performs tasks and favors for her family. Her father and older sister Elizabeth are particularly hard and judgmental on Annie, even though Annie is shown through first few chapters to be progressively important and instrumental to help her family keep things running well and is actually a very considerate and selfless person to help her family that they take advantage of her for.
ReplyDeleteOne line that really struck me was Elizabeth's on page 32. She says "..I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody will want her in Bath." In those words Elizabeth sums up the entire family's opinion of Anne; she is unimportant, might as well leave her behind.
ReplyDeleteHowever, many people confide in Anne and trust her good judgement and tact. They go to her with their qualms and suggest that she approach others about their shortcomings. On pages 42 to 44 Mary, Charles, and Mrs. Musgrove all confide in her with contradicting ideas. Anne does her best to soothe them all and to defend her sister as much as possible without angering anyone.
In Chapter 7 Anne is faced with the horrifying prospect of seeing her former love, Frederik Wentworth. She shows a maturity that her sister Mary cannot even fathom by behaving rationally and mastering her emotions. Although the whole ordeal is very stressful to her, she remains low key and under control. She doesn't let her imagination run away with her with ideas of rekindling their romance, but is instead convinced that they are finished and he has moved on. The reader is left with a sense that maybe she is being too rational and pessimistic-- maybe there is hope that she may have a happy ending with Wentworth.
I have no idea how someone could disagree that Anne is a “nobody” based on the beginning of the book, specifically chapter one. Based on the perceptions of her entire family, mainly her father, Sir Walter, he does almost anything to belittle his daughter. As the book progresses, even in chapter two, the reader starts to see a different, somewhat more important character that Anne is and could be.
ReplyDeleteThe first major instance of Anne’s importance is portrayed in chapter two on page thirteen when Anne is asked to provide her opinion. This moment of importance is also credited to Lady Russell because she is the one who actually confronts Anne and honestly does care what Anne has to say. On the next two pages in chapter two, the reader starts to understand Anne’s take on this moving situation. Anne wishes for another house in the country in the same general location and lets the reader know that she does not favor moving to Bath at all (p. 14, 15).
Later on in chapter three, the reader gets the notion that Anne may not be respected at all by most of her family, but she knows her knowledge of sailors and navy men (p. 20). This could be contributed to her prior engagement, and this knowledge was looked over by her father because of the lack of acceptance. Then in chapter five, Anne’s importance to Mary is shown. “Well you will be better now, I always cure you when I come,” (p. 36).
It is sad the Anne is portrayed like this at the beginning of the book, especially by her father and others, but there is no doubt, even by chapter seven, that Anne has much more importance. I can foresee that Anne will become a key character in that she will start changing other characters and largely add to the overall story by the midway point.
I did not let the things that Anne's father said about her taint the way I viewed her character from the beginning of the story. Anne's father "found little to admire in her" (p. 7). Right from the beginning of the story, he says that basically nothing was significant about his daughter and he clearly favors Elizabeth the most of the three daughters.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts did not change of Anne because I think that these claims are very cynical and are very harsh coming from her own father. I have found other people within the book who clearly admire Anne and her real character, that is unrecognizable to her family. Lady Russell clearly favors Anne to all of the other girls and recognizes special qualities in her. The text reads, "to Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favourite and friend" (p. 7). Another example of a woman that took particular interest in Anne was Mrs. Musgrove. She always appreciated Anne's music and talent and told her "Well done, Miss Anne! very well done indeed! Lord Bless me! how those little fingers of yours fly about!"(p. 45). If many other people within the story are fond of Anne, I find it hard to believe that her father's and sisters' judgements are accurate by describing her in such a negative manner.
Lastly, there was one act in particular that stuck out to me in proving that Anne was a very caring and giving person, unlike the uselessness that had been described earlier by her family. This particular action was when Anne volunteered to stay home and watch Mary's sick child for her ( p. 44). I thought this was a very generous thing for Anne to do, therefore, I would assume that Anne's character does not fit the description her family gave her, and I will continue to observe her identity throughout this book.
Christy Hunter
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the descriptions of all the characters so obsessed with their own importance and appearances (Elizabeth, Mary, Sit Walter), I was immediately intrigued by the one person these shallow people don't find interesting at all: Anne. I think it's very telling that Mary's children "love her [Anne] nearly as well, and respect her a great deal more than her mother" (41). I think that children, especially in stories, are excellent judges of character. The fact that they love and respect Anne illustrates the deep- hearted goodness that she has.
Even though Anne has realized her ability to be persuaded into not marrying Frederick Wentworth was a bad thing, she continues tdemonstrate this character trait of giving into others. When Louisa is hurt and not allowed to travel, Anne is excited at the prospect of staying with her to help any way she can. Mary causes a fuss about this and demands to stay, even though everyone knows that Anne would be so much more help to the situation than Mary. Eventually, her nagging causes her husband to give in and then "the change of Mary for Anne was inevitable" (107). I hate that Anne went along with this arrangement. It illustrates once again that under the face of pressure from her familty and intimates, Anne can not and will not stick up for herself. The text goes on to state that "Anne had never submitted more reluctantly to the jealous and ill-judging claims of Mary; but so it must be" (107). Again, I don't think Anne is putting up enough of a fight. Worse, she is internalizing her own inferiority by thoughts such as "so it must be" (107). Anne may be comforted by thoughts of inevitability, but I'm not convinced. While Anne is clearly a sacrificing and loving person, I would love to see her transform into someone that can find a healthy balance between independence and dependence.
Anne is a strong person is a quite, unappreciated sort of way. She reminds me of the wife and mother that works both inside and outside of the home, sacrificing everything in her life to give it all to her husband and children and never getting anything back. A mother like that never complains but holds her head up because she is doing what she feels is best for her family. Anne sacrifices what is most important to her in order to do what she feels is the best for her family. While her pain is severe she still does not regret listening to her family and she holds no ill feelings toward them for wishing her to end her relationship. (Ch. IV, p. 28) It takes extremely strong character to do what you feel is best for the ones you love when it is directly contradictory to what your heart wants you to do.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the story, Anne is shown to be a "nobody," but just to her family (7). She is also said to have "an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding" (7). This made her seem, to me at least, to be a more complex character than her family sees her as, and even as a more complex person than her family members. Within the same paragraph, it is said that Lady Russell loves Anne the most because she is the daughter most like the late Lady Elliot. In Chapter 2, Lady Russell is seen consulting Anne with the family's money issues which "nobody else thought of doing," because Anne seems to be the only one in the family with her head on straight (13). Anne is aware of the family's economic situation while the rest of the family seems to dense to understand what is going on and can't seem to see that having "Every comfort of life knocked off!" would actually be good for them (14). Her family won't allow her to go to Bath because she is useless, which actually seems to be quite the polar opposite since she knows about money.
ReplyDeleteWe also find out about a romance that Anne had had with Captain Wentworth. She was persuaded into breaking the engagement because of Lady Russell's urging. It says she had been beautiful at nineteen, and Lady Russell was concerned that she'd be throwing herself away too young and without ever meeting the other potential men out there (27). Fast forward to the present, and Anne is still hung up on Captain Wentworth and "faded and thin" (7). The romance seems of no importance to her family because they never mentioned the relation of the name "Wentworth" to Anne's ex-fiance. In Chapter 6, Mrs. Croft, Captain Wentworth's sister, is expecting her brother to visit and when telling Anne, doesn't mention the fact that they were once engaged.
To others, Anne doesn't seem to be much of anything. But they still rely on her. Mary's children love her, she is trusted to keep all of the secrets of everyone in Mary's extended family, and is depended on to keep Mary in good spirits. Anne isn't allowed to have her own life when she is with her family, they come first. Anne has to live her life and be herself all by herself. Nobody sees Anne as anymore than "just Anne," except for Anne, and sometimes Lady Russell.
When I started reading the first couple of chapters, I was very surprised that Anne is hardly even present in the narrative. When she is mentioned, it is only in reference to the fact that her father and sister see her as nobody and believe that "her word had no weight" (Ch I, pg. 7). When she finally does speak up about solutions to her families debt, her ideas are basically ignored by everyone except for Lady Russell. This was definitely not what I expected from the supposed protagonist of the novel.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in the middle chapters of the first book, Austen begins to reveal a different side of Anne's character. It seems that she is far more important to her family than they know, and that she plays a crucial role in holding them all together. Her suggestions for the family's financial situation are the most sensible and most focused on getting them out of debt quickly. Furthermore, it seems to me that without Anne, Lady Russell might not be so inclined to help the Elliots, since Anne is clearly her favorite. Finally, the most obvious example of her importance is seen in her relationship with Mary and the Musgroves. When Mary experiences her frequent sicknesses and various ailments, she says, "I cannot possibly do without Anne" (Ch. V, pg. 32). Also, while she is staying in Uppercross, Anne is "treated with too much confidence by all parties" (Ch. VI, pg. 42), and she does her best to address all of their complaints. Throughout these chapters, it is clear that Anne is content to take a backseat to her relatives, and she puts the needs of others far ahead of her own.
The only time that Anne seems to show concern for herself is in regard to her relationship with Frederick Wentworth. Although she broke off a previous engagement to him at the request of her family and Lady Russell, she now regrets this decision and feels she should have followed her own heart. She thinks that despite her family's disapproval, "she should yet have been a happier woman in maintaining the engagement, than she had been in the sacrifice of it" (Ch. IV, pg. 29). This idea of Anne's seems to contradict many aspects of her character, and it is beginning to change my thoughts about her. As she begins to spend more time with Wentworth, it will be interesting to see if her character continues to move in this different direction.
When I first began reading I really did not see Anne’s character at all. She seemed to be a daughter who no one seemed to care for. Her family did not seem to support many of her decisions, like her being engaged to Sir Walter. In ch 4 pg 27 the narrator says this “ She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing-indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it.” Thus we find out that Anne calls the engagement off, when this was not what she wanted at all but was pressured by her family.
ReplyDeleteAnne also seems to be forced to move to bath where in ch 2 pg 15 she makes it clear that she does not want to move there at all. She says this “ she disliked bath and did not think it agreed with her- and Bath was to be her home.” Then slowly through the chapters Anne’s character starts to really come out. The first time Anne has an effect on her family is when they are looking for a tenant. When Anne had previously been engaged she gained a lot of knowledge about servicemen. In ch 3 she talks about “the sailors work hard enough for their comforts we must all allow” this is one of the first times we see Anne really stand up to her family and add her two cents about something.
I think my impression of Anne has changed a little, because she cares more about her family members who sometimes do not seem to care as much about her. I really think she wants to be accepted by her family and help them through this tough time. She is often the one that her sisters go to confide in, and Anne is there to give advice and soothe them.
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ReplyDeleteI immediately had questionable opinions on the father because of his self-absorbed personality. I did not think that the way he felt about any of his daughters was completely reliable. He is obviously going to give a much better interpretation of Elizabeth than is most likely true. The more I read, I think the two (Elizabeth and her father) are rude and unfair. Sir Elliot even says, “Elizabeth would, one day or other, marry suitably,” but is does not believe that Anne will (8). However, Elizabeth is older than Anne no matter what the looks are. I think this proves to his unreliability.
ReplyDeleteI think that Anne is a good and kind person. I am not sure how she got that way because her father is quite the opposite. Lady Russell even believes, “…she was the most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favourite and friend,” (7). I think that looking at Lady Russell’s opinion is reliable to some degree. Also, I think the fact that men have wanted to marry Anne (Wentworth and Charles) and Elizabeth was denied multiple times speaks out for their character. I also think that the way Anne reacts to hearing the comments made by her ex fiancé gives an insight to her good character. Mary says, “Captain Wentworth is not very gallant by you, Anne though he was so attentive to me. Henrietta asked him what he thought of you, when they went away; and he said, ‘You were so altered he should not have known you again’,” (57). The narrator responds, “Anne fully submitted, in silent, deep mortification,” (57). I think this interaction shows us that she is non-confrontational but also respectful. After my reading, I do not think that she was ever given a chance to blossom.
She is forced into things and does not get much say in her life. I think that so far she is a sympathetic character. As a reader I feel for her and the fact that she almost has no voice. Her father does not give her any credit and her sisters are extreme. When she was first engaged, she truly loved him. However as the narrator states, “She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing—indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it,” and did not go through with it. This statement proves that she was “persuaded” meaning that she did not originally feel like the marriage was wrong. Also, using the word “believe” gives a sense that it is not so. This goes back to prove that she is something and not nothing but she has not had the chance to show anyone because she has been beat down by her father and sisters.
It's interesting to note that in Ch. 1 when the narrator gives descriptions of Sir Walter's children, they all seem to be from the perspective of Sir Walter. The three girls seem to be ranked in importance from eldest to youngest. Anne being the youngest, she is considered to be of little to no importance in the eyes of her family; all except to their neighbor Lady Russell. Although it is clear in the beginning of the story, Anne is seen as a "nobody", already in chapter 2 you see the importance of her character emerge.
ReplyDeleteI found it ironic that although Anne is belittled so much, she seems to give some valid input in her family's affairs. For example, in the beginning of chapter 2, while Lady Russell was planning out the Elliot family's budget and expenses, "she did, what nobody else thought of doing, consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question" (13). There were other instances where Anne's opinions were validated in her conversations with Mr. Shepard (20, 24).
Another point to note of Anne's character can be seen in chapter 4 when Anne recollects her memories of her past relationship with Captain Wentworth. Although she is painfully reminded of her family rejecting any notion of their engagement, she displays a mature side which can be contrasted to what we see of her older sister Mary in chapter 5. She remains strong and steadfast and moves on with her life, while her sister stays in bed all day in lonely grief complaining that she does not have anyone's company.
Although the first chapter illustrates a rather sad and pitiful description of Anne, already within the next few chapters I am inclined to believe there is much more complexity and maturity in Anne than what her family gives credit for.
Scott Evenson
ReplyDeleteAnne Elliot initially seems to be of little importance to her family but she is not a “nobody”; her father just doesn’t see anything in her. “He had never indulged much hope, he had none now, of ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work,” (7-8). Her father only cares about his family name and appearances so from his point of view Anne has little to offer when in reality this is just not true. On page 13 Lady Russell asks her advice and Anne has confidence in her plan of action. Words like vigorous, complete reformation, and higher tone don’t really portray her as timid.
As the pages turn Anne became more interesting to me. While Mary would like to wait for the Musgroves to call on them Anne says, “I should never think of standing on such ceremony with people I know so well as Mrs. And the Miss Musgroves,” (38). I felt like Mary was really stuffy after this. The formality of calling and social gatherings is like a game to her, a game where you have to follow the rules very carefully. Anne doesn’t care for trivial displays and I like that. Later on page 39 the Musgroves are described as, “not at all elegant,” and as, “some of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance.” She envies their, “good-humoured mutual affection.” She seems to be the one character in the book that could enjoy herself regardless of the class of company she is with but it is not a result of being naïve.
The more distinguishable point showing Anne’s change in attitude from age 19 to age 27 come on page 57. She had, “used him”, “shown feebleness of character”, and, “given him up to oblige others” as a result of over-persuasion. I felt that in this passage that she had had a change of heart and attitude in the passing years. Maybe she was young then and easily manipulated but now she knows well enough to listen to herself. Yes Anne changed much from the beginning to the end of Book I.
Although the first couple pages of Persuasion leads the reader to believe that Anne is a "nobody," whose "word had no wait" (7), her character starts to shine through as more individuals are introduced in the novel.
ReplyDeleteIt is apparent throughout my readings thus far that Anne's father and sisters do not really care about her or respect her. Her father had "never indulged much hope" in her (7). Her sister, Mary, bosses her around, constantly asking her for assistance and her company (37-38). However, other characters seem to notice Anne's worth. With the appearance of Lady Russell, we see that she Anne is important to people outside of her family. Lady Russell favored Anne and thought that she held the characteristics of her mother (7). Also, Captain Wentworth, whom Anne was engaged to years earlier, seems to see worth in her. It is implied that Captain Wentworth thought Anne had a strong mind and sweet manners (58). In general, it seems that the nuanced characteristics of Anne only appear in conjunction with people outside of her family. Her friends and acquaintances are of vital importance in illustrating Anne's qualities and worth.
The first thing mentioned about Anne was how in her father’s eyes she was inferior to Elizabeth (7). She is described on the continuing pages as someone who is “haggard” and hopeless for marriage (7-8). Setting aside the literal descriptions of Anne’s marginalization, Austen also includes phrases such as “in the first year of Charles II., with all the Marys and Elizabeths they had married; forming altogether two handsome duodecimo pages” (6). This passage helps to show that Austen even incorporates the inferiority of the name “Anne,” making her character much more complex than initially let on.
ReplyDeleteAnne essentially has no opinion in her household, and is not sought after for guidance. However, what becomes particularly evident is that she proves to be the exact antithesis. Anne seems to be the one who knows the most, and is the most helpful. She is the one who refined the retrenchment plan. She is the one who knows Admiral Croft and what he has been up to. She is the one who knew the name of the “gentleman resident at Monkford” (23).
Also, what is interesting to note is the way Austen incorporates this phrase into the text: “[Anne’s] knowledge of her father and Elizabeth, inclined her to think that the sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of both” (14). Austen makes a point of including how observant Anne is. Although Elizabeth and her father blatantly disregard Anne constantly and are many times flat-out rude to her, she still takes the time to understand them.
Austen begins to work into her novel our interest in Anne from the first page. By making her seem uninteresting, we actually view her as the opposite. I believe Anne is a follower, attempting to pave her own path. She will never forgive herself for letting Fredrick Wentworth go when it was not on her terms. She wants to make a life for herself, but always seems to be overlooked. The way people view her has translated into the way she views herself, which can be seen when Anne ruminates on her “severe degree of self-denial” (14).
I believe my initial impressions of Anne have been disproved, as Austen reveals more about her character’s feelings as the chapters press on. I am excited to see how Anne will develop in the continuing pages.
Anne is introduced as almost the black sheep of the family. Most of the descriptions we are given of her are based around her worthlessness to her father. On page 7,"His two other children were of inferior value." "but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either her father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give away." Anne is intelligent and kind, but apparently those aren't the qualities her father values. Again on page 7, "Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to admire in her," "He had never indulged much hope, he had now none, of ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work." She was an attractive woman who seems to long for her father's approval, or maybe her families' acceptance. Her mother has died, her father has no relationship with her, and her family seems to have no respect for her, so she's probably pretty depressed. In the second chapter Elizabeth is trying to develop a plan to cut her father's spending down, and get him out of debt. Elizabeth decided to consult Anne, "She drew up plans of economy, she made exact calculations, and she did, what nobody else thought of doing, she consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced by her," (Page 13). Despite the common believe of Anne's worthlessness, Elizabeth decides to ask for her opinion, we aren't told why, but she made an impression on Elizabeth. "Every emendation of Anne's had been on the side of honesty against importance. She wanted to more vigorous measures, a more complete reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher ton of indifference for every thing but justice and equity." (Page 13). Anne's plan would eliminate her father's debt in 7 years, and in her opinion wouldn't affect his true dignity. This shows and intellectual side to Anne. She understands her father's financial situation and she has the mental capacity to find a resolution to the problem. I think Austen is beginning the building process of a very smart character with more to be valued than she shows, or than anyone around her, other than Lady Russel, can see.
ReplyDeleteThe original blog post states the most important fact, Anne Elliot is the main character so there has to be more to her than what meets the eye. True you cannot write a story about a "nobody", but Anne is only a nobody to pretty much two specific characters, her father and older sister Elizabeth. In fact while reading the first seven chapters I never once found her character to be boring or plain. Anne just seemed like a normal girl with a sprinkle of drama in her life and had a particularly image-conscious family.
ReplyDeleteSo who is Anne Elliot? My first impressions are that she is a girl past her prime in looks and shy, but is also smart, caring, and responsible, especially when it came to family duties, "She considered it as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors [...] She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a duty" (13). Anne is also unselfish and her words show that she looks at situations not only from her standpoint but from everybody else's as well, "Here Anne spoke, -'The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for their comforts, we must all allow'"(20).
Anne again shows her responsibility and kindness towards her family members when she stays and tends to the sick Mary, "A little farther perseverance in patience, and forced cheerfulness on Anne's side, produced nearly a cure on Mary's" (38). So we see that Anne has a great personality and is very caring for those around her. Her looks, though pointed out by the narrator to be no longer astonishing, must still be decent if she attracts Captain Wentworth again (come on you already know this is going to happen even without reading the rest of the book) and Mrs. Croft also says to Anne, "It was you, and not your sister, I find, that my brother had the pleasure of being acquainted with, when he was in this country" (46). I think that Anne is still fairly good looking, a lot better looking than the narrator portrays her to be for one doesn't just lose all her glamor like so.
Anne Elliot is smart, musically gifted, caring, unselfish, responsible, and family-oriented. I don't believe she is as boring, plain, or as big a nobody as the narrator makes her out to be. The only reason she is deemed a nobody by her father is because she is past her prime in looks and is 27 and unmarried. But her situations thus far have proved otherwise and her interactions with the other characters in the book show that there is much that happens when you step into Anne's shoes.
And not to be cliche but it is only appropriate to end on this quote: "you cannot judge a book by its cover".
Lauren Trout
ReplyDelete"Anne with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was a nobody with either father or sister." (Ch.I,pg.7). At the beginning of the novel Anne is described as a "nobody", but the only people who believe so are her own relatives. The author quickly discredits them by stating that they aren't of any "real understanding",therefore we're lead to think there must be more to Anne.
As we read on we begin to see Anne for who she really is. She is bright, intelligent, caring, and understanding. Anne is the one who Lady Ashley consults when "nobody else thought of doing so". Anne is the one Mary asks stay behind when the family is moving to Bath. And Anne is the one daughter who seems to have gained any understanding from her life experiences.
"But she felt that if any young young person were to apply her counsel, they would never receive such immediate wretchedness, such uncertain future good"(Ch. IV, pg.29). We see in this quote that Anne has gained in knowledge from her experience with Captain Wentworth. She broke off the engagement to suit her family and Lady Russell, but now she looks back in regret. For Anne still is in love with Captain Wentworth and now knows what she should have done. She states that one shouldn't wait around for the promise of a better chance to come along, one should jump at the chances one gets in life. It is here we see that Anne has a depth to her, some real character. The others in her family have their descriptions and they stick to them, but Anne changes throughout the story. She goes from being a worthless nobody to being someone we pay attention to. The author forces us to take note of her by describing her as a "nobody". For we all know that a main character can't really be worthless. We gain sympathy for her through the description of her family and her love story. It makes me wonder whether the author is using this to get us on her side. Maybe the author wants us to have sympathy for her as to get us on her side or on her team. Will this then force us to have more understanding of her actions later on on the novel?
In the beginning of the story I am like others in my thinking that Anne was a ‘nobody.’ She is even described as “she was only Anne” (Pg.7). This seems to be the view of not only her father but her older sister as well. When they are discussing ways to save money, her sister comes up with the idea that they didn’t need to take a present down to Anne (Pg.11) and this was a “happy thought” to her. However, as we begin to read the reader gets the idea that Anne isn’t merely a nobody as her father and sister think of her. When deciding what to do with her father’s estate, Anne comes up with rather good and relevant ideas which could be potential starts of solutions to the problem even though she “never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question” (Pg. 13). Lady Russell even tells Anne that if her father were to adopt her ideas then “in seven years he will be clear”. I think that as we read we will see that Anne is rather a very smart and interesting person that has been done wrong by her father and older sister. I think we will see that she is a people pleaser that can never do enough to please those of her family no matter how hard she tries, but I think she will turn out to be a rather interesting person.
ReplyDeleteMy first thoughts about Anne were that she was going to be a boring character. Her description in the first chapter as “nobody with either father or sister: her word had o weight; her convenience was always to give away;-he was only Anne” (7) made me frustrated with her from the beginning of the story. I wanted to tell her to step up since this was her story. However since that initial description my view of her has altered in some ways. Much of this alteration is not so much as a change as just and understanding of why she is viewed the way that she is. The first thing that made me see her as a more interesting character was the fact that she has had feelings and emotions for someone. It is said of their relationship “they were gradually acquainted and when acquainted rapidly and deeply in love” (26). Another instance in which my views on her were changed came about as she refused to marry Charles Musgrove. This changed my views on her because this was not at all what people were telling her to do. “…and Lady Rusell had lamented her refusal” (28). It was against was Lady Russell and her father wanted and for a second it seemed as though Anne had a backbone and was going to stand p for herself. Although there are still many instances in which I feel she lets herself be walked all over these times gave me hope that if she wants something maybe just maybe she will stand up for herself.
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't read the back cover of Persuasion, or read the original blog posted saying that Anne was the main character, I never would have thought she was an important role up until about Chapter 4, when she comes into focus. This is when we really start to learn about Anne, rather than just learning that "she was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way;-she was only Anne" (7) or "her bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to admire in her (7). Other than learning that she was fairly plan and unimportant, we don't see much of Anne other than when she speaks with Sir Walter Elliot and Mr. Shepherd about the navy(20).
ReplyDeleteOnce we reach chapter 4, we learn a lot more about what Anne was like in the past, "an extremely pretty girl, with a gentleness, modesty, taste, and feeling" (26) as well as learning of her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, "they were gradually acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly, and deeply in love. It would be difficult to say which had seen the highest perfection in the other, or which had been the happiest" (26). As we are lead to believe in the first several chapters, I don't think Anne is simple and plan, I believe she has a lot of agency in the story, and there is a lot more to her than meets the eye.
It's funny how Austen always seems to introduce her heroines in this way. Having just finished Northanger Abbey for Gothic Literature (although, sadly, not having said book with me to substantiate forthcoming claims), this is becoming a recurring pattern. Austen opens by telling readers how plain and bland the heroine Catherine Morland is, instead of taking the route many authors choose in telling us, "Character X possesses qualities 1, 2 and 3. Does she perhaps choose to do this so as to allow readers to reach their own conclusions about her heroines' temperaments?
ReplyDeleteFunnily, where Catherine is initially quite plain and seems to blossom into a "handsome" (arguably one of Austen's favourite descriptors) young woman, Anne is initially handsome but somehow unblossoms: "A few years before, Anne had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early" (7).
Anne appears to be considerate and sympathetic toward those around her, such as when she says of the Navy, "The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it" (20).
The narrator refers to Anne's prudence on page 29 (which she was apparently forced into) which, along with her other characteristics, makes it sound at this point like Anne is somewhat of a pushover. She seems very mild-mannered, eager to please others and even somewhat submissive. However, Austen seems prone to subverting plot conventions and surprising readers, so it will be interesting to see how Anne's personality grows more complex throughout the novel.
In the beginning of the book Anne's father and sisters paint a very poor picture of her. In their eyes Anne (pg 7) is "a nobody with either father or sisters, her word had no weight,; her convenience was always to give away- she was only Anna." However other people paint a different picture of Anne. Lady Russell loves Anne the most out of all the sisters and pays most attention to her. Anne's sisters are no nicer to her than her own father, when they were discussing if Anne should go with them to Bathe or not Mary said (p32) " I cannot possibly do without Anne" and Elizabeth replid, " Then I am sure Anna had better stay, for nobody will want her in bath." How terrible is it that Anne should be so used and abused by family. She then said that " To be claimed as good, though in am improper style, is at least better than being rejected as no good at all; and Anne glad to be thought of some use, glad to have anything marked out as a duty.." Anne is such a kind hearted person that it is sad to see her so mistreated by those closest to her.
ReplyDeleteAnne is seen as someone who wants what she cannot have. on page 39 Anne is talking about the Musgroves and says, "Anne always contemplated them as some of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance; but still, saved as we all are by some comfotable feeling of superiority from wishing for the possiblity of exchange, she would not have given up her own more elegant and cultivated mind for all their enjoyments; and envied them nothing but that seemingly perfect good understanding and agreement together, that good-humoured mutual affection, of which she had known so little herself with either of her sisters." Mary's husband and children were very fond of Anne, (pg41) " she was on friendly terms with her brother-in-law; and in the children, who loved her nearly as well and respected her a great deal more than their mother, she had an object of interest, ammusment and wholesome exertion." Anne seems to be a woman that everyone feels comfortable confiding in. This is very apparent throughout chapter 6 when the different parties (Mary, Charles, and Anne's inlaws)continue to come to Anne and confide her in their true feelings of Mary and how she handles her life. On page 42 Charles complains about Mary's parenting and he overall mood, Mrs Musgrove complains about Mary's parenting skills as well.
Overall as I am reading I am learning more and more about Anne's complex character. She is a very wise woman and knows a great deal about life. She is a kind hearted person even to her family who feels no value in her. I think that throughout the novel I will better understand who Anne is and learn to appreciate her character more than I already do.
When Anne Elliot is first introduced to the reader she is described as quiet and almost withdrawn. P. 7 “Anne with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way; she was only Anne. She is introduced as a sweet girl who has outstanding character but unfortunately she lives in a family that does not appreciate her sweet spirit and strong character. She is the middle child of a family where her sisters are valued more than her.
ReplyDeleteIn many instances she is the voice of reason in the family. P. 20 “The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for their comforts we must all allow.” Unfortunately the only one who truly appreciates Anne’s intelligence is Lady Russell. Throughout the first several chapters Anne is portrayed as a quiet women who is very intelligent however, I think that Anne’s quietness is due to her status in the family rather than her character.
My initial opinion of Anne Elliot is, that she is a very quiet individual who does not have enough self confidence to do what is probably in her best interest. This is due to the view her family has of her, an unimportant occupant of their home. This is shown on page 7 when it is said that, "father had found little to admire in her." She simply wants to get the approval of her family and receive some amount of good praise.
ReplyDeleteWhen her previous engagement to Captain Wentworth is brought up, the idea that she wants to make her family happy and not her self is further enforced. On page 20 we learn of Sir Elliot's distaste for the navy, which explains why he did not want Anne to marry Captain Wentworth. On top of that Lady Russel is also against the marriage because Wentworth has no real fortune and is not worthy of someone like Anne. Anne is clearly in love with Wentworth and against her own feelings breaks off the engagement to please her family.
The first impression I had of Anne was indeed a “nobody” (pg. 7) who’s “word had no weight” (pg. 7) as the book states. Having never read Persuasion before, I glossed over her as if she was not an important character, later realizing that she was the main character. Already my impression of Anne began to change within the same page (7). Before I learned more about Anne, I was immediately surprised with how the narrator said, amongst her being “lesser” in this family of prestige, that she had an “elegance of mind and sweetness of character (pg. 7)”. I thought, there is definitely more to her, how could somebody with those characteristics amount to nothing?
ReplyDeleteI started relating the narrative description of her such as “her bloom had vanished early” (pg. 7) to how her father viewed her, and what was important to her father. Earlier, we read “Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character; vanity of person and of situation” (pg. 6) and later, “her father had found little to admire in her (so totally different….from his own) (pg. 7). Although she is “young and gentle” (pg. 27) as well as considerate of others (she was persuaded to believe engagement was the wrong thing)(pg. 27), she doesn’t live up to her prestigious family when it comes to “beauty or vanity”, which is of the upmost importance to them, and the father only values the surface of things. Maybe that is why Anne’s character is not valued, and why her lesser beauty than the others, is what makes her “nothing.”
Who is Anne, well that is a very complicated question. As mentioned, in the beginning she is mad to seem like a "nobody" or an insignificant character in the book, however we know that it is her book. In my mind she truly desires a family of her own, much as the Musgrove's have. Along with this she hopes to find true love, which I believe is Captain Wentworth, because as she describes on page 27 "Anne feel deeply in love despite that". This short passage tells me that no matter what she will always love him, and I believe they will end up together in the end. Also adding to Anne's wish to be a Mother, Wife, and bearer of a family, she offers to stay home and watch the boy as the rest of the group attends the dinner part at Fredricks.
ReplyDeleteAlso I believe that Anne realizes that she should have married Wentworth when she had the chance. She always seems to put things off or avoid confrontation, which I believe will lead to her demises if she does not change. However I believe that a dramatic event will occur and she will finally take immediate action and Captain Wentworth will become her husband, although the time frame upon which this is written would forbid such a thing, barring the death of a spouse.
ReplyDeleteThe story starts off in a somewhat predictable way. A person (Anne Elliot) that is a nobody must overcome obstacles and become a somebody. The same basic idea is here, although I've personally never seen it done in a romance novel before (not that I've read many). I do not believe that Anne was always considered to be "just Anne", at least, not by everybody. The book states that her mother recognized her great talents and saw her for who she was. Lady Russell also values Anne, but those were the only two figures that seemed to respect her to her fullest.
ReplyDeleteAnne has constantly lived her life being the black sheep of the family. She is constantly being considered just "in the way". One of the ways the family chooses to save money is to not get Anne a gift(p.11). Instead of letting it all get to her, Anne has become hardened to such affronts (p.33). The book, especially at the beginning, may show Anne as a weak character. I do not agree however. If Anne were a weak character, she would not be able to soldier on the way she does, still putting her two cents in at times. The constant bullying has taken its toll on her self esteem. She becomes indifferent to what happens to herself, becoming a people pleaser, with just one of many examples being when Anne stays to watch Mary's child so that Mary can attent a dinner party (p.53). So while Anne may have her flaws, the very fact that she is still functioning at this point at all shows that she has great strength in her.
When we are first introduced to Anne in the beginning of the book, she gives the impression that she is a "nobody." Anne's family shows no appreciate or care for her. Her family is so involved in their own vanity that when Anne falls in love with Sir Walter her father, "gave it all the negative of great astonishment, great coldness, great silence, and a professed resolution of doing nothing for his daughter"(p. 26). However, as we come to learn more about Anne, we can see that this negative opinion belongs only to her self-centered family.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Anne seems to be an intelligent woman who just wants to be loved like everyone else. Anne wants the opportunity to plant her "roots" into fertile ground and grow into the beautiful flower that she can be. Though her family greatly underestimates Anne's worth, others view her as wise and even persuasive. The time that Anne spends in Uppercross taking care of her sister Mary she only has one complaint. Her complaint is that she is, "...being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house"(p. 42). Anne is great at reading people and those who are not blinded by their own vanity know this, and often seek her help or advice. Even Anne's own sister Mary can see beyond herself, if only for a moment, to ask Anne to "persuade" her husband she truely is ill. My opinion of Anne has changed over time.
I no longer think of Anne as a "nobody," but as a somebody. Anne is an intelligent and insightful woman who I feel is a silent, but deadly force to be reckoned with. In time I feel that Anne will find a garden to ground her "roots" in and a man to bring her ito her full bloom.
There are several similarities between The Hero and the Crown and The Odyssey. Aerin and Odysseus both fought monsters. There are also similarities between Teka and Eurycleia.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Odysseus battled gods and fought in wars throughout most of his life, Aerin had her fair share of battles as well. Both Odysseus and Aerin battled monsters. Aerin fought and killed many small menacing dragons, the huge Black Dragon, Maur, and finally Agsded. Odysseus’s monsters included the Scylla and Charybdis, the Cyclops, Poseidon, and the suitors. A parallel of the monsters themselves can be seen here. The suitors in the Odyssey were menacing monsters just as the smaller dragons (p. 31) were that Aerin had fought. With the suitors being only human, they were not as difficult to face as the other monsters that Odysseus faced, just as the dragons were nothing in comparison to Maur or Agsded. Poseidon served as Odysseus’s “Black Dragon, Maur”. Maur was an overwhelming mythical evil that Aerin had to fight, and she almost lost her life to him(p 87-90), just as Odysseus almost lost his life to the powerful and angry sea-god, Poseidon(book 13, 215-220). Finally, just like it was Odysseus destiny to kill the suitors and take back over his land, it was also Aerin’s destiny to avenge her mother and kill Agsded as well as to bring back the Hero’s Crown.
The Hero and the Crown’s Teka and the Odyssey’s Eurycleia also have much in common. Teka was the loyal nursemaid or caretaker of Aerin. Eurycleia was the loyal maid and caretaker of Odysseus (and Telemachus). In Chapter 2, we learn Teka was appointed as Aerin’s caretaker before she was even born, during her mother’s pregnancy. Teka knew much about whom Aerin’s mother really was (p. 14-19). Eurycleia was not only Telemachus’ caretaker, but also Odysseus’s caretaker. Like Teka, Eurycleia knew much about Odysseus and could tell Telemachus much about his father. Both Teka and Eurycleia formed close bonds with Aerin and Odysseus, both of them (maids) knowing much about Aerin and Odysseus. Although Teka couldn’t quite understand everything about who Aerin was, she knew that Aerin was trying to find herself, and, like a mother, she supported and protected Aerin. She told Aerin the truth about her mother and supported Aerin in her decisions. Eurycleia did all she could to support and protect Odysseus as well as Telemachus(book 2). She hid Telemachus’ journey so that the suitors would not find out and also helped Odysseus identify the disloyal maidens.
There are several similarities between The Hero and the Crown and The Odyssey. Aerin and Odysseus both fought monsters. There are also similarities between Teka and Eurycleia.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Odysseus battled gods and fought in wars throughout most of his life, Aerin had her fair share of battles as well. Both Odysseus and Aerin battled monsters. Aerin fought and killed many small menacing dragons, the huge Black Dragon, Maur, and finally Agsded. Odysseus’s monsters included the Scylla and Charybdis, the Cyclops, Poseidon, and the suitors. A parallel of the monsters themselves can be seen here. The suitors in the Odyssey were menacing monsters just as the smaller dragons (p. 31) were that Aerin had fought. With the suitors being only human, they were not as difficult to face as the other monsters that Odysseus faced, just as the dragons were nothing in comparison to Maur or Agsded. Poseidon served as Odysseus’s “Black Dragon, Maur”. Maur was an overwhelming mythical evil that Aerin had to fight, and she almost lost her life to him(p 87-90), just as Odysseus almost lost his life to the powerful and angry sea-god, Poseidon(book 13, 215-220). Finally, just like it was Odysseus destiny to kill the suitors and take back over his land, it was also Aerin’s destiny to avenge her mother and kill Agsded as well as to bring back the Hero’s Crown.
The Hero and the Crown’s Teka and the Odyssey’s Eurycleia also have much in common. Teka was the loyal nursemaid or caretaker of Aerin. Eurycleia was the loyal maid and caretaker of Odysseus (and Telemachus). In Chapter 2, we learn Teka was appointed as Aerin’s caretaker before she was even born, during her mother’s pregnancy. Teka knew much about whom Aerin’s mother really was (p. 14-19). Eurycleia was not only Telemachus’s caretaker, but also Odysseus’s caretaker. Like Teka, Eurycleia knew much about Odysseus and could tell Telemachus much about his father. Both Teka and Eurycleia formed close bonds with Aerin and Odysseus, both of them (maids) knowing much about Aerin and Odysseus. Although Teka couldn’t quite understand everything about who Aerin was, she knew that Aerin was trying to find herself, and, like a mother, she supported and protected Aerin. She told Aerin the truth about her mother and supported Aerin in her decisions. Eurycleia did all she could to support and protect Odysseus as well as Telemachus(book 2). She hid Telemachus’ journey so that the suitors would not find out and also helped Odysseus identify the disloyal maidens.