How Does Austen Present Anne's Opinion Of The Narrator In Pride And Prejudice

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Before Sir Walter, Elizabeth, and Mrs. Clay leave for Bath, Anne warns Elizabeth of her suspicions that Mrs. Clay may seduce Sir Walter in order to take a step up in the social ladder. Through this conversation it can be seen that the sisters’ relationship is detached due to their difference in opinion of how they assess a person’s character. Through tone and point of view, Austen depicts Anne as a levelheaded person that can assess a situation without feelings getting in the way, while Elizabeth is depicted as an overzealous dramatic person whose obsession with class doesn’t let her see a situation clearly. The sentiments the sisters have regarding this conversation highlight the different ways they are depicted, and how it answers for their …show more content…
Anne talks with Elizabeth about her worries, even though “she had little hope of success,” and when the conversation terminates, Anne is “glad that it was over.” Anne’s hopelessness of changing her sister’s mind before the conversation even begins …show more content…
Having the conversation being told through Anne depicts Anne as the sensible one while Elizabeth is made out to be the dramatic one. Anne describes Elizabeth’s reaction to her suspicions by saying, “Elizabeth could not conceive how such an absurd suspicion should occur to her; and indignantly answered for each party’s perfectly knowing their situation.” With Anne being the one to recount the conversation, the reader sees Anne as the calm, mature sister who sarcastically tells the reader how her sister has gotten herself all worked up over Anne’s obliviousness to class ranking. Furthermore, through the dialogue the reader is able to understand Elizabeth’s opinion on Mrs. Clay and her relation to her father, but only through the point of view can the reader know what Anne thinks. Though Anne does agree that Mrs. Clay does not have the physical standards to seduce Sir Elliot, she believes that Mrs. Clay “possesse[s], in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might have been.” Anne’s views of Mrs. Clay are thoroughly thought out and have stemmed from her objectively viewing the situation, while Elizabeth’s response takes up the majority of the passage, and is fueled by feelings and passion. This perspective of the sisters clearly shows the divide between them, as they not only

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