The author's use of characters to exemplify the theme of social class is, perhaps, the most convincing aspect she uses. Austen refers to several strong personality types, each of these possessing different opinions on the idea and significance of rank, to reveal the effects or possible outcomes each of these could present. For example, the story explains that Anne Elliot, the novel's protagonist, had been madly in love with a man named Captain Frederick Wentworth six years prior to the novel beginning. She was a member in a family whose social status was of the highest ranking in her area, but unfortunately Wentworth was of no importance at all. Albeit the two being madly in love and even the Captain's own viewpoint that rank didn't matter,
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This description also allows the author to set a firm base for her critique of how superficial the upper class society was. Thus the reader is able to determine that Austen's use of characters ultimately reveals that class cannot succumb to …show more content…
Alistair Duckworth's critique states, "The shallowness of the upper classes is reflected in the attitudes Sir Walter and his eldest daughter Elizabeth harbor." The author satirizes these characters to display how redundant their condescending attitudes really are. For example, in the first chapter Sir Elliot is studying his favorite book known as the "Barontege." This book carries the names of all the imperative, noble people of the time and he is pleased to see his name written inside. Ironically, near the end of the chapter, Austen reveals that despite the noble Elliot name, the family is "dreadfully in debt" (8) and must take specific measures to pay it off. This is particularly difficult for Sir Walter to accept as he believed downgrading in any sense would be "compromising their dignity" (9) and the family name would acquire a very negative connotation. Likewise, Elizabeth, is also satirized in the sense that she is the eldest, yet still unmarried. Her values in a significant other do not only require them to be of similar nobility, but she also concerns herself with physical appearance noting that "an agreeable manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones." (30) This quote shows how incredibly pompous Elizabeth is and in turn allows Austin the opportunity to use satire in order to provide comic relief to the audience. Resultantly, through
This description also allows the author to set a firm base for her critique of how superficial the upper class society was. Thus the reader is able to determine that Austen's use of characters ultimately reveals that class cannot succumb to …show more content…
Alistair Duckworth's critique states, "The shallowness of the upper classes is reflected in the attitudes Sir Walter and his eldest daughter Elizabeth harbor." The author satirizes these characters to display how redundant their condescending attitudes really are. For example, in the first chapter Sir Elliot is studying his favorite book known as the "Barontege." This book carries the names of all the imperative, noble people of the time and he is pleased to see his name written inside. Ironically, near the end of the chapter, Austen reveals that despite the noble Elliot name, the family is "dreadfully in debt" (8) and must take specific measures to pay it off. This is particularly difficult for Sir Walter to accept as he believed downgrading in any sense would be "compromising their dignity" (9) and the family name would acquire a very negative connotation. Likewise, Elizabeth, is also satirized in the sense that she is the eldest, yet still unmarried. Her values in a significant other do not only require them to be of similar nobility, but she also concerns herself with physical appearance noting that "an agreeable manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones." (30) This quote shows how incredibly pompous Elizabeth is and in turn allows Austin the opportunity to use satire in order to provide comic relief to the audience. Resultantly, through