Food for Thought

1. Food for Thought

2. Jane Austen’sPersuasion

3. “But it’s so old…” • What do you believe you owe your family? • Imagine yourself introducing to your family the person you want to marry. They reject this person and explain their reasons, including his/her economic status, education, and family background. How would you react to this advice? • What kind of person do you want to marry? To what extent are education, economic stability, family background, temperament, race, religion, ethnicity, or language important to you? Why? • On what matters in your life are you open to being persuaded by your family? • What if your family found out they would never have to work again but could continue in the same manner of living? How do you think they would spend their time? What would be important to them? Be aware, Austen is often subtle in her humor. Look for it!

4. Which characteristics are most desirable in a mate? Brilliant Headstrong Affectionate Good-natured Ambitious Goodhearted Friendly Faithful Gentle Energetic Patient Competent Responsible Happy Wellmannered Sound in judgment Observant Moderate Shrewd Unaffected Sweet Elegant minded Disloyal Dutiful Rational Discrete Polished Openhearted Frank Sincere Confident Benevolent Charitable Delicate Honorable Cultivated Honest Sensible Amiable Vain Conceited Silly Steady Which characteristics are most desirable in a male? A female?

5. Subjects Worth Noting • Manners and morals • Human weaknesses and societal flaws • Importance of propriety • Appearance vs. reality • Relationships between family members • Duty to family • Relationships between men and women • Love and marriage • Social class and wealth • Anne Elliot’s likeness to a Cinderella figure

6. Characters • Elliot family • Sir Walter • Lady Elliot (deceased) • Elizabeth • Anne • Mary • Lady Russell • Mr. Shepherd • Mrs. Clay • Musgrove family • Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove • Charles • Henrietta • Louisa • Admiral and Mrs. Croft • Captain Wentworth • Mrs. Smith • Captain Harville • Captain Benwick • ViscountessDalrymple

7. Map published by the Jane Austen Society of North America

8. Historical Context of England’s Regency Era • 1785-1837 • Social class defined one’s identity • Upper classes had privileges due to birth • People were not seen as individuals and were judged by their conduct toward others; individual desires and accomplishments meant little • Manners and propriety were a part of morality • One’s position in society and social interaction were highly important • The family unit was a staple in society and society’s maintenance, so familial and societal duties were emphasized • Younger brothers did not inherit and had to look for a respectable career (army/navy, law, or clergy—there were subcategories of class within each) Note: Persuasion was begun in 1815, completed in 1816, and published posthumously in 1817

9. Historical Context: Women’s Roles • Women were in charge of private life; men were in charge of public life • Women (with rare exceptions) could not own property or inherit • Women had few legal rights; no legal contracts or ability to initiate legal actions • Marriage was vital to being financially secure and maintaining one’s status (other options were as a governess or companion, which were less desirable) • Entailment: strict inheritance regulations that determined how property would be passed for several generations (William Walter Elliot, Esq.)

10. Did You Know…? During the Regency Period • An unmarried man and woman could not be out alone together unless they were in motion such as taking a walk. They could not touch except during a dance at a ball. • At a ball, a woman had to dance with the first man who asked her; otherwise, this meant she was not dancing at all that evening. • A woman could not divorce her husband for any reason except his actually bringing his mistress into the family home. • A man who convinced a girl to elope was not considered a gentleman because it ruined the girl’s reputation. It also meant that there was no financial protection for her because he would have full control over any money she would inherit.

11. Because a woman was considered her husband’s property, the husband could sue a man for having an affair with her for “damaging” his property; he could get as much as £10,000. A woman could get nothing if her husband had an affair. • One pound in 1810 is roughly $100 today. You could not keep a horse and carriage without an income of at least £1,100. • The cheapest dress, even if you sewed it yourself, would cost about $100 in today’s terms. • A position in the navy was not as socially acceptable as the army.

12. A gentleman would hunt and fish, being careful to keep the number of game animals balanced. He also acted as a local magistrate for neighbors. • Gentlemen also played cards, and gambling was a major problem, especially with young men. A gambling debt was a “debt of honour.” It had to be paid before you paid tradesmen, the rent, or any other legitimate debt. If you did not pay your gambling debts, you lost your right to respect from your fellow officers and gentlemen. • Breakfast was at about 10:00 because of all the chores required to make it; it lasted an hour. There was no regular lunch. Dinner in the country was between 3:00 and 5:00; in the city it may be eaten between 6:00 and 8:00.

13. Regency Period • 1810-1820 • Time in which Austen’s novels were published • Industrial Revolution led to middle class gaining social status • Aristocracy and landed gentry socialized together • War between France and England 1803-1814 due to French Revolution and Napoleon’s totalitarian regime • Austen shows the presence of the military but does not comment on politics

14. Regency Social Classes • Working class: agricultural workers, factory workers, mine workers, maids, servants, housekeepers, soldiers, etc. • Middle class: merchants, professionals, and business owners • Upper class: old hereditary aristocracy and new landed gentry • Did not work but employed farmers to work their land; controlled politics • Upper class does not necessarily mean wealth (Elliots)

15. Literary Techniques • Irony • Situational: event that takes place produces a completely unexpected outcome • Verbal: writer, speaker, or narrator uses words to say one thing while really meaning another (example: sarcasm) • Dramatic: words or actions of a character reveal his/her ignorance toward a particular situation while the reader correctly understands it

16. Literary Techniques • Satire: writer uses humor or wit to criticize a particular person or group of people • Often cleverly disguised with humorous language, funny characterizations, and sarcasm • A comedy of manners • Free indirect discourse: uses third-person perspective to convey ideas and thoughts from the point of view of a particular character, usually the heroine • Ideas not necessarily objective • A narrative style pioneered by Austen