1. Food for Thought

2. Jane Austen’s Persuasion

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
Well mannered
Sound in judgment
Observant
Moderate
Shrewd
Unaffected
Benevolent Charitable Delicate Honorable Cultivated Honest Sensible Amiable Vain Conceited Silly Steady
Sweet
Elegant minded
Disloyal
Dutiful
Rational
Discrete
Polished
Openhearted
Frank
Sincere
Confident
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
Viscountess Dalrymple

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

8. Historical Context of England’s Regency Era
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 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