Remind yourself of volume 1, chapter 6. Discuss the presentation and significance of family life here and in the novel as a whole
In chapter six of Jane Austen’s novel, ‘Persuasion’ there is a huge sense of conflict within the families, this is highlighted in their interaction between one another and the language that Austen uses to portray this. This chapter emphasises the fact that even in the warmest of families there is always tension. Each character in the novel provides a certain role within the family, whether it is a positive or negative one. At this point in the book Anne has just moved to Uppercross with the Musgroves, although reluctant to do so at first it ends up that she is in fact a lot more comfortable with them than she is with her direct family, the Elliots. Her father, Sir Walter Elliot is very self indulgent and has a particularly shallow outlook on life and her sister Elizabeth follows in his ways. The Crofts are an amiable family, the relationships within the families contrast strongly from one another meaning that the presentation of their characters is emphasised.
Anne is constantly surrounded by her direct family. Anne is portrayed in Austen’s novel as being a modest talented character however due to her father’s dismissive nature he fails to recognise this. The Elliot family reflects a family that is so driven by their father’s arrogance and self indulgence that they are lead to being isolated from the majority of the unpretentious society, “in seeing how unknown, or unconsidered” they were now to their new surroundings. This emphasises the point that despite the fact that Sir Walter can talk of nothing but himself there is no one around who appears to share the same interest in his life as much as he. Furthermore, he is only three miles away from Kellynch-Hall; if he really did carry any respectable status then it would be known of. Anne, Elizabeth and Mary only have their father as their mother died; naturally this has had an effect on the children as they only have one parent to aspire to, their trivial minded father whose particular unpleasant nature is apparent in Elizabeth; however there is evidence that Mary too carries traits of her father’s personality. “Mary was not so repulsive and unsisterly as Elizabeth, nor so inaccessible to all influences of hers.” Austen uses almost hyperbolic free indirect discourse to describe Elizabeth, ‘repulsive’ is beyond selfish or shallow, it gives the impression of her utter brutality. Moreover the fact that Mary is described as being ‘not so repulsive’ as her sister gives the impression that although Mary may not fully embody the extent of Elizabeth’s vile nature she is not an amiable character herself. Mary shows tendencies to be attention seeking, this is shown when Charles says, “I wish you could persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill.” The use of the verb ‘fancying’ suggest that it is just a figure of her imagination in order to get the attention that she lacks at home, further more it describes her as ‘always’ fancying herself ill which implies that she constantly feels the need for attention highlighting the neglect her father gives her. Anne’s gentleness is highlighted through the comparison between her and the rest of her family. She recognises, unlike her father and sisters their “own nothingness beyond their own circle” and as a consequence is not egotistical. It is probable that Anne carried various similarities with her mother when she was alive as her mother is described in the first chapter as “sensible and amiable”, “she had humoured, or softened, or concealed Sir Walters failings.” This reminds us of Anne who was the result of her mothers “youthful infatuation”. Like her mother Anne is able to “soften every grievance”, by associating the word “soften” with both Anne and her mother it draws parallels between them. Her father who in society would be frowned upon for his pompousness sees Anne as worthless. This is ironic because there is evidence in the novel that Anne shows qualities of being a worthy wife, when she moves into the Musgroves house it explains how she felt more suited to their ways of life with “dress, dancing and music. She acknowledged it to be very fitting…” this quote highlights Anne’s desire to excel in her talents however her life at home has restricted her in doing so. Sir Walter shows no appreciation for Anne’s enthusiasm unlike the Musgrove parents who “fond partiality for their own daughters’ performance”. Sir Walter is so concerned about his status in society and his supposed superiority because of his title he has no time to concentrate on making his family an intimate one.
