Social Roles Social Roles Assigned to Assigned to

Men and Men and WomenWomen

in Persuasionin Persuasion

That Lady Russell, of steady age and character, andextremely well provided for, should have no thought of

a second marriage, needs no apology to the public,which is rather apt to be unreasonably discontented

when a woman does marry again, than when she doesnot; but Sir Walter’s continuing in singleness requiresexplanation. Be it known then, that Sir Walter, like a

good father, (having met with one or two privatedisappointments in very unreasonable applications),

prided himself on remaining single for his deardaughters’ sake. ( vol.1- 4)

Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in Elizabeth did not quite equal her father in personal contentment.personal contentment.

Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Thirteen years had seen her mistress of KellynchKellynch

Hall, presiding and directing with a self-Hall, presiding and directing with a self-possession and decisionpossession and decision

which could never have given the idea of her which could never have given the idea of her being youngerbeing younger

than she was. For thirteen years had she been than she was. For thirteen years had she been doing the honours,doing the honours,

and laying down the domestic law at home,and laying down the domestic law at home,((.. . .) . .)( vol.1- 5 )( vol.1- 5 )

This was the principle on which Anne wanted her fatherThis was the principle on which Anne wanted her fatherto be proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She consideredto be proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She consideredit as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims ofit as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of

creditors with all the expedition which the most comprehensivecreditors with all the expedition which the most comprehensiveretrenchments could secure, and saw no dignity in anythingretrenchments could secure, and saw no dignity in anything

short of it. She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a short of it. She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell’s influence highly; and as to theduty. She rated Lady Russell’s influence highly; and as to the

severe degree of self-denial which her own consciencesevere degree of self-denial which her own conscienceprompted, she believed there might be little more difficultyprompted, she believed there might be little more difficulty

InIn persuading them to a complete, than to half apersuading them to a complete, than to half areformation.reformation.

( vol I – Ch.2- 10)( vol I – Ch.2- 10)

The Mr Musgroves had their own game to The Mr Musgroves had their own game to guard, and toguard, and to

destroy, their own horses, dogs, and destroy, their own horses, dogs, and newspapers to engage them,newspapers to engage them,

and the females were fully occupied in all the and the females were fully occupied in all the other commonother common

subjects of housekeeping, neighbours, dress, subjects of housekeeping, neighbours, dress, dancing, and music.dancing, and music.

She acknowledged it to be very fitting, that She acknowledged it to be very fitting, that every littleevery little

social commonwealth should dictate its own social commonwealth should dictate its own matters of discourse;matters of discourse;( . . . )( . . . ) ( Vol I- Ch.6 – 31) ( Vol I- Ch.6 – 31)

He had very good spirits, which He had very good spirits, which never seemed much affected by never seemed much affected by

hishis

wife’s occasional lowness, bore wife’s occasional lowness, bore with her unreasonableness with her unreasonableness

sometimessometimes

to Anne’s admiration,to Anne’s admiration, (. . .) . (. . .) . ( Vol ( Vol I- Ch.6- 32)I- Ch.6- 32)

This was quite a female case, and itThis was quite a female case, and itwould be highly absurd in him, who could be of no use atwould be highly absurd in him, who could be of no use at

home, to shut himself up.home, to shut himself up.I dareI dare

say we shall have nothing to distress us. I perfectly say we shall have nothing to distress us. I perfectly understandunderstand

Mr Robinson’s directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mr Robinson’s directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mary,Mary,

I cannot wonder at your husband. Nursing does not belong I cannot wonder at your husband. Nursing does not belong toto

a man; it is not his province. A sick child is always the a man; it is not his province. A sick child is always the mother’smother’s

property: her own feelings generally make it so.”property: her own feelings generally make it so.”(Vol I – Ch. 7 –42-43)(Vol I – Ch. 7 –42-43)

““And she,” said Mrs Smith, “besides nursingAnd she,” said Mrs Smith, “besides nursingme most admirably, has really proved an invaluable me most admirably, has really proved an invaluable

acquaintance.acquaintance.As soon as I could use my hands she taught me toAs soon as I could use my hands she taught me to

knit, which has been a great amusement; and she put me inknit, which has been a great amusement; and she put me inthe way of making these little thread-cases, pin-cushions andthe way of making these little thread-cases, pin-cushions and

card-racks, which you always find me so busy about, and card-racks, which you always find me so busy about, and whichwhich

supply me with the means of doing a little good to one or twosupply me with the means of doing a little good to one or twovery poor families in this neighbourhood.very poor families in this neighbourhood.

(Vol II – Ch. 5 – 11(Vol II – Ch. 5 – 1199))

““My dear Mrs Smith, Mr Elliot’s wife has noMy dear Mrs Smith, Mr Elliot’s wife has nott

been deadbeen dead much above half a year. He ought notmuch above half a year. He ought not

to be supposed to beto be supposed to be paying his addresses to anypaying his addresses to any

one.”one.”

(Vol II – Ch. 9 – 154)(Vol II – Ch. 9 – 154)

Mrs Smith hesitated a little here. “Oh! ThoseMrs Smith hesitated a little here. “Oh! Those

things are toothings are too common. When one lives in thecommon. When one lives in the

world, a man or woman’sworld, a man or woman’s marrying for money ismarrying for money is

too common to strike one as it ought.too common to strike one as it ought.

(Vol II – Ch. 9 – 158)(Vol II – Ch. 9 – 158)

““Yes, dear ma’am,” said Mrs Croft, “or an Yes, dear ma’am,” said Mrs Croft, “or an uncertainuncertain

engagement,engagement, an engagement which may be an engagement which may be long. Tolong. To

begin withoutbegin without knowing that at such a time there knowing that at such a time there will bewill be

the means ofthe means of marrying, I hold to be very unsafe marrying, I hold to be very unsafe andand

unwise, and what Iunwise, and what I think all parents should think all parents should prevent as farprevent as far

as they can.”as they can.”

(Vol II – Ch. 11 – 181)(Vol II – Ch. 11 – 181)

If I was wrong in yielding to persuasionIf I was wrong in yielding to persuasiononce, remember that it was to persuasion once, remember that it was to persuasion

exerted on the sideexerted on the sideof safety, not of risk. When I yielded, I of safety, not of risk. When I yielded, I

thought it was to duty,thought it was to duty,but no duty could be called in aid here. In but no duty could be called in aid here. In

marrying a manmarrying a manindifferent to me, all risk would have been indifferent to me, all risk would have been

incurred, and allincurred, and allduty violated.”duty violated.”

(Vol II – Ch. 11 – 192)(Vol II – Ch. 11 – 192)

She gloried in being a sailor’s wife,She gloried in being a sailor’s wife,

but she must pay the tax of quick but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to thatalarm for belonging to that

profession which is, if possible, profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domesticmore distinguished in its domestic

virtues than in its national virtues than in its national importance.importance.

(Vol II – Ch. 12 – 199)(Vol II – Ch. 12 – 199)

Works CitedWorks Cited

Austen, Jane. Austen, Jane. Persuasion. Persuasion. Wordsworth Wordsworth Classics, 8B East Street, Ware, Classics, 8B East Street, Ware,

Hertfordshire, 1993.Hertfordshire, 1993.

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