Jane Austens Attitudes to Marriage in Persuasion Essay -- English Lit

Jane Austen's Attitudes to Marriage in Persuasion In Persuasion, marriage is one of the major themes of the novel, and Austen's attitudes towards marriage are present in chapter four of the novel. The first episode in which we can examine Austen's attitudes to marriage is in chapter four. In chapter four we must notice that there is no direct speech, which shows that all of the narration is Austen, with her views and opinions being presented to us. When talking of Mr. Wentworth, Austen says ' He was a remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit and brilliancy' and of Anne 'an extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste and feeling.' In a novel so concerned with wealth and status we must notice that Austen makes no comment concerning the wealth of either. Austen says of Anne and Wentworth that 'they were gradually acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly and deeply in love.' It would seem that Austen is implying that in English society you must either gain wealth or love from a marriage, as very rarely were both love and wealth gained. Another theme of the novel which seems to accompany the theme of marriage is that of the private and the public. Austen says of Anne and Captain Wentworth's togetherness 'A short period of exquisite felicity followed, and but a short one. Troubles soon arose. Sir Walter on being applied to thought it a very degrading alliance.' Austen here presents to us that when the public discover the news the relationship turns sour. Sir Walter by calling Anne and Wentworth's relationship an 'alliance' shows that he believes it should be no more than a business relationship. Austen's tone of 'He thought it a very degrading alliance' scorns this op... ... titles are measured and weighed in the consideration of marriage. In finality, Austen uses marriage in the novel as a social yardstick to measure and compare the characters in the novel. Austen?s tone is condemning when talking of marriages based on money, which on one hand shows her recognition of romance and sentimentalism but on the other can be seen as her bitterness for never finding love and marrying. For a novelist so concerned with the theme of marriage, it would seem that Austen believes in love with marriage being the just way to display affection. Austen?s condemning tone towards marriages based on class and wealth could be Austen recognising that marriage is not the only important thing in life. Austen would have had time to contemplate this, being so close to the end of her own life and realising that her life was complete without marrying.