Why does Persuasion highlight the Baronetage?
Persuasion starts and ends with the Baronetage, a book that gives the family histories of baronets. This dry text is the only book Sir Walter reads and one that he hopes will contain his daughters on multiple pages, which will only happen if they marry heirs to other baronetcies. Sir Walter loves this volume even though it only records the accident of his birth. He is high in society for no better reason than providence and can hardly maintain his own dignity in that position. He is deeply in debt and does not carry out the duties expected of a proper landowner (visiting the poor etc.)
When Persuasion begins, we start with the volume of honour which records the death of Lady Elliot and the marriage of the youngest daughter, Mary, to a mere squire. Sir Walter’s great hope was that Elizabeth would marry her cousin and thus maintain her position in society, but she was rejected. Anne, whom Sir Walter never had much hope for, was proposed to at nineteen by someone who did not deserve to be on the magnificent page of the Elliot family and he, Wentworth, was rejected by the family. The Elliot dynasty seems ready to fall and they must leave even their beloved home for Bath.
Sir Walter consents to rent Kellynch to an Admiral in the navy when they leave in debt. He does this despite hating the navy for raising men above their proper station in life, as he says “bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of " Ch 3. Anne, in contrast, admires the navy and people who have worked for their betterment, “The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give" Ch 3. It is not only the navy that is noted for working hard, Anne’s friend and godmother, Lady Russell, is said to have a “cultivated mind” which implies that she has worked to make her mind better. Anne uses this description for herself as well. It is also applied to Mr. Charles Hayter, whose family is considered vulgar but he has cultivated the mind and manners of a scholar. Anne seems to like him but she has no time for a boring Lady Dalrymple later in the book. Anne values not accidents of birth but improvement of mind and fortune through endeavour.
Wentworth returns having made his fortune and he makes a second proposal to Anne. This time, however, it is not just Anne that accepts him. Sir Walter recognizes that Wentworth has made himself into someone, he is more than happy to add Wentworth’s name to the baronetage. Sir Walter’s acceptance is mostly attributed to his admiration of Wentworth’s person (he’s very attractive), but it also speaks a great irony. The man who only values the rank that a person is born into has learned to value a man who achieved his position through effort.
This is not entirely true though, for we are also told over and over how fortunate Wentworth was. He had no “interest” (basically what we would call nepotism today) to get him on in the navy. He was lucky to be made officer so young, lucky to get the old Sloop the Asp, and lucky to win a lot of prize money. Charles Hayter did work for his mind, but he is lucky to be the eldest son who will someday inherit. It isn’t the “American dream” we are so often taught, that if you work hard enough you shall achieve. No, Jane Austen sees the world more clearly. Work hard and you may be Wentworth, with a massive fortune and the most excellent wife in England, but you may also end up as Harville. A good man with a great wife, but not the sort of man Sir Walter would gladly add to the volume of honour. Someone who like William and Fanny from Mansfield Park, was “born to struggle and endure." Ch 48 MP
In Persuasion one might argue that Jane Austen has written a fairy-tale or a romance, but real life is peeking around the edges, reminding us that for everyone who strives and achieves, many more, by no fault of their own, are left behind. There is no honour, however, in being born to great wealth and rank and squandering it. (Sorry, Sir Walter)
When Persuasion begins, we start with the volume of honour which records the death of Lady Elliot and the marriage of the youngest daughter, Mary, to a mere squire. Sir Walter’s great hope was that Elizabeth would marry her cousin and thus maintain her position in society, but she was rejected. Anne, whom Sir Walter never had much hope for, was proposed to at nineteen by someone who did not deserve to be on the magnificent page of the Elliot family and he, Wentworth, was rejected by the family. The Elliot dynasty seems ready to fall and they must leave even their beloved home for Bath.
Sir Walter consents to rent Kellynch to an Admiral in the navy when they leave in debt. He does this despite hating the navy for raising men above their proper station in life, as he says “bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of " Ch 3. Anne, in contrast, admires the navy and people who have worked for their betterment, “The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give" Ch 3. It is not only the navy that is noted for working hard, Anne’s friend and godmother, Lady Russell, is said to have a “cultivated mind” which implies that she has worked to make her mind better. Anne uses this description for herself as well. It is also applied to Mr. Charles Hayter, whose family is considered vulgar but he has cultivated the mind and manners of a scholar. Anne seems to like him but she has no time for a boring Lady Dalrymple later in the book. Anne values not accidents of birth but improvement of mind and fortune through endeavour.
Wentworth returns having made his fortune and he makes a second proposal to Anne. This time, however, it is not just Anne that accepts him. Sir Walter recognizes that Wentworth has made himself into someone, he is more than happy to add Wentworth’s name to the baronetage. Sir Walter’s acceptance is mostly attributed to his admiration of Wentworth’s person (he’s very attractive), but it also speaks a great irony. The man who only values the rank that a person is born into has learned to value a man who achieved his position through effort.
This is not entirely true though, for we are also told over and over how fortunate Wentworth was. He had no “interest” (basically what we would call nepotism today) to get him on in the navy. He was lucky to be made officer so young, lucky to get the old Sloop the Asp, and lucky to win a lot of prize money. Charles Hayter did work for his mind, but he is lucky to be the eldest son who will someday inherit. It isn’t the “American dream” we are so often taught, that if you work hard enough you shall achieve. No, Jane Austen sees the world more clearly. Work hard and you may be Wentworth, with a massive fortune and the most excellent wife in England, but you may also end up as Harville. A good man with a great wife, but not the sort of man Sir Walter would gladly add to the volume of honour. Someone who like William and Fanny from Mansfield Park, was “born to struggle and endure." Ch 48 MP
In Persuasion one might argue that Jane Austen has written a fairy-tale or a romance, but real life is peeking around the edges, reminding us that for everyone who strives and achieves, many more, by no fault of their own, are left behind. There is no honour, however, in being born to great wealth and rank and squandering it. (Sorry, Sir Walter)
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Amelia
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Feb 24, 2022 11:35AM
The American Dream is real. Otherwise, good blog post!
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Amelia wrote: "The American Dream is real. Otherwise, good blog post!"The American Dream is an ideology. Just think for whom it works, and for whom not. It doesn't work for those who have to take two or three jobs just to survive, for example.
But that said - good blog post. I fully agree with the analysis.
sabagrey wrote: "Amelia wrote: "The American Dream is real. Otherwise, good blog post!"The American Dream is an ideology. Just think for whom it works, and for whom not. It doesn't work for those who have to take..."
Thank you!
sabagrey wrote: "The American Dream is an ideology. Just think for whom it works, and for whom not. It doesn't work for those who have to take two or three jobs just to survive, for example"I never said it necessarily worked for everyone. I only said it was real. I think whether it works or not might depend on various factors.
One thing to remember about baronets is that they are not peers. A baronetcy is really nothing more than an inherited knighthood. They are not eligible for the House of Lords, for example. So this is basically showing us that Sir Walter isn't as important in the grand scheme of things as he likes to think he is.
Julie wrote: "One thing to remember about baronets is that they are not peers. A baronetcy is really nothing more than an inherited knighthood. They are not eligible for the House of Lords, for example. So this ..."Yes, but because it's the title *he's* got, it must be the best one. Lol
Julie wrote: "One thing to remember about baronets is that they are not peers."... and that the title was originally created as a measure to raise funds and troupes. I recommend to listen to Dr. Octavia Cox on youtube for a discussion of Sir Walter's baronetcy (I cannot insert the link, unfortunately).
