A Vertext of Jane Austen’s Persuasion – Chapters 1-6
When she was 22 her future looked bright�But she's nearly 30 now and she's out every night�I see that look in her face, she's got that look in her eye�She's thinking how did I get here and wondering why��It's sad but it's true how society says her life is already over�There is nothing to do and there is nothing to say�'Til the man of her dreams comes along�Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder�It seems so unlikely in this day and age��Refrain��She's got an alright job but it's not a career�Whenever she thinks about it, it brings her to tears�'Cause all she wants is a boyfriend, she gets one night stands�She's thinking how did I get here, I'm doing all that I can��Refrain�
22 by Lily Allen
“Sir Walter Elliot, of Keyynch-hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage…there any unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs, changed naturally into pity and contempt, as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last century [emphasis mine].”
Chapter 1
THINK: While Sir Walter pleases himself with this meaningless “history” of mere words and chance – what is Anne doing throughout the book…?
“He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy…”
Chapter 1
“[Lady Elliot] had humoured, or softened, or conceled his failings, and promoted his real respectability for seventeen years…”
Chapter 1
[on Charles Musgrove] – “Anne could believe, with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might have greatly improved him; and that a woman of real understanding might have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits.”
Chapter 6 (yes, it’s here for a reason)
“Mary had acquired a little artificial importance by becoming Mrs. Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way– she was only Anne”
Chapter 1
A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early” �
Chapter 1
“’Can we retrench? does it occur to you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?’”� � Sir Walter Elliot
Chapter 1
“It had not been possible for him to spend less; he had done nothing but what Sir Walter Elliot was imperiously called on to do; but blameless as he was, he was…growing dreadfully in debt…”
Chapter 1
This very awkward history of Mr. Elliot, was still, after an interval of serveral years, felt with anger by Elizabeth, who had liked the man for himself, and still more for being her father’s heir”
Chapter 1
“’We must be serious and decided – for, after all, the person who has contracted debts must pay them…’”�� Lady Russell��
Chapter 2
Consider this line as you read – consider it for each of the characters you encounter…
“She [Anne] disliked Bath…and Bath was to be her home.”
Chapter 2
Does Anne have another reason for not liking
Bath? A reason unrelated to what the place is?
[Regarding Sir Walter letting the house AND Lady Russel’s approval of it:] How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!
Chapter 2
“’Secondly [being a sailor] cuts up a man’s youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old sooner than any other man; I have observed it all my life’” [Sir Walter, later going on to describe the man who was 40 who he thought was 60]
Chapter 3
“A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furnture in the world.”�
Chapter 3
“A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here” [Emphasis Austen’s].”�
Chapter 3
“Lady Russell had little taste for wit; and of any thing approaching to imprudence a horror. She deprecated the connection in every light.”��
Chapter 4
“Had she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more than her own, she could hardly have given him up.—The belief of being prudent, and self-denying principally for his advantage, was her chief consolation, under the misery of a parting– a final parting…”
Chapter 4
Her attachments and regrets had, for a long time clouded every enjoyment of youth; and an early loss of bloom and spirits had been their lasting effect.
Chapter 4
[Sir Walter speaking of Admiral Croft who had been at sea for many years] “Then I take it for granted, that his face is about as orange as the cuffs and caps of my livery.”
“She had been solicited, when about two-and-twenty, to change her name, by the young man, who not long afterwards found a more willing mind in her younger sister; and Lady Russell had lamented her refusal…”��
Chapter 4
“She [Anne for her breaking her engagement] did not blame Lady Russell, she did not blame herself for having been guided by her; but she felt that were any young person, in similar circumstances, to apply to her for counsel, they would never receive any of such certain immediate wretchedness, such uncertain future good.”
Chapter 4
“She [Anne] had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older – the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.”
Chapter 4
“Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any use, or any importance, in the choice of the house…”
Chapter 5
“’I cannot possible do without Anne,’ was Mary’s reasoning; and Elizabeth’s reply was “Then I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody will want her in Bath.”
Chapter 5
“I think very differently [than Anne], answered Elizabeth, shortly “an agreeable manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones.”
Chapter 5
“The Musgroves, like their houses, were in a state of alteration, perhaps improvement.”
Chapter 5
(on Charles Musgrove) “a woman of real understanding might have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits.”
Chapter 6
“One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there, was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house.” (emphasis mine)
Chapter 6
(speaking about her piano-forte playing – and perhaps more) “she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to.”
Chapter 6
(on her playing) “ Lord bless me! How those little fingers of yours fly about!”
Chapter 6
“the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, hopeless son; and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his twentieth year”
Chapter 6