A Vertext of Jane Austen’s Persuasion – Chapter 1-3
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
“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
Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character; vanity of person and of situation.
Chapter 1
Page 4
That Lady Russell of steady age and character, and extremely well provided for, should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no apology to the public…
Chapter 1
Page 6
Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, sensible and amiable; whose judgment and conduct, if they might be pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot [emphasis mine], had never required indulgence afterwards.
Chapter 1
Page 6
For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up any thing.
Chapter 1
Page 8
His two other children were of inferior value.
Chapter 1
Page 8
Free indirect speech is a style of third-person narration which uses some of the characteristics of third-person along with the essence of first-person direct speech. (It is also referred to as free indirect discourse, free indirect style, or discours indirect libre in French.)
“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
Page 8
All equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth; for Mary had merely connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large fortune.�
Chapter 1
Page 8
The heir presumptive, the very William Walter Elliot, Esq. whose rights had been so generously supported by her father, had disappointed her.
Chapter 1
Page 10
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
She knew, that when he [Sir Walter] now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the heavy bills of his tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr. Shepherd…from his thoughts.
Chapter 1
Page 16
“’Can we retrench? does it occur to you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?’”� � Sir Walter Elliot
Chapter 1
Page 16
She [Elizabeth] felt herself ill-used and unfortunate as did her father.� �
Chapter 1
Page 16
“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
“’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
From situation, Mrs. Clay was, in Lady Russell’s estimate, a very unequal, and in her character she believed a very dangerous companion”�� page 30
Chapter 2
“we know how difficult it is to keep the actions and designs of one part of the world from the notice and curiosity of the other, --consequence has its tax” � page 32
Chapter 3
“What great ones do the less will prattle of”� Twelfth Night
“’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
“He is rear admiral of the white. He was in the Trafalgar action, and has been the East Indies since; he has been stationed there, I believe, several year.”��“Then I take it for granted,” observed Sir Walter, “that his face is about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery”�
Chapter 3
“A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here” [Emphasis Austen’s].”�
Chapter 3