by Jane Austen
43. farmer’s man: man working for a farmer. Farmers formed the middle rank of rural society. At the top were wealthy landowners like Sir Walter. They normally rented sections of their land to farmers, who would undertake the actual business of farming it and selling the produce, and then keep the earnings (minus what they paid the landowner in rent). Farmers, who usually rented substantial allotments and could be very prosperous, would hire laborers, such as the man here, to work under them.
44. Mrs. Croft’s brother is shortly revealed to be a curate, a low-ranking clergyman. A clerical position often included agricultural land, which formed one of the principal sources of the position’s income. Jane Austen’s father, a clergyman, raised vegetables and fruit along with various livestock. Apples had long been one of the most popular English fruits.
45. Such an amicable compromise, done out of court, would be normal. The eighteenth century had witnessed a considerable decline in litigation, especially in rural areas; people there regarded the law as too full of complexities, delays, and costs to be worth resorting to and preferred informal means of settling disputes. Mr. Shepherd, in recommending action, is conforming to a common stereotype of lawyers, as men out to multiply litigation in order to garner fees, that accompanied this general disgust with the court system (though attorneys like Mr. Shepherd could not try cases, they still would earn fees from other work connected with a trial).
46. This is the third time Anne has spoken, and, as will soon appear, this statement, though ostensibly about a clergyman, also has an important naval dimension.
47. 1805. His presence led to important events in 1806 (see next chapter).
48. A curate was a clergyman in the Church of England, the church attended by the majority of the population and supported in its supreme position by the law. He was hired by the person actually holding a clerical position and receiving the income to reside in the parish and perform the duties in his place. A curate could be hired because a clergyman held more than one position, or living, and was unable to perform the duties of each one, or because the holder simply preferred paying the curate’s stipend, which was usually much less than the income from the position, to performing the duties himself. The excess of qualified clergymen, compared to positions available, meant that curates could generally be hired for low salaries. As members of the Anglican clergy, curates were, strictly speaking, gentlemen. This is why Mr. Shepherd calls Mr. Wentworth one. But the subordinate nature of their position and, even more, their low incomes could cause men like Sir Walter to hold them in disdain.
49. Sir Walter is thinking of the Earls of Strafford, who were prominent in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and whose family name was Wentworth. The most famous earl was Thomas Wentworth, First Earl of Strafford, who rose to high political office under Charles I, was made an earl, and shortly afterward was convicted of high treason by Parliament and executed in 1641. His execution was one of the principal early events in the English Civil War, or English Revolution, which eventually led to Charles I’s own execution in 1649. Jane Austen ends her juvenile History of England with a brief discussion of Charles I, including a mention of Strafford. This history, and the names of Wentworth and Strafford, would resonate with Sir Walter because, as he would know well from his favorite book, the baronetage, his own family had been granted its title as a reward for its support of the monarchy during the civil war (see note 12).
At the same time, the Wentworth name had existed for centuries as a nonnoble one prior to Thomas Wentworth’s becoming an earl, and there continued to be many other Wentworths who were not members of the nobility. Thus it makes little sense for Sir Walter to lament the name’s having become common.
50. speaks his own consequence: announces or indicates his own importance.
51. Rules of precedence dictated that a baronet would precede an admiral, unless the latter had been raised to the rank of a lord like Lord St. Ives.
Sir Walter’s reasoning contrasts with Mr. Shepherd’s, who had focused on practical questions of the ease of the terms and the likelihood that these tenants would maintain the house well, obviously thinking that this would convince Sir Walter of their desirability.
52. Anne’s pursuit of cool air outdoors suggests that they have a fire in the house, even though it is now summer (see chronology). This would not be that unusual, especially for someone like Sir Walter, who is more concerned with comfort than with cost. Summers in England can sometimes be cool: in a letter written at the end of June, while she was staying at the home of her wealthy brother, Jane Austen writes of her enjoyment at finding a fire in the house (June 30, 1808).
53. For the first time, the novel moves to a focus on Anne. The focus will remain there until the end.
One writer, Josephine Ross, has suggested that the name Anne Elliot is a subtle compliment to Austen’s publisher, John Murray. The maiden name of his wife was Anne Elliot, including the unusual spelling of “Elliot” (usually it is spelled with one “l” and one “t,” or two of both letters). Ross speculates that Jane Austen may have been trying to please Murray because he had expressed reservations about her last book, Emma (Josephine Ross, “Diary,” The Times, June 11, 2003).
VOLUME I, CHAPTER IV
1. Mr. Wentworth: This indicates that he is the elder brother. Younger brothers would be called “Mr + first name.” The respective forms would be used even if one brother, as in this case, is called Captain. The usage is analogous to that of “Miss” with the names of unmarried sisters.
2. Santo (or San) Domingo was a Spanish colony in the Caribbean; it is now the Dominican Republic. A major battle between British and French fleets occurred offshore in 1806, resulting in the destruction of most of the latter. Jane Austen’s brother commanded a ship there. After major battles, especially victorious ones, each participating ship’s first lieutenant, the officer just below the captain and Wentworth’s probable position, was usually promoted to commander. This enabled a man to command a small ship.
3. He had not yet been assigned a ship; there were more officers with the rank of commander and captain than ships that they could command.
4. fine: handsome.
5. These two lists of qualities contrast the main characters and reveal their suitability. In his case, spirit means ardor, vigor, or assertiveness; brilliancy means sparkling cleverness, with a similar connotation of energy and vivacity. In her case, modesty means especially sexual modesty and restraint, a prime female virtue in this society. Taste, an important quality in Jane Austen, refers to a general sense of what is proper as well as to aesthetic discernment, while feeling means sensitivity, tenderness, and a susceptibility to the finest emotions.
It will be noted that his qualities are more intellectual, hers more emotional. This corresponds to ideas at the time regarding what is characteristic, and most worthy, in men and women. For example, the heroine of Evelina, by one of Austen’s favorite novelists, Frances (or Fanny) Burney, says of a clever, sharp-tongued woman, “her understanding, indeed, may be called masculine: but, unfortunately, her manners deserve the same epithet; for, in studying to acquire the knowledge of the other sex, she has lost all the softness of her own.” She adds that gentleness is “a virtue which … seems so essential a part of the female character.” Thus Anne Elliot, in combining her intelligence, a quality that is certainly respected in women, with softness and gentleness, fulfills far better the prevailing feminine ideal.
6. In this society people were free to select their marriage partners on their own, but parents retained, by general consent, a right of veto. Thus characters in Austen, after making their choice, usually ask for parental permission.
7. This refers particularly to any financial assistance he might offer. Anne is entitled to a dowry of ten thousand pounds (see this page, and note 7), but parents would sometimes give more, in money or other benefits, to encourage the marriage and assist the young couple afterward.
8. alliance: marriage. The term reflects the tendency then
to view marriage as a link between families, one joining their interests and affecting their social positions. In this case Sir Walter feared the harm from a link with Captain Wentworth. His contempt is particularly ironic since now, eight years later, his debts are forcing him to rent his house to a wealthy naval officer.
9. Naval success was uncertain. Many officers were killed; many never got promoted to a high level; others spent much of their careers on ship assignments that offered little possibility of prize money or other rewards.
10. connexions: connections—particularly family connections or relations. That could be valuable, though it was not necessary for success: the navy was more meritocratic than most institutions in this society. Lady Russell, who seems to be unaffiliated with the navy, may be shaped more by knowledge of how society in general worked, than of the navy in particular, and thus more fearful of the effects of not having connections than is warranted.
11. dependance: condition of resting in expectation or waiting for something. In this case Anne could have to spend years waiting to see if Captain Wentworth enjoyed the success needed for them to establish a home.
12. representations: arguments, remonstrances; statements made with a view to influencing or changing someone’s opinion.
13. His casual attitude reflects his own personality, but it is also characteristic of his profession, which was dominated by uncertainty and chance, and required confidence and boldness in facing its risks.
14. A station would be the assignment of his ship.
15. Mind then referred to emotional as well as intellectual attributes.
16. Brilliant, or brilliancy (just used to describe Captain Wentworth), could mean a sparkling or playful wit, which the next sentence explains is not appealing to Lady Russell. The word could also have a slight connotation of insufficient seriousness, and of more show than substance.
17. connexion: marriage, i.e., the establishment of a family connection.
18. Strong respect for family was a fundamental principle of this society, and while Lady Russell is not related to Anne, she has stood in place of Anne’s mother since the latter died. The need for such respect, and obedience, was stressed particularly for girls, who in actual fact were in a condition of great dependence on their families.
19. This sentence announces the central theme of the novel. In this case, as is soon shown, Anne’s susceptibility to persuasion and lack of confidence in her own judgment have created misery for her.
20. The reasons why this would be to his advantage are not spelled out. The most obvious one would be the financial burden on him of supporting a wife. Her dowry would provide some support, but not a great amount, especially if she had many children (birth control was not generally practiced then). At this stage he had only his naval salary, which was too low to make much difference, and there was no certainty of his gaining prize money.
21. country: county. Country then also had the current meaning of nation, but the context suggests Captain Wentworth left only the area in which Anne resided.
22. For the idea, and importance, of a woman’s bloom, see note 27.
23. peculiar: particular.
24. nice: delicate, refined.
25. Members of the landed gentry would mostly socialize only with others of their class in the neighborhood. This would generally mean other landed families and the family of the local clergyman. In this case, the Elliots and the Musgroves seem to be the only wealthy landowners in the vicinity, and the clergyman in the Musgroves’ village, Dr. Shirley, is an old man (see this page) who is never mentioned as having children. The only other local clergyman cited is Captain Wentworth’s brother, later described as married, and his presence provided the basis for Anne’s meeting Captain Wentworth. This restricted range of options is why in every Jane Austen novel—except Northanger Abbey, set in Bath—the arrival of unmarried young persons from elsewhere sets in motion much of the plot. Here Captain Wentworth’s reappearance is the crucial generator of events.
26. As the eldest son Charles will eventually inherit that substantial property.
27. Lady Russell’s change of attitude reflects her knowledge of how much a woman’s youthfulness determined her marital eligibility. One reason was the premium placed on women’s beauty and the focus on youthful bloom as the basis of beauty. Another reason was that bearing children was the main function of a wife, which meant men preferred a bride in a state of maximum fertility (there were no medical treatments then for infertility). Thus even a woman in her early twenties could be less desirable than one in her late teens, while a woman in her late twenties was rapidly losing her eligibility, and one thirty or older had generally lost her chance.
28. Thus in this case Anne proves resistant to persuasion. Her refusal also shows her high standards.
29. independence: financial independence.
30. In addition to the attractions of marriage for one of Anne’s character, and its general attractions in any time and place, women in this society had a number of strong reasons to wish to be married. As marriage was held to be the natural and best state for a woman, one who married automatically gained social prestige, and the prospect of even further improvement in status in the event of having children or a husband who gained prominence. Marriage also usually improved a woman’s financial position and offered her some financial security, even if her husband died, while providing her the best opportunity to exercise, as mistress of a household, genuine power and influence. In contrast, single women were frequent objects of scorn, especially as they aged (when they would gain the derogatory label of old maid). They also had limited ability to support themselves, for few jobs were open to them, and among genteel women almost no paid work was considered acceptable. Anne inherits enough to provide for herself reasonably, but it still is less than she would enjoy if married to a man of her class. Finally, prevailing mores forbade single women from living alone, except perhaps if they were older, so such a woman would have to spend her life in another’s household, subject to others’ rules and the continual knowledge of being a dependent, possibly an unwanted one—as is true of Anne at present.
31. Lady Russell may consider the matter closed, while, knowing Anne’s distress at the time and fretting over her not marrying since, she may consider that raising the subject would only distress Anne further. Anne may be inhibited by a similar desire to avoid a painful subject, and by a disinclination to articulate opinions that would call into question Lady Russell’s judgment.
32. suspense: delay, uncertainty.
33. genius: natural talent.
34. The other step in rank is captain, which allowed him to command a larger ship than he could as commander, and which guaranteed that he would eventually become an admiral, and at a relatively early age since he became a captain when young (promotion to admiral was automatic, and happened according to the chronological order of when those eligible had risen to captain).
35. For captures and prize money, see note 4.
36. Navy lists would give information about ships and officers; newspapers would report recent actions (see note 9, and note 25). These would also have given her knowledge of Admiral Croft’s rank and history, he being of natural interest to her as the brother-in-law of Captain Wentworth.
37. The normal sequence would be to start romantically, perhaps by trying to marry purely for love, and to become more attuned to the importance of prudence as one aged. A copy of the novel once owned by Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, contains a marginal note, presumably by Cassandra, next to this paragraph that reads, “Dear dear Jane! This deserves to be written in letters of gold.” An obvious inspiration for the note would be the tragic story of Cassandra’s own engagement. She and her fiancé, a clergyman, decided to wait to marry: his current income was too small, but he expected to attain a better position soon from his patron. Unfortunately, his patron, not knowing of the engagement, asked him to accompany him as his chaplain on a military expedition to the Caribbean; while there, off
St. Domingo, in fact (see note 2), the young man died of yellow fever. The patron is supposed to have said he would not have asked him along on such a dangerous mission if he had known of the engagement. Cassandra may have felt that she and her fiancé had shown the same overanxious caution mentioned in this passage.
38. friends: friends, or family members. It obviously includes Sir Walter and Elizabeth in this case.
39. The following paragraph speaks of “the pride of some, and the delicacy of others” as the reasons the matter was not mentioned to Mary, Anne’s sister. The clear implication is that Sir Walter and Elizabeth were motivated by pride, in particular the wish to conceal that a member of their family had initially accepted the hand of a man of inferior birth, while Lady Russell was motivated by delicacy about mentioning a matter so painful to Anne.
40. Thus her father’s pride, and his indifference toward her, prove beneficial to Anne in this particular case.
41. British naval officers were frequently stationed overseas, for Britain had naval ports in various parts of the world.
42. Anne went to a boarding school after the death of her mother. It is likely Mary did the same and, being younger, remained in school longer.
43. fixed: settled.
A curricle (Ashstead Park, a country house, is in the background).
[From John Preston Neale, Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen, Vol. V (1822)]
A coach. Most would not have such fancy trimmings.
[From T. Fuller, Essay on Wheel Carriages (London, 1828), Plate no. 11]
VOLUME I, CHAPTER V
1. Regular outdoor exercise was recommended by writers as healthful, both for the exertion and the fresh air. For adult women, who rarely engaged in any outdoor sports, this usually meant daily walks. Many women in Jane Austen, especially younger ones, are described as regularly taking walks. Anne is also depicted as having a strong love of nature. For an example of a walking dress of the time, see this page.