Persuasion and Jane Austen Book Club Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Persuasion and Jane Austen Book Club - Essay Example In persuasion by Jane Austen, Lady Russell manages to convince Ann that Wentworth is not the best suitor for her leading to Ann turning down Wentworths proposal of marriage. Lady Russell takes advantage of her position in the Elliot family where she has played the role of a mother since the death of Ann’s mother to persuade not to marry Wentworth. Lady Russell together with the rest of Ann’s family believed in the â€Å"value for rank and consequence† (Austen 11) which was the basis of their opposition to the union between their family and Wentworth. Wentworth is not a wealthy individual and therefore represented a lower class compared to that of Ann who is from a lineage baronet. Lady Russell is in this case concerned with Ann’s future since Wentworth cannot promise to sustain her. Lady Russell uses the power of persuasion to control what becomes of Ann’s future. The ability Lady Russell that possess is well highlighted in Austin’s descripti on of the woman who is depicted as being â€Å"a woman of sound rather than quick abilities...she was a benevolent, charitable, good woman...most correct in her notions of decorum...she had a cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational and consistent--but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry" (Austen 42). Although some might consider the influence Lady Russell has over Ann as a selfish disposition that does not take into consideration feelings of her goddaughter, she was motivated by her protective love of Ann. Lady Russell had concerns over the future of her â€Å"most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favorite, and friend† (6). She is therefore worried that just like Anne’s mother was blindly consumed by romance to marry Sir Walter Elliot who is seen as being irresponsible due to careless spending that leaves the family in debts. To avoid what a future in which Lady Russell sees Ann turning suffering for the wrong choice she makes at the monument, she warns Ann â€Å"you’re making the same mistake