Austen's Phoenix: Anne Elliot's Transformation in Persuasion Anonymous 10th Grade

Jane Austen's Persuasion is a satirical romp through the cold and arrogant lives of the aristocracy as seen through the eyes of a self-sufficient and free thinking woman, who must realize the false values in her life and learn enough to reconcile what she has lost. The plot is presented through Anne Elliot's point of view, while those she associates with embody false values: they are used by Austen to caricature an already debauched lifestyle. Anne seems to be cursed for her simplicity, yet at the end, she is blessed with the fulfillment of her dreams because of her perseverance.

The first view presented is of the over-excessive aristocracy, seen in the first two chapters, with Sir Walter Elliot in debt due to his ill-judgment of finances. Now he must sell his family manor, Kellynch-Hall, to cut the expenses on his huge liability. Sir Walter’s character is revealed through how he handles the affair; he is a proud man and a world of shame would come if he had to sell his family manor, so he decides to rent it out to a person of prominence, so as not to lose face among his peers. Mr. Shepherd, a friend of Sir Walter, suggests renting it out to sailors, which only sends shivers down Sir Walter's spine, for sailors "are persons of...