Satirizing Persuasion or Persuading with Satire?

            Although Austen’s Persuasion follows complex relationships that become a large focus of the novel by its conclusion, Austen’s extensive use of irony, exaggeration, and wit to point out moral wrongs occurring in her early 19^th century society demonstrate that Austen uses satire as a genre and not simply a method. During the time period Austen wrote Persuasion, the changes occurring to the early industrial nation of Britain produced dramatic changes to the social order as early industrialists, merchants, government officials, and military men created enormous fortunes off of the expanse of the new market. Furthermore, Austen’s satirizing of the old social order with Sir Elliot adds richness to the social circumstances that began to threaten the privileged classes of Britain. Austen characterizes Sir Elliot as a selfish and vain individual who, “never took up any book but the Baronetage… [in which] he could read his own history with an interest which never failed” (Austen 1). However, Sir Elliot is ironically not able to uphold his responsibilities as a baronet, the title he holds dearly, and Captain Wentworth, a hardworking and new breed of gentleman, ends up surpassing him in wealth and merit. Austen directly comments on the irony of this circumstance by stating that, “Captain Wentworth, with his five-and-twenty thousand pounds, and as high in his profession as merit and activity could place him… was now esteemed quite worthy to address the daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had the principle or sense enough to maintain himself in the position in which Providence had placed him” (Austen 185). Austen’s almost invective style of satirizing Sir Elliot demonstrates her disapproval of his destruction of the traditions evolving with Anne and Captain Wentworth, revealing the larger social tensions that existed in Britain during early industrialization. Moreover, Wentworth’s ability to overtake Sir Elliot in status is a symptom of the changes from war and industrialization that were taking place in Britain in the 1800s. As a result, Sir Elliot’s disapproval of the Navy as, “the means of bring persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which their father s and grandfathers never dreamt of,” demonstrates Austen’s satirizing of the hypocrisy of the old limits to social mobility (Austen 13). Austen implies that although Sir Elliot is an incredibly vain and selfish individual who goes to great lengths to ensure his happiness, he disapproves of allowing others to pursue the same happiness and wealth he enjoys through more arduous means. Therefore, Persuasion reveals the deeper conflict and moral corruption that developed in privileged society during Britain’s period of early industrialization.

Austen’s Persuasion continually uses situational irony, hypocrisy, and even invectives to demonstrate her support of the revival of older traditions by an evolved class of gentlemen. Despite Austen’s critique of her society’s practice of retrenching, which is the practice Sir Elliot is forced to do in which he lives modestly to pay off debts gained from living lavishly, Persuasion actually supports the gentlemanly traditions of the privileged classes. Anne, Austen’s main character, is conscious of class and has a certain amount of pride in her standing at Kellynch Hall, which entails that Austen does not think the class system should be abolished but rather updated without being inhibited by the old, landed aristocracy. Anne’s disapproval of having Mrs. Clay marry Sir Elliot and her discontent that her respected family must live in rented city rooms away from Kellynch Hall demonstrate that Austen still supports the class system. Austen supports class consciousness by directly stating that, “Anne would have been more thankful to ascertain… her father’s not being in love with Mrs. Clay,” (Austen 106) and that, “she must sigh that her father should feel no degradation in his change; should see nothing to regret in the duties and dignity of the resident land-holder” (Austen 100). Therefore, although Austen uses various satirical techniques to condemn and make fun of the vain abuse of privilege and tradition, Anne’s habits and the distinctions made between Sir Elliot and Anne entail that Austen still largely supports the caste system and opposes the irrational use of its provisions. David Groves and his article on social satire in Persuasion best summarizes Austen’s views in stating that Persuasion is, “conservative in its implied moral perspective, yet its satirical energy is constantly challenging readers to differentiate between the useless… self-serving conservatism of… Sir Walter, and the humane… concerned conservatism of Anne” (Groves 1). As a result, Austen’s use of satire as a genre to shape Persuasion adds a new layer of observations of the social status of 1800s society that enriches the book as a whole.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Persuasion. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 1997. Print.

Groves, David. Knowing One’s Species Better: Social Satire in “Persuasion”.                   Edinburgh, Scotland: Jane Austen Society of North America. Print.