Ismael 1
Characterization Essay
Zaid Ismael
Mrs. Timm
English 12B
21 January 2016
Ismael 2
Zaid Ismael
Mrs. Timm
English 12B
21 January 2016
Characterization Essay Outline
I.
Introduction
A. Hook
B. Title Book
C. Thesis
II.
Indirect Characterization
A. Speech
1. Felt bad for herself
2. Page 306
B. Effect on others
1. Kindness
2. Page 302
C. Transition
III.
Direct Characterization
A. Mrs. Smith
B. Jane Austen
1. Widows
2. Sickness
3. Unlucky
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4.
Page 302
C. Action
1. Knitting
2. Page 307
A. Transition
IV.
Character’s importance
A. Play into story
B. Transition
V.
Conclusion
Ismael 4
Zaid Ismael
Mrs. Timm
English 12B
21 January 2016
Characterization Essay
“Persuasion is often more effectual than force.” – Aesop. This quote seems to sum up
Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion. Every page of the book showed one for of persuasion after
another. The main part about the story is about the character, Anne Elliot and how she either was
persuaded or was persuading other people. One character that plays a kind part in Anne Elliot’s
life is Mrs. Smith. When considering the characters of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, it shown
through direct and indirect characterization that Mrs. Smith was one of few people who were
kind to Anne Elliot.
The one way to understand a main character is to look at the indirect characteristics of a
sub character. While Mrs. Smith seems like a crippled, it is not something that she things of
herself. “There had been a time, Mrs. Smith told her, when her spirits had nearly failed. She
could not call herself an invalid now, compared with her state on first reaching Bath.” (306) The
reality is that she believes herself to be self-sufficient. She is known for her needlework in the
city of Bath, England. Furthermore, the stories gentry go out of their way to acquire her sewing.
One such lady was Miss Hamilton. As a matter of fact, she associated herself with Mrs. Smith to
help her get through her illness. “Miss Hamilton, knew Mrs. Smith, had shown her kindness in
one of those periods of her life when it had been most valuable.” (302) Therefore, Mrs. Smith is
a character that showed kindness and received kindness. Furthermore, Jane Austen use direct
characteristics to further emphasize Mrs. Smith’s place within her story.
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One of the best ways to introduce a character is through direct characteristics. In the
second volume of the novel, Jane Austen goes through great length to describe Mrs. Smith and
her predicament.
“She was a widow and poor. Her husband had been extravagant; and at his death, about
two years before, had left his affairs dreadfully involved. She had had difficulties of
every sort to contend with, and in addition to these distresses had been afflicted with a
severe rheumatic fever, which, finally settling in her legs, had made her for the present a
cripple.” (302)
This part of the book shows that Mrs. Smith was married to a husband with did not care how he
left his affairs for his wife. Furthermore, it shows that she was just unlucky. She was sick with a
depilating disease and really unable to walk. However, this character did not let anything stop
her from being a productive member of society.
“ As soon as I could use my hands she taught me to knit, which has been a great
amusement; and she put me in the way of making these little thread-cases, pin-cushions
and card-racks, which you always find me so busy about, and which supply me with the
means of doing a little good to one or two very poor families in this neighbourhood.”
(307)
In this quote, it shows how productive she was at making her living.