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Matthew Tallent
English 3290
Galchinsky/Hall-Godsey
Feburary 23 2006
Aristocracy vs. Meritocracy in Persuasion
Jane Austen lived in 17th and 18th century England, a time when heritage and
wealth almost solely determined who someone was and could become in society. Being
an author in this time period, the characters in her novels resided in this type of societal
structure. In her novel Persuasion, Austen, often subtly, demonstrates how dated she feels
this type of society is becoming and shows support for a new type of system that is
surfacing in which people without birthright can rise to a respected position in English
civilization. In her novel, the new system of meritocracy is represented by the navy. She
shows support for the idea of social mobility and meritocracy through her portrayal of
individuals who rose to their positions by means of the navy and those born into the
aristocracy. She demonstrates how the class rigidity of the time was overcome by the
naval officers portrayed in the story while incorporating details of her life into her novel
as well.
W. A. Craik, in his biography of Austen, writes that she was born into a middleclass family and was the youngest of seven children. Individuals from the middle class
were the ones who could benefit most from a system of meritocracy, as they were closest
to the aristocracy in rank. Her father was a clergy man, and she lived the majority of her
life with her mother and sister (187). Anne Elliot, the heroine and protagonist in Austen’s
Persuasion was born into an aristocratic family, unlike Austen herself. When compared to
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Anne in a letter, Austen replied to her friend Fanny Knight that “You may perhaps like
the heroine, as she is almost too good for me (Chapman 487).” Austen is not comparing
herself to Anne Elliot, but rather using her as a means to express some of her thoughts
and opinions about the social situation in England. Austen had two brothers in navy,
which might offer some explanation as to why she praised them so. The Napoleonic Wars
were just coming to end when Persuasion was being written, and the naval officers were
on their way home (Craik 187).
The novel opens with a vivid image of how Austen viewed the aristocracy. Sir
Walter Elliot stands in Kellynch-Hall, described as a “man, who, for his own amusement,
never took up any book but the Baronetage (Austen Ch.1).” The Baronetage is a book
that contains the names and records of the most important families in England. Sir Walter
Elliot always keeps the page turned to his where his name is located. This immediately
shows the reader that this man is infatuated with himself. Sir Walter had three daughters,
one of which is Anne. His oldest daughter Elizabeth is his favorite, as she shares his
vanity and narcissism. It is soon revealed, however, that Sir Walter’s love of himself has
cost him his mansion. His excessive spending is forcing the Elliot family to move to
humbler lodgings. In his essay “In Between: Persuasion,” Tony Tanner makes the point
that now Sir Walter now has no money, profession, merit, or activity (238). The only
reason he is still viewed as a wealthy man is because of his birthright. Birthright still has
much influence in England’s society at this point.
The option of renting Kellynch-Hall to a decorated naval officer by the name of
Admiral Croft comes up in a conversation between Sir Elliot, Anne, and the Elliot’s
advisor. When asked about the navy, Anne Elliot replied “The navy, I think, who have
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done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the
comforts and all the privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for
their comforts (Austen Ch. 1).” Austen was hinting at how the naval officers deserved all
the comforts enjoyed by the aristocracy. Sir Walter quickly replied with his opinion of
the navy, stating that “it is in two points offensive to me. First, as being the means of
bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours
which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it cuts up a man’s
youth and vigour most horribly (Austen Ch.1).” Sir Walter is representing the view of the
aristocracy. His views on class rigidity reflect those of England. Admiral Croft and his
wife end up staying at Kellynch-Hall. It is important that this naval officer is occupying a
house once owned by a member of the aristocracy. The system of meritocracy is
beginning to disrupt the birthright tradition in England.
The Elliots soon move to a place called Bath, a place all too familiar to Jane
Austen. In his book The Life of Jane Austin, John Halprin writes that Austen hated Bath.
She had to move there from her home in Steveton when she was twenty-six years old
(124). Even though “the city of Bath was mostly built between 1760 and 1810, and was
in its full bloom of fashion and beauty when Jane Austen saw it,” she still disliked it
greatly (Craik 130). Halprin reminds readers that even though Anne thought it a good
idea to move away from Kellynch-Hall to Bath, she “still persisted in a determined,
though silent, disinclination for Bath (130).” In the novel, the Elliot’s aristocratic
relations, the Dalrymptes, live in Bath. They constantly invite the Elliots to parties in
high social circles, which Halprin calls “fashionable evening parties, with hypocritical
and insincere behavior and conversation (303).” Austen portrayed Bath, a place she
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personally detested, as a place where England’s aristocracy can meet and hold parties for
the purpose of glorifying themselves and their social status. Anne’s love interest in the
novel, naval officer Captain Wentworth, begins attending these parties as well, showing
his advancement in social class.
Anne’s sister Mary marries into a family called the Musgroves. They are not in as
high a position as Sir Walter in society, but the Elliots feel it is the best family Mary can
marry into. Though not as conceited as others possessing aristocratic backgrounds, the
Musgroves still indulged in their status. Mrs. Musgrove, while at an aristocratic dinner,
tried used her deceased son to evoke sympathy from the table and make herself the center
of attention. Mary Musgrove chose to leave her seriously injured child in the care of her
sister and attend a party rather than deal with the matter herself. Austen’s aristocratic
character portrayals leads readers to believe that those who rise to power through
meritocracy are better individuals and deserve their wealth more than those who were
born into their fortunes.
Ms. Clay is also an example of some who uses social mobility in the novel, and
one might argue that because Anne resented her presence, she wasn’t an advocate of
meritocracy. Craik notes that “Jane Austen is no egalitarian; she accepts distinctions of
rank (37).” But while she does accept the distinctions, she still recognizes the importance
of individuals being able to rise in society by means of their own merit. She firmly
believes naval officers deserved to be in a high class of society. Anne suspected Ms. Clay
of trying to marry her father, and this is what causes her contempt. The only two outlets
for social mobility at this time were the navy and marriage. Women could not join the
navy, so if they desire to raise their social status, they had to marry above their class.
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In his essay, Tony Tanner discusses how the term gentleman is changing from its
original meaning. This reflects the change happening in England around the same time.
The term gentleman was losing its significance and Tanner notes this can dangerous
when “the label ‘gentleman’ is confidently affixed to a man to a man who is the complete
opposite (239).” An example of this is Anne’s cousin Mr. Elliot, who only wants to
remain heir to the Elliot inheritance and has no qualms with stepping on others to raise
his social class. Patriarchy was still practiced in England, which means the closest male
relative always gets the inheritance. “The true ‘gentlemen’,” Tanner states, “are now to
be found in the Navy (239).” The ‘true gentlemen’ in Persuasion are the naval officers
Admiral Croft and Captain Wentworth, who rose to their social status because of their
accomplishments at sea.
Jane Austen demonstrated her advocacy of social mobility in 17th and 18th century
England through her portrayal of naval officers in her story. The idea of social mobility
promotes the social system of meritocracy. Austen’s writing reflects the changing of
times. At the time Persuasion was being written, the aristocracy was losing its grip on
high society in England. Naval officers were making a lot of money and individuals were
marrying out of their social classes. The ideal of meritocracy was slowly moving in. Jane
Austen promotes this change with her writing.