Sir Walter or Sir Satire???

Jane Austen uses satirical elements in Persuasion, as well in her other novels, to ridicule the upper class in the era that she lived in. Both the plot and the characters in Persuasion are shaped around the satirical elements involving social status and marriage.

Like many other Jane Austen novels, Persuasion begins with not having a male heir to inherit the family land; in this case it is Kellynch Hall. Cousin William Elliot is supposed to inherit the land, and that somewhat obligates him to marry one of Sir Walter’s daughters to keep the land in the immediate family. Anne, a foil to her pretentious and self-absorbed father, disagrees with the general view of marriage and social rank in her society. She feels that marriage should be primarily decided upon “domestic values”, and also thinks that she should not have to hang out with people just because they are of high status.

The relationship between Anne and her father are quite opposite, which is probably why she wasn’t Sir Walter’s favorite! From the beginning of the novel, the readers know that Sir Walter thinks very highly of himself and places a lot of importance on social class. For example, he has mirrors all around his room because he thinks he is so good looking. Jane Austen directly characterizes (and makes fun of) Sir Walter and uses the comparison “Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted the place he held in society” (Austen 4.). Even though Sir Walter really isn’t in the best economic situation and doesn’t have the same looks as he did when he was younger, he still cannot get enough of himself! Similarly, his favorite book is one of the family ancestries; he can see the social ranks he and his family were born into. So basically when he is not looking at himself in his mirrors, he is reading about himself. These characteristics contrast with Anne’s because she has friendships with people like Mrs. Smith, who has no money and is ill, but still enjoys her company any way. Although her father enjoys concerts and dinner parties with people like the rich Darymples, Anne finds them extremely boring. Anne symbolizes the views of Jane Austen, and her father Sir Walter is both a contrasting and satirical character, representing the majority of people in her time.

Arnold F(r)iend

In literature, characters are considered grotesque when they induce the emotions of empathy and disapproval from the reader.  Empathy is drawn from the reader for Connie after we discover that her parents are not very active in her life; they aren’t asking important questions like “Where are you going?” and “Where have you been?” Winslow suggest that “Connie’s mothers suggests that she worries about her daughter’s habits and friend group, but Oates doesn’t show judgment of her but suggests there are tons of girls like her” (Winslow 3).  Not bothered by her mother’s worries, Connie goes out with her desperate group of girl friends nightly to try to attract guys. 

Connie was clearly craving the attention that her parents gave to her sister, and as a result she found herself trying to flirt with guys like Arnold Friend. Sympathy for Connie arises because we see her as a teenage girl doing what any other teenage girl does at that time. Even their pop culture reveals a lot about their morals, almost as if it represents religion, “However, her (Oate’s) use of popular music as a thematic referent is typical also of her frequent illumination of the illusions and grotesquely false values which may arise from excessive devotion to such aspects of popular culture.” The music that Connie listens to acts almost as a religion for her, as for most teenage girls at the time. Its lyrics portray their values, which seem to be attracting guys and having fun. 

After Connie meets Arnold Friend one evening, the readers are at the edge of their seats with suspicion of this perverted and sketchy character.  From his looks to his name, the reader is given an eerie feeling about this disguised man who had “a grinning face that reminded Connie of a pumpkin, except it wore sunglasses” (Oates 3). Arnold Friend’s characteristics seem to closely resemble those of Satan, and as we learn more about him we learn less about Connie. Connie loses her identity as she learns just how crazy and demonic Arnold Friend is. She spends so much time trying to find out WHO Arnold is, that she loses sight of who she is. Connie isn’t able to even dial the police to help her because Arnold had gotten in her head so much at that point. By the end of the story, all she has become is a victim, Arnold’s slave.

Works Cited

Oates, Joyce Carol. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2002. Print.

Wegs, Joyce M. “’Don’t You Know Who I Am?’: The Grotesque in Oate’s ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’” Journal of Narrative Technique 5, 1995. Print.