To what extent do the class structure and social rules in the 18th and 19th centuries influence the relationships of the heroine Anne with the other characters in the novel ‘Persuasion’ written by Jane Austen?

摘要

This extended essay examines the effects of social and economic factors on the relationshipsudbetween the heroine and other characters by taking the following research question intoudconsideration:ud“To what extent do the class structure and social rules in the 18th and 19thudcenturies influence the relationships of the heroine Anne with the other characters in theudnovel ‘Persuasion’ written by Jane Austen?”udBased on the thesis that each and every character has a particular mission in the novel, theudessay is separated into parts that include different characters’ relationships with Anne Elliot,udthe heroine of Persuasion.udThe characters that are chosen in order to explore the social structure are; Lady Russell, Mrs.udSmith, Elizabeth, Mary, Sir Walter and Captain Wentworth. The reason for choosing theseudfigures is that all of them symbolize a certain class by being a member of it.udIn addition to this, the arrangement of the sections in the essay is made according to a certainudorder. Initially, female figures are stated so as to demonstrate the general perception towardsudwomen in the mentioned era. First of all, Lady Russell and Anne is analysed, thus, the reasonudof the main conflict in the novel; the separation of Anne and Captain Wentworth isudemphasized. Then the other figures that are affected from the class structured society areudexplored and at that point the concept of sisterhood and its being shaped by the socialudstructure is underlined. Finally, the male figures are examined and some assumptions areudgenerated about formation of the main conflict.udIn conclusion, a judgment about the existence of the connection between social and economicudstructure of England in the 18th and 19th centuries and the relationships between Anne andudother characters is reached and the parallelism of them is proved.