Persuasion–Austin Poor Dick Essay, Research Paper

And upon looking over his letters and things, she found it was so, and is perfectly sure that this must be the very man, and her head is quite full of it, and of poor Richard! (Austen, 34)

Richard Musgrove is a very, very minor character in Jane Austen s Persuasion. However, his presence in the novel allows Austen to initially stake her claim on one of the novel s overriding themes. Austen presents the idea that one s merit is more a measure of usefulness and worth than the rank that one s family holds. This is a very powerful and relatively new idea for the early 18th century, a time period in which the aristocracy is still a powerful social class. Austen s exploration of usefulness vs. uselessness allows the reader to gain a glimpse of the true purpose of Persuasion. That being that happiness and self-fulfillment can only be achieved when one refuses the shackles of the ineffectual aristocracy.

Austen seems to be expounding on Richard s uselessness and his failure to live up to the promise of his birth and entitlement. This is a very important point. It seems that in the world of Persuasion, it is the qualities of usefulness, resourcefulness and capability that are attractive to the reader. To the aristocracy, what one does with one s day is of the utmost importance. The Elliots are landed gentry and as such they do not work or conduct themselves in any manner of labor. It has often been said that the true mark of a gentleman is the ability to do no work. Austen, from the very beginning, sets the tone that the Elliots, excepting Anne, are worthless members of a worthless class. Austen describes Elizabeth Elliot in a most unforgiving manner: Such were Elizabeth Elliot’s sentiments and sensations; such the cares to alloy, the agitations to vary, the sameness and the elegance, the prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life; such the feelings to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in one country circle, to fill the vacancies which there were no habits of utility (no original emphasis) abroad, no talents or accomplishments for home, to occupy . (Austin, 8) This is in opposition to the usefulness that Anne demonstrates throughout the novel.

Anne is the perhaps the most utility oriented character in the novel. She stays behind as the family moves to Bath and helps pack up Kellynch Hall. She is always the one that various other character call upon when some sort of work is to be done, be it playing a piano or caring for a sister s injured child. However, the strongest example of Anne’s utility and the strength that comes from being useful occurs when she takes charge when Louisa cracks her head. Anne s ability to be useful in that situation most likely saved the life of Louisa. Even Capt. Wentworth, normally a meritorious character, quickly plays second fiddle to Anne as she takes charge of the situation. Fortunately, Anne is no the only character with utility.

The reader identifies with certain characters in the novel. The reader is meant to see that the productive, resourceful characters–the Crofts, Wentworth, and Anne–are the ones to aspire to, versus the slothful, talent less vacuum of characters like Sir Elliot, Elizabeth and Mary. Persuasion offers the reader a forked road. Down one path lies aristocracy and down the other lies the merit and usefulness. Ultimately, it is the meritorious road that offers self-definition, contentment and possibly salvation.

She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing — indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it. (Austen, 19) In referring to her prior engagement, Anne realizes that being persuaded out of marrying Wentworth was the first step on the road that led to her present discontentment She was persuaded that under every disadvantage of disapprobation at home, and every anxiety attending his profession, all their probable fears, delays, and disappointments, she should yet have been a happier woman in maintaining the engagement (Austen 19) Later in the novel Anne believed that Capt Wentworth never did want to see her again. Anne had never been “despised” by anyone in her entire life, in fact she was accustomed to raising only sentiments of indifference in most of the people around her. (Austin, 10) she had inspired passionate love in Wentworth and then crushed him. To be despised by the same person must have made her feel quite doubtful of her own worth and usefulness. This self-doubt and the strange actions of Wentworth led her to consider (or at least be persuaded to) the possibility of marrying Mr. Elliot. This would be a situation in which she would be a member of the class that Austen puts in a poor light. As a future Mrs. Elliot, Anne perhaps would have wasted away. Her former usefulness wasted.

Fortunately, at the end, Anne decides to marry Capt Wentworth and throw off the shackles of aristocracy. In so doing, she defined her self as a strong woman, was ultimately more content and saved herself from the vapid life of the aristocracy.

This brings the reader back to poor Dick, who “had never done anything to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name, living or dead.” (Austen 34) It seems ironic that that the most useless character is introduced and then killed off a few lines later. Perhaps Austen is showing the reader the dire consequences of uselessness. Morbid humor perhaps? Regardless, it is utility that is contrasted with futility in this novel. By doing something Anne had gained happiness and self-fulfillment. If she had done nothing, she would have been lost to the aristocracy. Using this technique, Austen is showing the reader the benefits of being useful. By doing rather than watching, one brings worth to one s existence. This, in turn, is the ultimate goal of any living being. The quest for self-worth and happiness does not begin easily but Austen has shown the reader a way she believes will lead to success.