Persuasion Lesson Plan

Lady Russell conjures up a future in which Anne is mistress of Kellynch Hall. How is the audience left to weigh this option?

Lady Russell expresses to Anne how much she would love to see her married to Mr. Elliot—not only because he seems to be a very nice and amiable man, but because Anne would be able to take her mother’s place as Lady Elliot. The reader is left with a real dilemma, less because of the romantic weight of each option, since we know that Anne does not love Mr. Elliot the way that she loves Captain Wentworth (for this, we’re given cues of her physical reactions, which are uncontrollable around Captain Wentworth). Rather, the reader sees how much Kellynch Hall...