Persuasion by Jane Austen?

Question: Persuasion by Jane Austen!?

Would you describe the character of Lady Russel in "Persuasion" as "austere"!? And could she possibly be described as a "Dominant Grandmother Type"!? Please describe her a little to me!? Thank you very much :)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Yes, I think she could be called austere, also manipulative and controlling (ex!. Her persuading Anne to dump Wentworth)!. She could also be called a dominant grandmother type, but I think that she was just a woman of her times who was trying to do her best as a replacement mother to her goddaughter!. Regency England was very class conscious, which makes Lady Russell's objections over Wentworth understandable!. Lady Russell, no matter how snobby she was, was also the only sensible person in Anne's inner circle which means that her counsel counts for a great to Anne, who in turn is eager to please the only mother figure she has!. While Lady Russell fills the void left by Anne's mother, I think Anne also fills a void for Lady Russell who is widowed and has no actual children of her own and who is obviously lonely (she is always with the Elliots and/or Anne so much so that her financial advice to leave Kellynch carried the weight that it did) also sees Anne as filling the family void in her life!. You could make the argument that Lady Russell's objection to Anne's marriage had more to do with the fear of losing her family again (as when her husband died) than Wentworth's social standing!. Her protectiveness over Anne is also manifested in her telling Anne that she deserves better in a mate (ex!. Charles Musgrove who she sees as intellectually inferior to Anne and Wentworth because he is first financial inferior and then socially so because he was a self-made man and has no family connections to recommend him)!. Well, I hope this helps, e-mail me if you want more analysis!.Www@QuestionHome@Com