Persuasion · Chapter
Chapter XV explained
Anne arrives in Bath to join her father and sister, who are delighted with their new home and social standing.
What happens
Anne arrives in Bath to join her father and sister, who are delighted with their new home and social standing. They enthusiastically recount their reconciliation with Mr. Elliot, who has been assiduously courting their favor. Anne is skeptical of his motives but finds him charming when she finally meets him, and the evening passes surprisingly pleasantly.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Rank
Sir Walter's pride in his house and social standing in Bath, and his concern with Mr. Elliot's appearance and connections, highlight the importance of rank and appearance.
Family Dynamics and Duty
Anne's sense of duty brings her to Bath, where she must navigate her father and sister's self-absorption and the reemergence of Mr. Elliot as a family member.
Persuasion and Influence
Mr. Elliot's calculated efforts to win over Sir Walter and Elizabeth, and Anne's skepticism about his motives, reflect the theme of persuasion and hidden influence.
Characters to notice
- Anne Elliot
Arrives in Bath with a sinking heart, anticipating imprisonment, but is surprised by the cordial welcome. She listens to her father and sister's accounts of Mr. Elliot with skepticism, yet finds his manners agreeable upon meeting him.
- Sir Walter Elliot
Proud of his house in Camden Place and delighted with Bath society. He is fully reconciled with Mr. Elliot, praising his appearance and connections, though he laments Mr. Elliot being 'underhung.'
- Elizabeth Elliot
Shares her father's satisfaction with Bath and their new home. She is evidently pleased by Mr. Elliot's attentions and, with Mrs. Clay, encourages the idea that he may be courting her.
- Mr. Elliot
Has been in Bath a fortnight, actively seeking reconciliation with Sir Walter and Elizabeth. He is charming, sensible, and pays particular attention to Anne, showing surprise and pleasure at meeting her.
- Mrs. Clay
Present and smiling, her courtesies are described as a matter of course. She appears to encourage Elizabeth's belief that Mr. Elliot's interest is in her.
- Colonel Wallis
Mentioned as a close friend of Mr. Elliot who provides extenuating details about Mr. Elliot's marriage, describing his wife as a fine woman with a large fortune who sought him.
Key passages
“Anne entered it with a sinking heart, anticipating an imprisonment of many months, and anxiously saying to herself, 'Oh! when shall I leave you again?'”
Anne felt trapped and unhappy as she arrived, dreading the long stay ahead.
Reveals Anne's emotional state and her sense of confinement in Bath.
“He had explained away all the appearance of neglect on his own side. It had originated in misapprehension entirely.”
Mr. Elliot claimed that any previous coldness was due to a misunderstanding, not intentional neglect.
Shows Mr. Elliot's skill in manipulating perceptions to regain favor.
“She could only compare Mr. Elliot to Lady Russell, in the wish of really comprehending what had passed, and in the degree of concern for what she must have suffered in witnessing it.”
Anne felt that Mr. Elliot showed the same genuine interest and sympathy as Lady Russell when he asked about the accident at Lyme.
Highlights Anne's positive impression of Mr. Elliot's attentiveness.