Persuasion · Chapter
Chapter XVII explained
Anne renews her acquaintance with her former schoolfellow, Mrs.
What happens
Anne renews her acquaintance with her former schoolfellow, Mrs. Smith, now a poor and crippled widow living in Bath. Through their visits, Anne is struck by Mrs. Smith's resilience and cheerful spirit despite her hardships. Meanwhile, Anne reflects on Mr. Elliot's character, finding him too universally agreeable and lacking openness, which deepens her distrust of him, contrary to Lady Russell's hopes.
Themes in this chapter
Regret and Second Chances
Anne's renewed acquaintance with Mrs. Smith reflects themes of past kindness and present suffering, and Anne's own reflections on lost opportunities.
Selfishness vs. Selflessness
Mrs. Smith's selfless resilience and cheerfulness contrast with the selfishness Anne perceives in Mr. Elliot's overly agreeable nature.
Social Class and Rank
The contrast between Anne's privileged position and Mrs. Smith's reduced circumstances highlights the impact of social class on life outcomes.
Characters to notice
- Anne Elliot
Renews acquaintance with Mrs. Smith, reflects on Mr. Elliot's character, and contrasts her own feelings with Lady Russell's hopes.
- Mrs. Smith
Former Miss Hamilton, now a poor, crippled widow living in humble lodgings in Bath; displays remarkable resilience and cheerfulness.
- Lady Russell
Supports Anne's visit to Mrs. Smith and continues to hope for a match between Anne and Mr. Elliot.
- Mr. Elliot
Discussed by Anne; she finds him too generally agreeable and suspects his past, though Lady Russell sees him as ideal.
- Nurse Rooke
Mrs. Smith's nurse, a shrewd and intelligent woman who provides companionship and helps sell Mrs. Smith's handicrafts.
Key passages
“Anne found in Mrs. Smith the good sense and agreeable manners which she had almost ventured to depend on, and a disposition to converse and be cheerful beyond her expectation.”
Anne discovered that Mrs. Smith was sensible, pleasant, and surprisingly cheerful, exceeding her hopes.
Shows Anne's positive impression of Mrs. Smith's character.
“She prized the frank, the openhearted, the eager character beyond all others. Warmth and enthusiasm did captivate her still.”
Anne valued honesty, openness, and eagerness above all, and was still drawn to warmth and enthusiasm.
Reveals Anne's preference for genuine, open-hearted people over polished but guarded individuals like Mr. Elliot.
“Mr. Elliot was too generally agreeable. Various as were the tempers in her father's house, he pleased them all. He endured too well, stood too well with everybody.”
Mr. Elliot was so universally agreeable that it seemed unnatural; he got along with everyone too easily.
Highlights Anne's suspicion of Mr. Elliot's overly accommodating nature.