Persuasion, in many ways, is a study of 19th-century England, specifically the customs, manners, and traditions of its middle and upper class. The novel was written and published during a time of great chaos and upheaval. The Napoleonic Wars, a series of global conflicts, brought radical change to Europe. As a result, the social order in England also was beginning to change.
The novel is set in the county of Somersetshire. The primary settings are Kellynch Hall and Bath. Kellynch Hall, the Elliot family estate and home, symbolizes wealth and the prestige of the baronetcy. However, at the beginning of the novel, the Elliots are forced to rent their home due to difficult financial circumstances.
The city of Bath is also an important location in Persuasion. In Chapter 2, the Elliots relocate there after leaving Kellynch Hall, at the suggestion of their friend Lady Russell:
Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it might suit them all; and as to her young friend’s health, by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger would be avoided; and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits good.
Homes and estates in Persuasion are significant, as they often reveal characters’ social or financial standing. In Chapter 5, the narrator describes Uppercross Estate, the house owned by Charles Musgrove, which rivals Kellynch Hall:
Uppercross Cottage, with its veranda, French windows, and other prettiness, was quite as likely to catch the traveller's eye as the more consistent and considerable aspect and premises of the Great House, about a quarter of a mile farther on.
Through such descriptions, the novel explores more specific and localized settings within the broader context of 19th-century England. In particular, the close attention to the various estates highlights the time period's obsession with status and wealth, as the novel's interest in where its characters live ultimately reflects the values that were prized in aristocratic circles in 19th-century England.
Persuasion, in many ways, is a study of 19th-century England, specifically the customs, manners, and traditions of its middle and upper class. The novel was written and published during a time of great chaos and upheaval. The Napoleonic Wars, a series of global conflicts, brought radical change to Europe. As a result, the social order in England also was beginning to change.
The novel is set in the county of Somersetshire. The primary settings are Kellynch Hall and Bath. Kellynch Hall, the Elliot family estate and home, symbolizes wealth and the prestige of the baronetcy. However, at the beginning of the novel, the Elliots are forced to rent their home due to difficult financial circumstances.
The city of Bath is also an important location in Persuasion. In Chapter 2, the Elliots relocate there after leaving Kellynch Hall, at the suggestion of their friend Lady Russell:
Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it might suit them all; and as to her young friend’s health, by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger would be avoided; and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits good.
Homes and estates in Persuasion are significant, as they often reveal characters’ social or financial standing. In Chapter 5, the narrator describes Uppercross Estate, the house owned by Charles Musgrove, which rivals Kellynch Hall:
Uppercross Cottage, with its veranda, French windows, and other prettiness, was quite as likely to catch the traveller's eye as the more consistent and considerable aspect and premises of the Great House, about a quarter of a mile farther on.
Through such descriptions, the novel explores more specific and localized settings within the broader context of 19th-century England. In particular, the close attention to the various estates highlights the time period's obsession with status and wealth, as the novel's interest in where its characters live ultimately reflects the values that were prized in aristocratic circles in 19th-century England.
