How Does Jane Austen Use Art In Persuasion

Jane Austen’s novel “Persuasion” uses art as a way to establish someone who is associated with the higher class. Austen also uses art, like concerts, as a tool for the heroine, Anne Elliot, to reconnect with an old flame. This reference to class starts from the beginning of the book as Anne and Mary to visit the Musgroves. “To the Great House accordingly they went, to sit the full half hour in the old-fashioned square parlour, with a small carpet and shining floor, to which the present daughters of the house were gradually giving the proper air of confusion by a grand piano-forte and a harp, flower-stands and little tables placed in every direction.”(47) We immediately get the thought of a wealthy family when Jane calls the Musgroves’ house
Elliot is asking Anne to translate the program for him. While she translates for Elliot Wentworth says his goodbyes to Anne and refuses to stay any longer. Anne instantly believes he is jealous of Elliot, “Jealousy of Mr Elliot! It was the only intelligible motive. Captain Wentworth jealous of her affection!”(229) Austen uses the entire concert experience as a way to push Anne and Wentworth’s relationship further. From before the concert with Wentworth hinting his affections for Anne to the ending the performance where Wentworth leaves because of jealousy. This plays an important part because in a previous encounter Anne had hear Wentworth talk down on her looks, but now Anne is more sure Wentworth still has feelings for her and is interested in pursing them
Interestingly, Bronte uses the word “art” as more than beauty but also a skill, “the art of disturbing my happiness and unsettling my opinions.”(186) Rarely will Bronte use art to refer to an aesthetic object. Art for any decoration purposes is something Snowe associates with wealth and leisure, and she prefers to keep her distance. Take for example when Snowe calls a concert, “a grand affair to be held in a large hall” or describes a book as, “a piece of extravagance I could ill afford.”(32) Art, in a traditional sense, is not appealing as much to Snowe because of her preference for real and simple objects instead of artificial or elaborate