Högskolan i Halmstad
Sektionen för Humaniora
Engelska 61-90

The Importance of Class and Money A Marxist Analysis of Jane Austen’s Persuasion

Therese Andersson
C-essay
Tutor Kristina Hildebrand

Abstract
This essay analyzes how issues related to money and social class are presented in Jane
Austen’s Persuasion. The method used will be a close reading as well as aspects of Marxist literary criticism, a theory that will be presented in the second chapter. Background information about the author and her time will then be given in the third chapter. In chapter four, the character of Sir Walter Elliot will be analyzed, in chapter five Elizabeth Elliot, and in chapter six William Elliot. Some of the other characters will be analyzed, more briefly, in the seventh chapter. Conclusions will then be drawn in the eighth and final chapter.

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Table of contents
Abstract.....................................................................................................2
Table of contents.......................................................................................3
1. Introduction.........................................................................................4
2. Theory and method..............................................................................5
2.1 Close reading............................................................................................5
2.2 Marxist literary criticism................................................................................5

3. Background..........................................................................................7
3.1 Jane Austen and her time.........................................................................7
3.1.1 Titles and ranks..........................................................................................9

3.2 Class in Jane Austen’s