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Essay / The importance of place and family in Jane Austen...
Anne's mother had ensured the stability and upkeep of the estate before her death, and she had also kept track of the finances. When the idea of marrying Mr. Elliot arises, Anne is captivated by the idea of taking her mother's place at Kellynch. Austen states: “The idea of becoming what one's mother had been; to have for the first time resurrected in her the precious name of “Lady Elliot”; Being restored to Kellynch, calling it her home again, her forever home, was a charm she could not immediately resist” (Austen 130). When Anne realizes that Mr. Elliot plans to sell the estate when he inherits it, she quickly resists the idea of marrying him. Austen uses Anne as a character from traditional aristocratic society but open and encouraging towards the navy and the social change it started. Anne visits Kellynch while the Crofts are staying there and at first she has bitter feelings towards them in her house. However Austen writes of her change of opinion, "for she had in fact such a high opinion of farms, and considered her father so fortunate among her tenants, felt the parish so sure of a good example, and the poor of the best attention and the best relief, for although she was sorry and ashamed of the necessity of the removal, she could not but consciously feel that they were gone who deserved not to stay, and that Kellynch-hall had passed between better hands than its owners” (Austen 102). Anne is well aware of the social change taking place and Austen uses Kellynch to represent the internal change of the inhabitants with the social change occurring externally. Although Sir Walter still feels like he legally owns Kellynch, the Crofts seem to embody the idea and personality that comes with living on a large estate such as Kellynch. Anne notices how they earned the right to live in this house and set a good example for society because of