#mrs. clay

[bethanydelleman]

Mrs. Clay's speech may be a backhanded insult to the gentry and nobility:

The sea is no beautifier, certainly; sailors do grow old betimes; I have observed it; they soon lose the look of youth. But then, is not it the same with many other professions, perhaps most other? Soldiers, in active service, are not at all better off: and even in the quieter professions, there is a toil and a labour of the mind, if not of the body, which seldom leaves a man's looks to the natural effect of time. The lawyer plods, quite care-worn; the physician is up at all hours, and travelling in all weather; and even the clergyman--" she stopt a moment to consider what might do for the clergyman;--"and even the clergyman, you know is obliged to go into infected rooms, and expose his health and looks to all the injury of a poisonous atmosphere.

Here we have the gentleman professions: clergyman, lawyer, naval and army officer, and physician. All of them wear away at a man's good looks. Why? BECAUSE HE IS ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING WITH HIS LIFE!

You look so pretty Sir Walter, because you contribute exactly nothing to society.

[astrangergivingthestrangewelcome]

@literatureismyentirepersonality this one's for you bc I too have always HATED the Mrs. Clay subplot in Persuasion. It's never even remotely fit. Persuasion is The Jane Austen Book about how rank is not an indicator of personal character. Mary is portrayed as a silly snob when she looks down on Charles Hater for Henrietta and oh there's also the matter of CAPTAIN FREDERICK WENTWORTH IS NOT A GENTLEMAN. In his case it's supposed to be a point in his favor that he has worked to build the name and wealth he has for himself. I don't see how naval officer is a whole world away from lawyer's daughter which is what Mrs. Clay is. Frankly given the fact Anne's family is bankrupt and Wentworth is now rich, an outsider looking in could call her a golddigger if they didn't know her better, and they certainly would if she wasn't an aristocrat. Why this is the main romance of the novel and Mrs. Clay is to be sneered at is beyond me.

Besides this... I can understand why Mr. Elliot cares, and why Lady Russell cares bc she's kinda a snob, but why does Anne really give a shit? She's not getting the money whether Sir Walter fathers a son or not. What is it to her who her father marries? Jane Austen never gives us any traits or actions of Mrs. Clay that are particularly bad. She's a flatterer sure, but I mean... the girlie is a widow with two kids. She is looking where she has to look to make sure they are provided for and frankly she does not have an easy time of it can you imagine spending all your time with Sir Walter Elliot and Elizabeth? I would hate my life.

I just don't understand why that subplot is even in the novel. What does it do? Mr. Elliot doesn't Need to run off with her to be proven false, Mrs. Smith is already there. The novel could end with Elizabeth marrying Mr. Elliot and I think that would be fine for both of them, they would deserve eachother. The only thing I can think of is she existing to really hammer in the fact that Elizabeth is a bitch bc she prefers the flattery of Mrs. Clay to the genuine friendship she might have with her sister. But the "oooh Mrs. Clay's a golddigger the absolute bitch" subplot of Persuasion is so dissonant with the themes of the novel that it would really be better if she just. Didn't exist.

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1920s Baroque Works 🥂

Always wanted to do a movie poster redraw of the Great Gatsby so here they are!!

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Some long overdue sillyness ~

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i am at the point where if i dont finish now i'll newer finish so yeah the rest of the gaaaaaang

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watercolor sketches 

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IS THAT BON CHAN'S SUMMER DRESS???😲

Epic

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Art by @konkawa_1223 on twitter

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Twelve times the trans community saved Luffy (and the one time it didn't)

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‘A white graceful swan,

Ready to rapidly strike,

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[bethanydelleman]

WIBTA for leaving my kids behind while I try to secure their future?

u/ClaytoBeauty

I am a young widow (F27) with two young children (M4, F2). My late husband wasn't very wealthy so I've been forced to move back in with my father. Fortunately, my father is the agent of a wealthy baronet (M54). He's in a little debt right now, but who isn't? The baronet's daughter, Ella (F29), has taken an interest in me and asked me to accompany the family to Bath. I think this is my golden opportunity to improve my life! The baronet doesn't have a male heir and what could be better than marrying a woman with proven fertility?

If I go, I have a chance to catch the father and secure my children's future, but I will have to leave my kids behind and people can be pretty judgmental about things like that... so WIBTA if I spent six months in Bath and left my kids with my father?

Top Comment:

u/PlymouthGirl69

YWNBTA at all! Ignore these other comments about your duty as a mother, as a woman you need to try for the best you can get your hands on! This opportunity is far too good to pass up!

Go secure yourself a baronet!

u/ClaytoBeauty (OP) Thank you for saying this, I have told Ella that I'm going to accompany her!

Comment near the bottom:

u/RosingsRector

A quick consultation of The Baronetage reveals that this baronet is in fact Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch Hall, born March 1, 1760. Ella must be his daughter Miss Elizabeth Elliot, born June 1, 1785. There are two more daughters in the family but as stated, no male heir. The property is entailed, something that I am very familiar with, so the requirement for a male heir is valid.

I will consult with my honoured patroness, Lady C, to see if anything should be done to warn Sir Walter about this scheme. It would be a shame to see such a man marry a woman of low rank and Lady C is very concerned about the preservation of distinctions of rank.

(WIBTA is for future situations, "Would I Be TA?" and YWNBTA "You Would Not Be TA")

AITA Masterpost

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1920s Baroque Works 🥂

outfit sketches for something later down the line

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