Meaning of a passage in “Persuasion” by Jane Austen












4















Please refer to this extract from chapter 14 of Jane Austen's Persuasion:




Elizabeth’s last letter had communicated a piece of news of some
interest. Mr Elliot was in Bath. He had called in Camden Place; had
called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive: if
Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking
as much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the
connexion, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect. This was
very wonderful if it were true; and Lady Russell was in a state of
very agreeable curiosity and perplexity about Mr Elliot, already
recanting the sentiment she had so lately expressed to Mary, of his
being ‘a man whom she had no wish to see.’ She had a great wish to see
him. If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch,
he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal
tree. Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance; but
she felt that she would rather see Mr Elliot again than not, which was
more than she could say for many other persons in Bath. She was put
down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her own lodgings,
in Rivers Street.




Questions:




  1. The above extract says that Mr. Elliot, Anne's cousin, was in Bath. Then I can't understand the following line: "He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive". What does the phrase "called in" mean?


  2. "if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves". Why would Elizabeth and her father deceive themselves?


  3. Why does Lady Russell hold negative opinions about Mr. Elliot?


  4. Who thinks: "If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree."?











share|improve this question





























    4















    Please refer to this extract from chapter 14 of Jane Austen's Persuasion:




    Elizabeth’s last letter had communicated a piece of news of some
    interest. Mr Elliot was in Bath. He had called in Camden Place; had
    called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive: if
    Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking
    as much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the
    connexion, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect. This was
    very wonderful if it were true; and Lady Russell was in a state of
    very agreeable curiosity and perplexity about Mr Elliot, already
    recanting the sentiment she had so lately expressed to Mary, of his
    being ‘a man whom she had no wish to see.’ She had a great wish to see
    him. If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch,
    he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal
    tree. Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance; but
    she felt that she would rather see Mr Elliot again than not, which was
    more than she could say for many other persons in Bath. She was put
    down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her own lodgings,
    in Rivers Street.




    Questions:




    1. The above extract says that Mr. Elliot, Anne's cousin, was in Bath. Then I can't understand the following line: "He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive". What does the phrase "called in" mean?


    2. "if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves". Why would Elizabeth and her father deceive themselves?


    3. Why does Lady Russell hold negative opinions about Mr. Elliot?


    4. Who thinks: "If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree."?











    share|improve this question



























      4












      4








      4








      Please refer to this extract from chapter 14 of Jane Austen's Persuasion:




      Elizabeth’s last letter had communicated a piece of news of some
      interest. Mr Elliot was in Bath. He had called in Camden Place; had
      called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive: if
      Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking
      as much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the
      connexion, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect. This was
      very wonderful if it were true; and Lady Russell was in a state of
      very agreeable curiosity and perplexity about Mr Elliot, already
      recanting the sentiment she had so lately expressed to Mary, of his
      being ‘a man whom she had no wish to see.’ She had a great wish to see
      him. If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch,
      he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal
      tree. Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance; but
      she felt that she would rather see Mr Elliot again than not, which was
      more than she could say for many other persons in Bath. She was put
      down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her own lodgings,
      in Rivers Street.




      Questions:




      1. The above extract says that Mr. Elliot, Anne's cousin, was in Bath. Then I can't understand the following line: "He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive". What does the phrase "called in" mean?


      2. "if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves". Why would Elizabeth and her father deceive themselves?


      3. Why does Lady Russell hold negative opinions about Mr. Elliot?


      4. Who thinks: "If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree."?











      share|improve this question
















      Please refer to this extract from chapter 14 of Jane Austen's Persuasion:




      Elizabeth’s last letter had communicated a piece of news of some
      interest. Mr Elliot was in Bath. He had called in Camden Place; had
      called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive: if
      Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking
      as much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the
      connexion, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect. This was
      very wonderful if it were true; and Lady Russell was in a state of
      very agreeable curiosity and perplexity about Mr Elliot, already
      recanting the sentiment she had so lately expressed to Mary, of his
      being ‘a man whom she had no wish to see.’ She had a great wish to see
      him. If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch,
      he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal
      tree. Anne was not animated to an equal pitch by the circumstance; but
      she felt that she would rather see Mr Elliot again than not, which was
      more than she could say for many other persons in Bath. She was put
      down in Camden Place; and Lady Russell then drove to her own lodgings,
      in Rivers Street.




      Questions:




      1. The above extract says that Mr. Elliot, Anne's cousin, was in Bath. Then I can't understand the following line: "He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive". What does the phrase "called in" mean?


      2. "if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves". Why would Elizabeth and her father deceive themselves?


      3. Why does Lady Russell hold negative opinions about Mr. Elliot?


      4. Who thinks: "If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree."?








      meaning jane-austen persuasion






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      edited Feb 6 at 10:25









      Gareth Rees

      6,45911361




      6,45911361










      asked Feb 6 at 10:03









      SoumeeSoumee

      1364




      1364






















          1 Answer
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          He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive:




          "Called" here means "visited." Camden Place is the name of the building or location. The sentence means "He visited the house several times."




          if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves,




          It's a rhetorical device: "Unless I'm wrong, here's what's happening." The entire sentence reads "Unless Elizabeth and her father misunderstood why he was there, he was putting in just as much effort to spend time with them now as he had previously worked at ignoring them."




          If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree.




          The narration is speaking; I believe the sentiment is being attributed to Lady Russell.



          I haven't read the book, but the wiki summary tries to explain why various characters object to Mr. Elliot (which, honestly, I couldn't follow, but the upshot seems to be that he's a money-chasing jerk).






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

            – Gareth Rees
            Feb 6 at 11:29













          Your Answer








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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
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          3















          He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive:




          "Called" here means "visited." Camden Place is the name of the building or location. The sentence means "He visited the house several times."




          if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves,




          It's a rhetorical device: "Unless I'm wrong, here's what's happening." The entire sentence reads "Unless Elizabeth and her father misunderstood why he was there, he was putting in just as much effort to spend time with them now as he had previously worked at ignoring them."




          If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree.




          The narration is speaking; I believe the sentiment is being attributed to Lady Russell.



          I haven't read the book, but the wiki summary tries to explain why various characters object to Mr. Elliot (which, honestly, I couldn't follow, but the upshot seems to be that he's a money-chasing jerk).






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

            – Gareth Rees
            Feb 6 at 11:29


















          3















          He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive:




          "Called" here means "visited." Camden Place is the name of the building or location. The sentence means "He visited the house several times."




          if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves,




          It's a rhetorical device: "Unless I'm wrong, here's what's happening." The entire sentence reads "Unless Elizabeth and her father misunderstood why he was there, he was putting in just as much effort to spend time with them now as he had previously worked at ignoring them."




          If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree.




          The narration is speaking; I believe the sentiment is being attributed to Lady Russell.



          I haven't read the book, but the wiki summary tries to explain why various characters object to Mr. Elliot (which, honestly, I couldn't follow, but the upshot seems to be that he's a money-chasing jerk).






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

            – Gareth Rees
            Feb 6 at 11:29
















          3












          3








          3








          He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive:




          "Called" here means "visited." Camden Place is the name of the building or location. The sentence means "He visited the house several times."




          if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves,




          It's a rhetorical device: "Unless I'm wrong, here's what's happening." The entire sentence reads "Unless Elizabeth and her father misunderstood why he was there, he was putting in just as much effort to spend time with them now as he had previously worked at ignoring them."




          If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree.




          The narration is speaking; I believe the sentiment is being attributed to Lady Russell.



          I haven't read the book, but the wiki summary tries to explain why various characters object to Mr. Elliot (which, honestly, I couldn't follow, but the upshot seems to be that he's a money-chasing jerk).






          share|improve this answer














          He had called in Camden Place; had called a second time, a third; had been pointedly attentive:




          "Called" here means "visited." Camden Place is the name of the building or location. The sentence means "He visited the house several times."




          if Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves,




          It's a rhetorical device: "Unless I'm wrong, here's what's happening." The entire sentence reads "Unless Elizabeth and her father misunderstood why he was there, he was putting in just as much effort to spend time with them now as he had previously worked at ignoring them."




          If he really sought to reconcile himself like a dutiful branch, he must be forgiven for having dismembered himself from the paternal tree.




          The narration is speaking; I believe the sentiment is being attributed to Lady Russell.



          I haven't read the book, but the wiki summary tries to explain why various characters object to Mr. Elliot (which, honestly, I couldn't follow, but the upshot seems to be that he's a money-chasing jerk).







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Feb 6 at 11:09









          Lauren IpsumLauren Ipsum

          3,3952927




          3,3952927








          • 2





            Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

            – Gareth Rees
            Feb 6 at 11:29
















          • 2





            Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

            – Gareth Rees
            Feb 6 at 11:29










          2




          2





          Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

          – Gareth Rees
          Feb 6 at 11:29







          Title-chasing: he wants to inherit the baronetcy.

          – Gareth Rees
          Feb 6 at 11:29




















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