Persuasion, Chapter 21 summary

What happens

1. Anne visits Mrs Smith to avoid Mr Elliot, while remaining certain that she loves Captain Wentworth.
2. Mrs Smith assumes Anne intends to marry Mr Elliot, but Anne firmly denies any intention of accepting him.
3. Mrs Smith describes Mr Elliot’s money-driven marriage and produces a letter showing his contempt for Sir Walter and the family name.
4. Reports through Nurse Rooke explain that Mr Elliot renews family ties to protect his inheritance against a possible marriage involving Mrs Clay.
5. Mrs Smith recounts his encouragement of her husband’s spending, his refusal to act as executor, and his neglect of her property claim.
6. Anne gains permission to tell Lady Russell everything concerning Mr Elliot’s treatment of Mrs Smith.

In this chapter

What to notice

Anne states her revised judgment directly. Mrs Smith’s disclosures make his apparent friendliness look like a means of protecting his own interests.

Quick check