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The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for their comforts, we must all allow.
When Sir Walter hears a naval officer will be leasing Kellynch Hall, he initially objects. He claims people in the navy are haggard from their time at sea and therefore unfit for high society. Anne speaks these words in Chapter 3 in defense of their right to comfort. Anne cares significantly less about social currency than her father does, but she does imply that sailors have earned their place in society by advancing England’s wealth. Rising through the ranks of the military was one way men of lesser status in Regency England could hope to improve their social standing, and this is exactly what Wentworth does in the book.
Mrs. Clay . . . never forgets who she is; and . . . she reprobates all inequality of condition and rank more strongly than most people.
Mrs. Clay is of a lower class than the Elliots, but she is an almost permanent part of their household because her father is Sir Walter’s estate manager. Lady Russell and Anne worry that Mrs. Clay is only friends with Elizabeth to try to marry Sir Walter, thereby gaining social rank as well as a title and estate. When, in Chapter 5, Anne expresses her concerns before the Elliots move to Bath, Elizabeth responds with these words, asserting that Mrs. Clay knows her place and is not looking to marry up. Elizabeth doesn’t defend her friend on the grounds of their friendship, but rather the fact that Mrs. Clay is common and that changing classes is a laughable idea.
I do not think any young woman has a right to make a choice that may be disagreeable and inconvenient to the principal part of her family, and be giving bad connections to those who have not been used to them.
Mary does not want her sister-in-law, Henrietta, to marry Charles Hayter because Mary views the Hayters as being below her own status. She believes that Henrietta’s social status will affect her own. Lady Russell made a similar argument to persuade Anne to end her engagement with Wentworth. By marrying a poor sailor, Anne would have lowered her own station in life and damaged her family’s reputation. In this quote from Chapter 9, Mary applies the same logic to the current situation.
Oh! Those things are too common. When one lives in the world, a man or woman’s marrying for money is too common to strike one as it ought.
In Chapter 21, Mrs. Smith expresses her disillusionment after losing her husband, her money, her health, and her connections to society. She tells Anne about her history with Mr. Elliot and Anne is offended to learn Mr. Elliot snubbed her sister in favor of a wealthier woman. With these words, Mrs. Smith readily admits that social mobility can and almost must be bought. She does not blame Mr. Elliot for marrying for money. Her problem with him is that he did not use any of that money or influence to help her when she needed it, and so she lost her own place among society.
