Q 20

Some of the subtleties of Anne’s character might not be explicitly stated. Other aspects of her character might be implied through comparison with other characters in the novel. The same goes for other characters in the novel as well. In the following description of the Musgroves, what character traits are attributed to being “modern”? What does imply about Anne’s own relationship to the changing times? How does this give us some insight into Anne’s thinking?

“The Musgroves, like their houses, were in a state of alteration, perhaps of improvement. The father and mother were in the old English style, and the young people in the new. Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove were a very good sort of people; friendly and hospitable, not much educated, and not at all elegant. Their children had more modern minds and manners. There was a numerous family; but the only two grown up, excepting Charles, were Henrietta and Louisa, young ladies of nineteen and twenty, who had brought from school at Exeter all the usual stock of accomplishments, and were now, like thousands of other young ladies, living to be fashionable, happy, and merry.” (77-78)