Jane Austen's novel Persuasion emanates the social and political upheaval caused by the war and describes the transition to nineteenth-century realism in which class and wealth were considered extremely important in the social hierarchy. He explores the reactions to the new different interactions between different social classes and although he was "not snobbish, he knew all about snobbery". Therefore, he is able to realistically portray the opinions of upper-class characters such as Sir Walter Elliot and contrast them with men who have earned their wealth, such as Captain Wentworth. While Britain was involved in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, the navy had a deep involvement, so this is not only reflected in Austen's real life, but also in her novels. This alters the narrative of the novel as a whole as Austen describes how wealth and being upper class are no longer limited to inheritance but can also be earned through professions such as being in the navy. As a result, the contrasts between the opinions and actions of men who work for their wealth and those who simply receive it from their family are profound. Vanity is a recurring theme in Persuasion and is particularly represented through the character of Sir Walter Elliot. and it is evident that the cause of this is the abundance of wealth which apparently elevates the upper classes. His arrogance is immediately highlighted in the first chapter where the narrator states how "vanity was the beginning and end of Sir Walter Elliot's character." He takes pride in his appearance and that of others beyond anything else, even his daughter Anne in whom he can find "little to admire". Her disapproval evokes her self-importance as her “delicate characters and… middle of paper… n In conclusion, Austen describes key differences in characteristics in order to reinforce her point about how some professions have begun to develop". “keeping the promise of a more open society”. He takes particular interest in the naval profession as it represents the new meritocratic people who have earned their wealth. Austen's portrayal using the contrasting identities of Captain Wentworth and Admiral Croft against Sir Walter Elliot serves to illuminate the growing concern of the upper class and how their superficial characteristics fail to accommodate the change brought about by the war. Works Cited Austen, Jane, 'Persuasion', 1994 Penguin Popular Classics, William Deresiewicz, 'Jane Austen and the Romantic Poets', page 141 Roger Sales, 'Jane Austen and the Representations of Regency England', page 187 Fiona Stafford, ' A Companion to Jane Austen', page 146 Juliet Mcmaster, page 117