# Elizabeth Elliot — Persuasion character guide

> Elizabeth Elliot in Persuasion by Jane Austen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Elizabeth

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

The eldest Elliot daughter, still beautiful at twenty-nine and still unmarried, ruling Kellynch's drawing room with her father's same cold pride.

## Who they are

Elizabeth inherited Sir Walter's vanity without his excuse of charm, and she has spent years waiting for a suitor worthy of her rank. She treats Anne as a drudge and confidante of last resort, and her anxiety about the Elliot heir presumptive colors the family's Bath season. Her preoccupation with precedence and appearance sharpens the contrast with Anne's quieter worth, and her social maneuvering helps pull the plot toward Bath.

## Relationships

### [Anne Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/anne_elliot)

_family_

Cold, competitive sisterly relationship, with Elizabeth treating Anne as inferior and ignoring her worth.

### [Anne Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/anne_elliot)

_family_

Cold, competitive sisterly relationship, with Elizabeth treating Anne as inferior and ignoring her worth.

### [Anne Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/anne_elliot)

_family_

Cold, competitive sisterly relationship, with Elizabeth treating Anne as inferior and ignoring her worth.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/i)

Sir Walter's eldest daughter, handsome and proud, who has managed the household for thirteen years and feels the sting of Mr. Elliot's rejection.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/ii)

Sir Walter's eldest daughter, who is influenced by Mrs. Clay and opposes Lady Russell's advice, but is persuaded to move to Bath.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/iv)

Showed ill-will and coldness during the engagement period.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/v)

Dismisses Anne's warning about Mrs. Clay; defends Mrs. Clay's propriety; prepares to go to Bath with Sir Walter and Mrs. Clay.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xv)

Shares her father's satisfaction with Bath and their new home. She is evidently pleased by Mr. Elliot's attentions and, with Mrs. Clay, encourages the idea that he may be courting her.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xvi)

Elizabeth is dismissive of Anne and encourages Mrs. Clay to stay, showing no concern for her father's attentions to Mrs. Clay.

### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xix)

Coldly refuses to acknowledge Captain Wentworth, turning away from him.

### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xx)

Walks arm in arm with Miss Carteret, focused on social status and vanity; reluctantly acknowledges Captain Wentworth with a slight curtsy.

### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xxiv)

Elizabeth looks cold and unconcerned about Anne's marriage, and later suffers mortification from Mr. Elliot's withdrawal and Mrs. Clay's deception.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/elizabeth_elliot
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters