How does Austen present the ways in which society affects the individual in Persuasion?Here is a quotation to help answer the question: "she had...

In a sense, this book's major theme is on how the
individual's life is impacted by society and in particular, social class. If we have a
look at Sir Walter, Anne and Elizabeth, we see that each of these characters--either
willingly or reluctantly--has had their lives shaped by society at large, and in
particular the demands of the social class that they
occupy.

If we have a look at Sir Walter, it is clear from
Chapter One that he is a character who is dominated by his notions of class, which
define him. He only reads one book, the Baronetage, and is able to read in this book
"his own history with an interest which never failed." He is clearly obsessed with his
own standing in society and how it relates to the standing of others, and every action
is determined from this perspective. Note how Austen summarises his
character:

readability="6">

Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir
Walter Elliot's character: vanity of person and
situation.

Anne of course is
an example of someone who has had the pressures of society exerted against her so that
she is forced to act in line with the demands of society. The principal way in which
this is shown is how she was forced to refuse Captain Wentworth when he first proposed
due to the pressure from her father and Lady Russell. Of course, this was because of how
Captain Wentworth, according to them, had no social standing and no wealth to bring to a
marriage with somebody like Anne, so social class again operates
here.

Lastly, Anne's sister, Elizabeth, takes after her
father in being directed as a character not by her own wants and desires but by what she
feels her position in society demands of her. Note how she is
described:

readability="9">

Thirteen winters' revolving frosts had seen her
opening every ball of credit which a scanty neighbourhood afforded; and thirteen springs
shewn their blossoms, as she travelled up to London with her father, for a few weeks
annual enjoyment of the great
world.

Social duty and
heirarchy gives her the role of opening "every ball of credit." Again, she is yet
another character who is described as being so obsessed with her social position that
this entirely dominates her character and how she is presented.