Persuasion's Sir Walter Elliot was a vain and pretentious buffoon. Jane Austen showed how he squandered the Elliot fortune to prop up his vanity and extravagant lifestyle. Nothing penetrated his thick cocoon of self-absorption, not his dead wife's common sense, his destitute situation, or the sound advice of Mrs. Russell, a family friend and Anne Elliot's mentor. After years of profligate spending, the baronet was forced to rent out Kellynch Hall and hire rooms in Bath, a once fashionable city that had faded in popularity with the Ton. In moving to Bath instead of London, Sir Walter opted to become a glittering fish in a dull, invalid-riddled pond. By renting out his ancestral home, he proved to the world that he did not deserve the respect he felt was his by birthright.
Which actor portrayed Sir Walter Elliot best?
Corin Redgrave, Persuasion 1995
Anthony Head, Persuasion 2007
Sir Walter Eliot is one of Jane Austen's fascinating characters and amazing how she must have known people like him.
ReplyDeleteSir Walter is such a good anti hero to Captain Wentworth! I have only seen Colin Redgrave so it is unfair for me to vote.
Sir Walter E. is arrogance and self absorption personified ! When forced to retrench by his own follies with money, he sets his cap on his distant relative The Vicountress D. and her entourage to prop up his faltering place in society. He is a miserable excuse for a man of title and a man in general. He is simply put, a bore and a fop !!!
ReplyDeleteI especially liked Colin Redgrave in the part so I must vote for him.
Anthony Head was good but I couldn't help remembering him as Giles from the "Buffy" T.V. series so that clouded my perception of him as Sir Walter E.
I thought they were both good but I was amused by Redgrave's performance. After seeing him in Forsyte Saga, I thought he was quite comical as the self-centred Elliot!
ReplyDeleteStopped by to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving if I'm not able to visit before Thursday! A bounty of blessings for you and your family.
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