Persuasion | Jane Austen

What is the significance of the "mental change" in Anne, as seen by Lady Russell?

Throughout the beginning of the novel, Lady Russell always seemed rather fond of Anne, acknowledging her more than her sisters. Anne's opinion mattered to Lady Russell, especially when it came to leaving Kellynch-hall for Bath. However, in Chapter 13, there is an obvious shift in Lady Russell's opinion of Anne, indicating she looks more lovely than before and that Anne experiences a "mental change."

I think this "change" is symbolic of Anne's maturity. She not only transforms from her younger physique to an "improved plumpness," but more specifically from a girl to a woman. Earlier in the novel, Anne was described to once be a pretty girl, but she grew in a way that made her very plain, at least in Sir Walter's view. That seems to indicate one step up on the maturity scale, veering away from her father's superficiality.

Similarly, this new change as seen by Lady Russell is again another step up in maturity. Anne no longer laments on leaving Kellynch-hall for Bath, like she did when she first learned about their move to Bath; it seems her interests are in more substantial subjects, for example, the Musgroves and how much she admires their family dynamic. Even her thoughts about Bath and her own family seem to be of a lower priority than before. This seems to create a little bit of tension in the conversation between Anne and Lady Russell because their conversations in the past always revolved around what the "young" Anne would've spoke so confidently and concerned about, which always sparked Lady Russell's interest before. Austen even mentions that Anne now strains to make a connection about the trivial topics Lady Russell speaks about.