It's interesting to think that Anne's improvement comes when she does indeed free herself from pain, by helping Captain Benwick, whose loss has been incredibly painful. Perhaps in many ways it puts hers in perspective and she takes courage from his getting through his trials, and it is this meeting with a kindred spirit of real feeling which breaks the pain barrier. Many things change for the better for her, during and after Lyme.

Letting go of Captain Wentworth gives Anne peace of mind and some kind of closure, I agree. It was interesting that the eight years of pain acted to age her, to make her lose her bloom.

Anne seems to have more incisive observations once with her family again, and is self oriented, and doesn't seem as powerless because of what her father is planning. Perhaps it is enough to make her completely lose respect of him, his planning on marrying this woman who isn't even slightly handsome. His admiration of beauty or want of it around, is oddly directed at the woman who is described in earlier chapters as pretty indistinct! ;-)