I am confident of ruffling no one’s feathers by declaring Anne the admirable Elliott sister. Mary and Elizabeth enjoy greater societal consequence than Anne, the first by her marriage and the second as mistress of Kellynch Hall. They have very right to be happy but I feel on a fundamental level their lives are less satisfying than their sister because they live only for themselves. This is a great difference between Anne and her sisters. Anne understands to be useful gives one purpose and satisfaction:

To be claimed as a good, though in an improper style, is at least better than being rejected as no good at all; and Anne, glad to be thought of some use, glad to have any thing marked out as a duty, and certainly not sorry to have the scene of it in the country, and her own dear country, readily agreed to stay. (5)

Aside from her own concerns, Anne did a “great many things” (5) to prepare for the move to Bath—cataloging, directing servants, “going to almost every house in the parish, as a sort of take-leave” (5). At Uppercross Anne humors Mary into spirits (5), mediates between the cottage and the great house (6) and plays “country dances…by the hour together” so the young people can dance (6). In Mary’s children Anne feels she has “an object of interest, amusement, and wholesome exertion” (6). I feel Anne walks her path by her mother’s philosophy:

“though not the very happiest being in the world…found enough in her duties, her friends…to attach her to life” (1)

Although there is sadness in Anne and her situation is often unpleasant I think because she keeps herself busy she is more satisfied with herself and thus her situation than one might expect. In my opinion it is a choice. Mary and Elizabeth choose differently. They are both idle like their father and I think rather discontented creatures because of it:

While well, and happy, and properly attended to, she [Mary] had great good humour and excellent spirits; but any indisposition sunk her completely. She had no resources for solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-used. (5)

And:

Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiments and sensations; such the cares to alloy, the agitations to vary, the sameness and the elegance, the prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life; such the feelings to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in one country circle, to fill the vacancies which there were no habits of utility abroad, no talents or accomplishments for home, to occupy. (1)

When Anne arrives at Uppercross Mary is “lying on the faded sofa” fancying herself ill and neglected. Elizabeth feels herself “ill-used and unfortunate” (1) unable to “devise any means of lessening their expenses” (1) acceptable to herself and her father. Lady Elliot was right to worry. I fear that active principle is wanting in Mary and Elizabeth in part because “they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers by that sense of duty which can alone suffice” (MP, 48). I think without resources and the habit of utility their lives are idle, inconsequential and therefore without understanding why they all too often feel discontented with their situation. I hope not to appear too hard-hearted but perhaps, if Mary and Elizabeth have sense enough, an illness would do them good:

There was comfort also in Tom, who gradually regained his health, without regaining the thoughtlessness and selfishness of his previous habits. He was the better for ever for his illness. …at the age of six–and–twenty, with no want of sense or good companions, was durable in its happy effects. He became what he ought to be: useful to his father, steady and quiet, and not living merely for himself. (MP, 48)