Thanks for this summation of The Whole Duty of Man: containing the Faith as well as Practice Of a Christian as I have not read it; I agree that Lydia and Lucy’s use of it as a press is a hint to their priorities and characters. It will be interesting how the idea of parental authority plays out in the play but its use here reminds me of Love and Friendship and some of JA’s other writings. I think it is neat to read the same works she did and delightful to see what might have influenced her writing and characters. ;D

"My Father, seduced by the false glare of Fortune and the Deluding Pomp of Title, insisted on my giving my hand to Lady Dorothea. `No, never,'' exclaimed I. `Lady Dorothea is lovely and Engaging; I prefer no woman to her; but know, Sir, that I scorn to marry her in compliance with your Wishes. No! Never shall it be said that I obliged my Father.' (L&F, Letter 6th)

Sir Anthony Absolute, although he does not know it, in Ensign Beverley has a son willing to carry out his wishes in marrying Miss Lydia unlike intractable Lindsay’s disobliging attitude towards Sir Edward in L&F. I wonder what the future holds for this unknowing act of parental obedience. All I know for sure now of Captain Absolute is that he does not abhor disguise of any sort. Will finding out he is paying court to the lady his father wishes him to marry change his regard for her or will Miss Lydia herself continue to be the only one to scorn her duty in her distaste for parental or in this case auntie obligation:

Lydia. But you know I lose most of my fortune if I marry without my aunt’s consent, till of age; and that is what I have determined to do, ever since I knew the penalty. Nor could I love the man who would wish to wait a day for the alternative. (Act 1, Scene II)

Lydia has been determined to disoblige her aunt in marriage since she found out the penalty so will knowing her aunt wants her to marry her ensign change her attitude about him. I look forward to reading more of the play to find out if unknowingly complying with parental obligation will change Captain Absolute’s and Lydia’s affections. Beleaguered elders for each, Lindsay in L&F and Lydia, attribute the offending sensibility to novel reading; an idea I think JA must have somewhat scorned considering her defense of the novel in NA:

"Sir Edward was surprized; he had perhaps little expected to meet with so spirited an opposition to his will. `Where, Edward in the name of wonder (said he) did you pick up this unmeaning gibberish? You have been studying Novels, I suspect.'' I scorned to answer: it would have been beneath my dignity." (L&F, Letter 6th)

Sir Anth. It is not to be wondered at, ma’am,—all this is the natural consequence of teaching girls to read. Had I a thousand daughters, by Heaven! I’d as soon have them taught the black art as their alphabet! (Act I, Scene II)