Persuasion

Persuasion is an odd one among Jane Austen’s major novels. Written during Austen’s later years, this novel has a very special melancholic feeling to it that isn’t seen in her other works. It’s bright, but not too bright. It’s lively, but not too lively. More than any other brainchild of Austen, Persuasion is especially suitable for people who like to spend time recollecting the past and contemplating about the kind of person they were, ten or twenty years ago. In honor of Anne Eliot, the protagonist of this novel, I would like to dedicate most of this post to her, a woman whom I believe is one of the most underrated Austen’s heroines.

Anne Elliot is the most mature, thoughtful and sensitive heroine of all Austen’s leading ladies. Though she has the advantage of being oldest among them, when considering the awful conduct of many other side characters, some of whom are many years her senior, we can safely say that age alone isn’t the reason to her superiority in terms of mind. Her circumstance growing up as well as her amazing ability to see things for what they are and not what they look like are the two essential factors that have helped shape her character. Given that Austen isn’t famous for writing otherworldly flawless characters, we can expect Anne to have her own problems as well. However, most of her mistakes are already in the past. Having learned from her missteps, the Anne Eliot of today is considerate, capable and amiable.

Anne might seem meek and weak-minded at first, but if you look deeper, you’ll find that she is almost the opposite of this. She talks softly and acts gently, yet her character’s strong, rational and resilient. If there’s any character in all of Austen’s novel who truly knows how to take care of his or herself, that must be Anne. When her family faces financial difficulties, Anne discusses their problems with Lady Russell and comes up with many promising solutions, such as rigorously cutting their spending. In Lyme, when everyone is freaking out because of Louisa’s head injury, Anne steps up and takes control, giving others instructions on how to act, not hesitating for a single minute. In cases like these, she sometimes seems like the only real grown-up of the group, looking after everyone else.

Anne is cautious in her actions and evaluations of others, an important trait that very few of Austen’s characters possess. She is nearly always unbiased in judging the people around her, not letting their charm or their disadvantages blind her. When everybody around her is praising Mr. Elliot (her cousin) for his manners, connections, and situation in life, Anne consciously sets up barriers between him and her, understanding that these are superficial. To quote the novel, “She felt that she could so much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose tongue never slipped.” Admittedly, in a society where one’s good conduct and high social position are the two most admirable virtues a person can have, people tend to present themselves as more polished and gallant than they really are, which can be deceiving. However, with that said, a person living in such a world should take precautions to prevent him or her from falling into someone else’s trap. Anne is the only member of the Elliot family who manages to do just that.

Years after the biggest mistake of her life, Anne is no longer someone who is easily persuaded. She, with an independent mind of her own, is determined to take the of course of action she believes best, both for herself and for those she cares for. When her father informs her of the family’s dinner date with Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple, Anne declares that she will not be going with her family, having made previous plans to have dinner with her friend Mrs. Smiths. Mrs. Smith, an ill and lonely widow with very little money, needs her company more than Lady Dalrymple, a rich woman who is always the center of attention. Despite her father’s tantrum and her sister’s mocking, Anne is unshakable. She does what she believes is the right thing to do.

Anne is smart and observant, with the ability to quickly see the underlying meaning and the purpose of people’s actions. In addition to that, she knows how to give subtle hints and how to exert influence on others. Thanks to these qualities, Anne can play an active role in getting her second chance with love. Unlike many romantic heroines who brush off men’s attempts to get closer to them as just gentlemen’s politeness, Anne leaps at Captain Wentworth slightest change in attitude when they meet again in Bath. She is definitely not desperate or presumptuous. She never has that much confidence to begin with. Nevertheless, Anne knows her former lover better than anyone else. That great understanding of him, with the help of her astute and perceptive nature, is enough for her to know that not all hope is lost. After that, Anne doesn’t wait long for the man to act, knowing full well that he may feel discouraged after seeing her with Mr. Elliot. Anne takes the matter into her own hands, hinting her long lasting affection for her Frederick Wentworth while conversing with Captain Harville. She knows that Captain Wentworth, who is writing a letter to his friend at a table close by, can listen to her words perfectly. Anne moves the story forward herself, actively gaining the happiness she deserves.

Next, I would like to discuss the reason that the readers of Persuasion are left with a slightly wistful feeling. The perspective of this novel, which depends heavily on free indirect speech, is also that of Anne. The novel is titled Persuasion, which refers to Anne’s being persuaded into breaking up her engagement with Captain Wentworth when she was nineteen. For a while, Anne suffers from emotional turmoil and regrets for rejecting the most desirable lover, whom she loved ardently. Her inner feelings set the atmosphere of the story, creating a sense of longing for the novel. Persuasion is, first and foremost, about Anne.

Throughout the years, there have been a few attempts to bring Persuasion to the screen. However these adaptations fail to portray Anne faithfully, and with the complexity the character deserves. Anne is not sheepish, soft-hearted and always depressed, like these films may suggest. Admittedly, she has to deal with a number of inner problems. Her prime has passed, taking with it a bit of her self-confidence. She still harbors feelings for Captain Wentworth, yet she is scared that they won’t be able to return to the way they once were. These emotional anxieties are crucial to her character arc, but they alone don’t make up her personal life. If we overlook her other qualities to focus on only one aspect of her inner life, we would be stripping Anne of the depth that makes the character so compelling. She eventually marries the most eligible bachelor in the market, Captain Wentworth. If she is such a shy and docile woman, would an independent self-made man with strong willpower like him choose her as his wife? Nevertheless, if you enjoy Persuasion, you still should give one or two adaptations a try. Seeing the world of Austen comes to life still has a kind of magic of its own.

Despite not being as popular as Pride and Prejudice or Emma, Austen’s Persuasion is a masterpiece you shouldn’t overlook. When you have the time, please check it out. You may find it more interesting than you expect.