Persuasion

//__Plot Summary:__//
Austen's last completed work, //Persuasion//, demonstrates the maturity and wisdom that Austen gained throughout the years as a writer. Completed in the years of her middle ages, //Persuasion// is less “light” than earlier novels, but still contain the same characteristics that surround all her novels: the scathing wit, irony, and satire portrayed while painting a vivid picture of English society. //Persuasion// is the novel that readers call “the thinking reader’s //Pride and Prejudice//” (Weisser xiii). It opens with the vain and narcissistic Sir Walter Elliot. From Sir Walter Elliot’s introduction, readers are informed that the Elliot family is a respected family of nobility. Sir Walter’s wife had died years before and left him with three daughters: Elizabeth, Mary, and Anne.

 Readers then learn that Sir Walter spent copious amounts of money and had brought the family to a state of extreme debt. Lady Russell, a trusted friend and advisor of the family, tries to convince Sir Walter and the other family members to reduce their spending but to no avail. The Elliot family is then left with no choice but to rent out their family estate, Kellynch Hall, to an admiral and his wife, in order to supplement their income. Admiral Croft and his wife are both extremely good people, but Anne is apprehensive about meeting them because Mrs. Croft was the brother of Captain Frederick Wentworth. Nearly eight years ago, Anne had entered into an engagement with Captain Wentworth. Though Anne truly loved he, Lady Russell convinced Anne to break off the engagement since he possessed no status or family fortune.

 Anne is then given the chance to meet with Captain Wentworth again when the rest of the family uproot themselves to Bath and she to stay with her sister, Mary. The Musgrove family is then introduced to readers. The two Musgrove sisters, Henrietta and Louisa, are both single and with the arrival of Captain Wentworth, they find themselves attracted to him. Anne’s feelings for Captain Wentworth did not dissipate whatsoever in the eight years since their engagement and is disheartened by the sisters’ advances towards Captain Wentworth. Anne and Captain Wentworth end up avoiding each other for most of the novel until they are forced to interact with each other after an unfortunate accident occurred to Louisa while the group was visiting Lyme. Louisa becomes a recovering convalescent and eventually falls in love with an acquaintance at Lyme named Captain Benwick. Henrietta rekindles her love for an old flame named Charles Hayter and becomes engaged to him, releasing Captain Wentworth from any possible engagements to these sisters and is free to love again.

 Captain Wentworth once more becomes enamored by Anne’s steadfast nature and the courage she showed at the time of Louisa’s accident. Unfortunately, Captain Wentworth becomes apprehensive when he sees that Mr. Elliot, a cousin of Anne’s who is to receive the Elliot‘s title of baronetcy, has focused his attentions on her. Mr. Elliot is an extremely agreeable man and gets along well with everyone in the family. However, Anne finds herself leery around Mr. Elliot since he is overly agreeable and cautious about his image. She soon learns the truth from an old friend, Mrs. Smith, about Mr. Elliot’s past. Mr. Elliot was once a conniving person who held the Elliot family and title in contempt. Captain Wentworth, though having no knowledge of Anne’s feelings and still convinced that she is attracted to Mr. Elliot, writes a love letter to Anne confessing his undying feelings for her. Anne is thrilled by this news and the two become engaged once more. Anne’s family reluctantly accepts Captain Wentworth since he gained much fortune in his naval career and rose in rank through his own volition. Lady Russell also accepts Anne’s choice and gives a happy consent for Anne and Captain Wentworth to marry.

__//Personal Review://__
Although Persuasion has been declared "the thinking reader's //Pride and Prejudice,//" (Weisser xiii) I did not enjoy it quite as much as //Pride and Prejudice.// The writing is similar to her earlier works and the instances of humor and irony are amusing. However, it seems more subdued and the main character, Anne, does not appeal to me quite as much as Elizabeth from //Pride and Prejudice// did. Anne is more passive than I would like,but she still maintains the same strong and firm inner personality.

The interactions between the two main characters are short and limited. The few interactions that they do have do not satisfy my craving for more romantic tension. In fact, I find it a little disbelieving how Captain Wentworth fell in love with Anne once more. The saving grace of this novel was the ridiculousness of Anne's family (especially Sir Walter and his vanity). The last 20 pages were also good since the main action between the two main characters occurred in this interval. All-in-all, this was one of Austen's better works but it ultimately did not appeal to me quite as much as //Pride and Prejudice//.