Persuasion

A detailed Summary of Persuasion

Karen Casey once said that "truly loving another means letting go of all expectations. It means full acceptance, even celebration of another's personhood." In Jane Austen's early nineteenth century novel, Persuasion, Austen depicts a simplistic story about love and anticipation. Persuasion is one of Austen's most romantic books, but it is also her last novel. Jane Austen was in her last few years because of an illness within her. While writing Persuasion, Austen attempts to show to the world her growth as a writer and as a person. She has matured and accepted her fate. Different emotions can cause positive or negative reactions and consequences. Love engenders maturity.

Love is defined in many ways. Love may depict affection or forbearance towards a significant other. Tolerance bears loyalty. Charles Musgrove's abiding sentiment to Mary's self-pity exhibits devotion. Charles Musgrove devotes himself to his wife, Mary. Although he complains of her "occasional lowness...[and] unreasonableness" (Austen 44), he stays by her side through marriage. Anne contemplates that Charles should marry a "more equal match [that] might...greatly improve him." Charles criticizes Mary for her "interference" (45) when managing the children, but he

Mary's concern for herself exposes Anne to the realization of class differences. Mary is often ill and requests for Anne to stay with her in Uppercross Cottage rather than going to Bath with her father and sister. Anne visits the Great House where the Musgroves live. She makes observations about all that she sees. She believes that the Musgroves are good people, but "not much educated, and not at all elegant" (Austen 41). Anne marvels at the happiness of the Musgrove family, but decides she could never give up her superior class for their comfort. Anne realizes that she meets a group of people with a total difference in "...conversation, opinion, and idea" (43). Anne notices that the Musgroves focus on different topics than her own family. Although the Musgroves are a wealthy family, they are not as high in the social ladder as the Elliot family. Anne closely examines how the Musgrove family acts in contrast to her own family. She notices that the Musgroves discuss general topics among themselves such as daily activities and the newspaper. They are not so concerned with vain appearances and social standings as her family tends to be. Anne finds that the Musgroves' way of life is refreshing and new, but it is not how she would want to live. She longs for more class and elegance. Anne now understands and accepts that there exists class differences among different families, but it is not for the worse. Different does not necessarily equal inferior. After her visit at the Great House, Anne has grown in person and in mind. She recognizes that class differences are a part of society and a way of life. The realization of how society functions may aid in forming one's own ideals and opinions about various subjects.

Anne's endurance through her family's flaws displays fidelity. Anne travels to Bath and discovers, to her astonishment, that both her father and sister seem considerably happy with their current location. Sir Walter and Elizabeth continue to brag about the "furniture...[and how] the superiority was not less in the style" (Austen 134). Elizabeth "boast[s] of their space...finding an extent to be proud of" (135), but Anne saddens at the sight of their facade. The Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple and Miss Carteret arrive in Bath, and Sir Walter is excited about the prospect of reacquainting himself with the finest nobility in Bath. Anne feels ashamed of how her father acts toward his noble cousins who were "nothi

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Approximate Word count = 1639
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels