Persuasion

This was my third Austen novel, after Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Of the three, I think Persuasion offered the least immediate gratification, but possibly the most potential for lasting impact and increased value on repeat reads.

There were two things I especially appreciated about this novel. First, the lead character. As much as I love a spunky, outspoken heroine, Anne Elliot is delightful in a different way. She is reserved, benevolent, and not particularly interested in rocking the boat. She listens more than she talks and really does not exhibit a ton of “main-character energy.” But she is also intelligent, strong, resilient, and quietly self-assured. Over the course of the novel, we get to see how she gradually recovers some of the confidence she lost after her broken engagement with Wentworth.

Anne speaks with confidence and intelligence when the situation calls for it, but she does not go out of her way to make herself the center of attention. She judges people by the whole of their character and is able to acknowledge the faults and mistakes of both herself and others without allowing those faults to define them completely. I appreciate the way Austen makes this kind of person a worthwhile heroine. There is a strength in Anne’s humility, steadiness, and maturity that feels distinct from many of Austen’s other leading characters.

The other thing I really appreciated was the novel’s focus on missed opportunities and second chances. The entire premise of the book stems from Anne having been persuaded to reject Frederick Wentworth despite her own desire to marry him. But Anne does not spend the years following the rejection wallowing in regret. She accepts the life she has and remains a complete person regardless of what her marriage prospects might be at the advanced age of twenty-seven. She ultimately accepts that her decision eight years ago was understandable based on the information she had at the time, while still learning to find a better balance between listening to the advice of loved ones and trusting her own judgment.

Persuasion is quieter and less immediately entertaining than the other Austen novels I have read, but I think its messages about finding yourself and learning from the past without being consumed by regret resonated more with me.

Book author: Jane Austen