One thing that I can't get over so far is the pageantry that engulfs this society. I always knew that titles were important back then, but this work truly shows how complicated the relationships between everyone were! Things like your name, where you live, who you're married to, what you do (if you do) anything for a living, are still important to us today, but during this time period these things held so much weight.
The social expectations and their implications are very important as well. For example, we get an early glimpse of this when Elizabeth is wearing black ribbons as a sign of mourning, even though she isn't actually mourning. But, because the deceased is her cousin's wife, she is expected to behave and dress in a certain manner.
Austen does a good job of showing her audience how ridiculous everything is. The social satire is very well done!
Also, I think it's great that the characters are in a later part of their lives. Usually characters are young, especially if they are women. This is not the case in this work. I wonder how common this would have been during the time of publication?
I saw a lot of social satire as well, especially with the father and his favorite book, and Richard Musgrove.
ReplyDeleteAusten does a fantastic job of creating characters that are believable and ridiculous at the same time. While in part is likely due to Austen herself, it also likely has to do with the real society that she is portraying.
ReplyDeleteI thought the most interesting difference between Persuasion and other novels we've read this year is her ability to create believable characters, especially in women. Mary, Elizabeth, and Anne all have their own characteristics beyond a 1-dimensional character. Even Elizabeth, who isn't actually in the story (yet?), is painted as someone with a lot of beauty who once had potential, but also unlikable and piteous. Characters like Geraldine and Amy are shown beyond mere mentions, but they're mostly shown from a male gaze, and if not, in a depressing way. I liked that Austen succeeds in creating diverse, real characters.
ReplyDeleteI also saw the satire and the ridiculousness of things Austen put in this story. One that caught my attention were the diverse mother figures in ranging from Lady Russell looking at Anne's best interests to Mary who is a rather poor example as a mother. I wonder what exactly Austen is trying to say, if anything at all.
ReplyDelete