Tactics of Persuasion

After discussing Anne's character in class, with the decided conclusion about how she is a passive listener, collecting information and listening patiently to a multitude of others no matter how unlike herself without casting too much judgment, it was interesting to me to see another character of similar methods emerge in Mr. William Elliot. However, the two are remarkably different in their intentions and the way they use persuasion.

Anne clearly is the more morally intentional character between the two. Though she may sit and observe, allowing herself to only express her opinions more openly but still amicably later in the book, she uses whatever persuasion she may have for the better. And in the instances I noticed, she doesn't even use any information that she gains through calmly observing. One of the prominent instances of her version of persuasion was with Captain Benwick. "it fell to Anne’s lot to be placed rather apart with Captain Benwick; and a very good impulse of her nature obliged her to begin an acquaintance with him" and that acquaintance was a simple discussion. And as we've learned, Anne is much more of a listener, so I would assume their discussion still had a lot of her usual mannerisms of listening and waiting to speak and "the engaging mildness of her countenance, and gentleness of her manners, soon had their effect; and Anne was well repaid the first trouble of exertion". It's even plainly stated that this was an act of persuasion, "and besides the persuasion of having given him at least an evening’s indulgence in the discussion of subjects ... she had the hope of being of real use to him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling against affliction". And even though she clearly had good intentions, Anne still has the worry that "she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination", reflecting a humility and understanding that she needs to be better at practicing what she preaches so that she may influence others truly for the better.

We also see some of Anne's personal, passive persuasion take an effect on Mrs. Smith, who is cut of the same persuasive cloth as Anne. It is through these interactions, that we learn the true nature of her persuasive counterpart, William Elliot. I think you ought to be made acquainted with Mr. Elliot’s real character. Mrs. Smith places herself in the Anne's usual position through her own interactions with Mr. Elliott to whom she, "was the friend to whom he confided his hopes and plans". Mrs. Smith fills Anne in on his true nature,"Mr. Elliot is a man without heart or conscience; a designing, wary, cold-blooded being, who thinks only of himself; who, for his own interest or ease, would be guilty of any cruelty, or any treachery, that could be perpetrated without risk of his general character." Even though this was in the past, Mrs. Smith provides proof and further account that he really has not changed, but has become more cunning and persuasive. His latest efforts are dedicated to the baronetcy and ensuring his title by ruining Sir Walter and Miss Clay, "he omitted no opportunity of being with them, threw himself in their way, called at all hours – but I need not be particular on this subject. You can imagine what an artful man would do". How artful he is in how he employs his persuasion, "Mr. Elliot was too generally agreeable. Various as were the tempers in her father’s house, he pleased them all. He endured too well, – stood too well with everybody. He had spoken to her with some degree of openness of Mrs. Clay; had appeared completely to see what Mrs. Clay was about, and to hold her in contempt; and yet Mrs. Clay found him as agreeable as anybody." His methods are close to Anne's. He may not be as passive as she is when she is listening to others, which seems evident through everyone finding him so agreeable and Anne less so, but he has an ear lent to everyone he comes in contact with and an agreeable word to say to them, whether or not he agrees. And we see Anne's understanding that her similar methods of persuasion cannot alter his plans. She has to change what she will do, "It will be more painful to me in some respects to be in company with him, but I shall know better what to do. My line of conduct will be more direct. Mr. Elliot is evidently a disingenuous, artificial, worldly man, who has never had any better principle to guide him than selfishness." 

I would like to say that I do not think Austen's point of the novel is entirely based in the intention of the persuasion, but that I just happened to see such a drastic difference of intent in two characters through similar methods. However, we have seen that even with good intentions persuasion is an uncontrollable, intangible thing, such was the case of Lady Russell's persuasion of Anne to reject Captain Wentworth. While it was done out of the love of herself and probably Anne's mother and only wanting the best for Anne, it led her to a very complicated path. Though I do think this path may be what made Anne such a character opposite from her family.