Persuasion 12/1

The events that occur in the chapters that we read for today’s lecture question Wentworth’s views and forces him to acknowledge Anne in ways he previously avoided. Wentworth view that “it is the worst evil of too yielding and strength a character” and conviction that a person should have “decision and firmness” is challenged with Louisa’s accident (Austen 117). Louisa’s temperament was already established as firm but these words spoken by Wentworth validate her later behavior and lead to her accident. Anne’s thought that “it could scarcely escape him to feel that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of happiness as a very resolute character” show the extremity and danger of his views (Austen 144) Mary could also function as an example of what being married to someone who’s temperament is unpersuadable would be like. Anne was indispensable during, and after, the accident and her usefulness and capability is impossible for Wentworth to ignore. He acknowledges that “if Anne will stay, no on so proper, so capable as Anne” will nurse Louisa (Austen 141). This event forces Wentworth to acknowledge and praise Anne, where he previously avoided anything besides polite courtesy. The trip to Lyme and the marked attention that Anne receives from other men also force Wentworth to acknowledge her as a woman. After Mr. Elliot’s admiration, Wentworth “gave her a momentary glance, a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, ‘That man is struck with you, and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again (Austen 133). Anne is, if only briefly, viewed as a woman worth of admiration in a physical way.