Persuasion - Endings 12/6

I'm really interested in the differences between the published ending, and the alternate.  I would definitely say the published ending is more romantic - a love letter confession is much more enticing than the uninformed meeting of Anne and Wentworth in the alternate ending.  Perhaps that's why Austen chose to rewrite the ending in the first place; it's obvious she always intended for Anne and Wentworth to marry, but why force them together through two relatively unimportant character (The Crofts) at the very end?  Seems very rushed, definitely like a first draft.  Forcing them together in that way, takes away from 1. the romantic element of the letter, and 2. their choice in the matter. Technically, it still would have been their choice to marry, but with the letter, the reader understands that it was entirely of Wentworth's own accord to reach out to Anne and mend the engagement.
After discussion on Thursday, we discussed Austen's personal life, and Anne as an autobiographical character.  In both endings, Anne and Wentworth live happily every after; Austen never married, but we discussed her possible opinions on love & marriage, and how she believed to two should go hand-in-hand.  So, it's interesting (and not at all surprising), that the two characters end up together.  In fact, most of Austen's novels end in happy marriages.
One question on the ending: Anne originally does not marry Wentworth because her friends and family did not approve of his social status, and did not find him suitable to marry.  If the entire novel is a satire about social class, why does Austen choose to have Wentworth become suitable? Why not have Anne "follow her heart," and marry him despite her family's opinions?

Persuasion 12/6

     In class, we were discussing ways to describe Anne as a character. Though I do agree with such words as strategist, manipulator, etc., the idea I had during my reading for Anne was a peace maker. She was constantly looking out for what kept the world of everyone around her turning: keeping silent as to not start more trouble and coming up with solutions in hectic situations while others floundered about. There is a change in her as a character between volumes 1 & 2, I believe; Coming across as reserved in the beginning, Anne seems much more open by the end the novel. An example of this idea comes from her discussing with Captain Harville over men and women. A memorable line from her goes to say, "All the privilege I claim for my own sex is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone," (pg. 244). Not only does this feel like a more bold Anne Elliot, This could also be Austen sharing her stance on the views between the two sexes. 

    Another aspect that I was intrigued in was what felt like different types of persuasion through the book. Looking at how Sir Walter was persuaded through vanity, Anne through duty, even Mr. Smith was persuaded to spend his money which ended him in debt. Austen is clever at showing the different means of persuasion and the negative and positive effects it possesses. Since most of the major characters are using or subjected to this tool of manipulation, it feels almost like an actual character itself. So it is understandable why it is the title of Austen's last novel. 

    Other discussions have addressed the notion of love vs. society and what take Austen has on the issue. I find that Austen thinks highly of a loving relationship and turns away from society standards. It feels that she makes this statement through the discussion with Anne and Henrietta. Even though Charles Hayter is not up to the standards Miss Musgrove's family may desire, they accept the marriage for he makes Henrietta happy which is enough for them (pg. 229-230). Austen makes it clear that this is how it should be. Love should dictate who marries who, not social status and wealth. 

Anne as an Observer and Strategist

As I stated in class I see Anne Elliot as a strategist. Because of the strict rules/structures of the society she is living in Anne is limited in how she can impact her world. A proper lady cannot act in an overt manner. What she chooses to do is be very careful and subtle about what she does. Anne quietly observes the people around her, she is always gathering intelligence. When she speaks, she chooses her words deliberately and considers all of the possible ramifications of them. She subtly influences others to “persuade” them to act correctly. There are instances of her manipulations throughout the first volume.

Early on in the novel there is mention of Mrs. Clay’s ambitions concerning Sir Walter. Before Elizabeth and her father leave for Bath, Anne has a talk with her. Although Elizabeth was offended by the notion Anne noted that “…Elizabeth, though resenting the suspicion, might yet be made observant by it.” (73) By planting the seed she basically assigned Elizabeth to keep watch over the situation in Bath while Anne wasn’t present.

When Anne is placed with Captain Benwick she sees it as the chance to be “…of real use to him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling against affliction…” (129). Anne listens to him and takes an interest in his reading habits. In doing this she made herself someone he could trust when she made some recommendations of her own. Captain Benwick later attributes these books to lifting him from his melancholy and giving him the chance to move on with Louisa.

Society does not give Anne real power, but Anne takes some power for herself in her approach to life. The power she has is not given to her by blood or station, it is something she earns through the application of her mind. She observes constantly, ponders her observations, and gives careful consideration to her actions and the ramifications of them before acting. Through her depiction of this character Austen shows the reader that a women can be the intellectual equal of a man. I don’t believe it is a coincidence that we have self-made men who pulled themselves up in life through military victories portrayed in this novel. It gives us a point of comparison. Austen shows us that women are also capable of careful observation, planning, and action to achieve their goals. 

Persuasion

I find it interesting that Jane Austen uses irony throughout this novel in order to comment on certain aspects of social life and the customs that were customary in society at the time. She uses irony to show that not every couple is like Anne and Wentworth. She comments on how some couples are like Benwick and Louisa, and are together because they are going through similar situations and stages in life. I believe that Austen thinks that couples should get together for those reasons as opposed to love or because they're happy together. I think that her use of irony is also a commentary on how Austen is skeptical of true love and whether or not it's a real thing. 

I think she believes that the relationship that Anne and Wentworth have is especially rare for the time. A majority of people would typically get married if they were deemed a suitable match by society, which meant they came from the same social class. That idea was the end-all-be-all of the time. They thought that if you came from similar backgrounds, that you'd have a good life and be happy in your marriage and life together. 

I think that Austen didn't necessarily like the idea of the class system, but doesn't think that it should be disregarded completely. I think that she likes the aspect that couples are matched based on social classes and because they're going through similar phases and things in life. I think that she thinks that love isn't real or a viable reason to be together forever. 

It's interesting that Professor Porter pointed out the fact that this novel is well, novel in its use of free indirect discourse. I never knew the term, however, I did recognize that the novel reads like the more modern novels I've experienced. It's interesting to note that the Romantic period was not a time of stagnated literary forms like high school Hannah thought: the notion that the forms and tropes of the romantic period were only subject to exploring childhood and innocence, nature and sublime, the pastoral vs the growing mechanistic world is a fallacy.

Experimentation is for me what sets this novel apart from the ones we've read- this isn't to say that Wasingham or Desmond weren't experimental, but I align this novel with Shelley's Frankenstein and The Last Man in that the modern reader can see veins of that particular tradition carried through in modern novels.

The concept of free indirect discourse, for me, came so naturally reading this novel (because like I said, I've been accustomed to it- as I'm sure most of the students in this class are). However, when it comes to truly dissecting the source of this discourse, it becomes confusing and convoluted. What is the point of this confusion?

It's my theory that the "point" lies in growing realism-- novels are slowing coming out of the overly sentimental era of writing marked by sensibility and hitting at the core of where this sensitibikity comes from- from the real human psyche endowed with characteristics that are shared universally with variations subject to the individual.

When the reader chooses a passage to close read and dissect, especially when it comes to attempting to discern whose "head" we're in,  Austen gives hints but leaves the subtlties to the interpretation of the reader. Even on page 262, the narrator remarks that "the evening seemed to have been made up of exquisite events" in the middle of a paragraph describing Mr. Elliot and Anne. It begs the question- does the author superimpose her own reading of the unfolding events to call them exquisite? Does Anne think they are, or does Mr. Elliot? Does it matter whether or not the reader truly knows- is the simple fact that the narrator says so supposed to quell and curiosity? Does it change the reading of this passage?

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.

Persuasion

By the end of Volume I, Louisa has suffered a serious head injury (the fact that it was an injury to the head shouldn't be brushed off as coincidence) and has been safely (more or less) delivered to the Harvilles' home and is awaiting recovery. The incident leading to her accident becomes a point of further reflection for Anne, who, as she is traveling back to ruminates upon 'persuasion,' and how, in the case of Louisa's 'firm mind', foolishness overrided her rational faculties. It is likely that when Anne thinks to herself that "it could scarcely escape [Wentworth] to feel that a persuadable temper might sometimes be as much in favour of happiness, as a very resolute character." (144) Louisa's resolute decision to continue playing on the stairs (I think they were stairs?) even through Wentworth's attempt to persuade her that it wasn't safe resulted in a serious head injury, followed by a prolonged unconsciousness. Anne seems to insinuate in her reverie that to have a mind open to suggestion might, in some cases, result in foolishness being intercepted before it can conk you out.  On the other hand, a mind fully influenced by suggestion can do the same damage. The tension of the novel hinges on this idea of persuasion being a wall that one should have to walk upon, being very careful not to lose footing and fall too far over one side.