The Main Point of Jane Austen's Persuasion

Alice Hang
Dis 1B Fridays 11-12pm

The Main Point of Jane Austen's Persuasion

Basic gist of novel: Anne was persuaded by her peers to not throw herself away by marrying Captain Wentworth. However, she regrets not marrying him and realizes the extent of her mistake of not just rejecting the marriage but being able to be persuaded by her peers to reject his proposal. Hence, “Persuasion.” Ultimately, in the end Anne accepts Captain Wentworth’s second proposal to show that she is no longer persuaded. She marries for genuine love and not for class.

This novel shows the wearing away of the old view of the upper class. This novel affirms that love is OK but that there exists a conflict between old established traditions and one’s inclinations such as consciousness of right. This novel stresses the arrival of independence, individual right of duty, and justice.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, the novel narrates the shift from inheritance and privilege from the upperclass to professionalism of the middle class. This novel CONFIRMS that the aforementioned shift is taking place. This big shift TIES EVERYTHING in the sense that Britain changed from being an aristocratic society to a predominantly middle class society and monarchical state to democratic state. This novel confirms the ideas of the middle class such as putting the individual on top of society’s requirements and rules.