Great review. I love that exchange between Harville and Anne -- and the novel's other statements that seek to correct public (read: male) perception of women's roles and natures, e.g. Mrs. Croft's "I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days."
"Persuasion" for some reason always feels like the most autobiographical of Austen's novels -- and I wonder whether, feeling that the fate awaiting Anne at the beginning of the book might be hers if she didn't die young (and she must have known she was dying at least towards the end of the writing process), Austen didn't on some level simply come up with a story that would give to her fictional heroine the life she knew she was never going to live herself ...
I agree and had some of the same thoughts. It makes Charlotte Collins decision in Pride and Prejudice all that much more understandable, really - it is better to be the wife of a fool than the wife of no man at all for (the vast majority of) women in Austen's time.
There is no personhood for a single woman beyond a certain age - unless they are extremely wealthy and can therefore call their own shots and order others about with impunity.
Austen died at 41. Don't you wonder what she would've written at 51 and 61 years of age?
Yes, often. Our life cycles today don't compare to those of women 200 years ago, but doubtlessly she would have had even more of a reservoir of experience to look to if she had lived longer.
Then again, arguably she chose spinsterhood; or rather, she did what Lizzie Bennet does -- she rejected a suitor whom she didn't love (even though he wasn't the fool that Mr. Collins is). Arguably it was a considered choice, since she had originally accepted him -- they had been friends before -- and she only changed her mind when she was sure she couldn't love him as a wife should. Knowing what life would await her (Lizzie says it for her, after all), that must have taken incredible courage.
10 years ago
Great review. I love Persuasion. I loved it more as I've gotten older. I still remember the first time I read Wentworth's declaration to Anne at the end and holding my breath. One of my favorite passages in any book. I love the movie as well and recommend it, the Amanda Root version.
It does, and for that alone it's actually my second favorite Austen after the inevitable "Pride and Prejudice". And, "Nothing better," I agree on the Amanda Root movie; it's exquisite (plus, gotta love Ciaran Hinds as Wentworth) -- with one major caveat, in that they fibbled with Mr. Eliot's background in a way so as to make him appear a lot less villainous than he actually is in the novel.
Time to remedy that? Btw, it also stars Corin Redgrave as Anne's father (and he'll make you think twice about the caricature aspect of his character) ... and Samuel West as Mr. Eliot.
I second that! I'm kinda jealous you get to watch it for the first time. I loved it. My mom will re watch it quarterly, she loves it so much. Enjoy! :)
Yep -- enjoy. This and the Colin Firth P&P are my constant (as in, at times watch once a week, if not daily) standbys whenever I'm in need of being cheered up.
Amazing Review and so very true. While everyone loved P&P and S&S- Persuasion has always been my constant. Maybe because of the serious vein of the whole story was so different from other Austen works, but I think it was the second chance at love. A love that was stronger, more mature but never inconstant. *swoons over Wentworth letter again*
"Persuasion" for some reason always feels like the most autobiographical of Austen's novels -- and I wonder whether, feeling that the fate awaiting Anne at the beginning of the book might be hers if she didn't die young (and she must have known she was dying at least towards the end of the writing process), Austen didn't on some level simply come up with a story that would give to her fictional heroine the life she knew she was never going to live herself ...
There is no personhood for a single woman beyond a certain age - unless they are extremely wealthy and can therefore call their own shots and order others about with impunity.
Austen died at 41. Don't you wonder what she would've written at 51 and 61 years of age?
Then again, arguably she chose spinsterhood; or rather, she did what Lizzie Bennet does -- she rejected a suitor whom she didn't love (even though he wasn't the fool that Mr. Collins is). Arguably it was a considered choice, since she had originally accepted him -- they had been friends before -- and she only changed her mind when she was sure she couldn't love him as a wife should. Knowing what life would await her (Lizzie says it for her, after all), that must have taken incredible courage.