Literature Help: Persuasion

By Students' Academy

“Persuasion” of often described as a ‘perfect novel.’ It is often said that the reader of the book can easily judge by himself or herself whether the book is worthy of praise. There is perfection which definitely deserves to be praised.

It is said that once Austen wrote a letter to her friend Fanny Knight and said that pictures of perfection made her sick and wicked. She also said that the heroine Anne Elliot was almost too good. She describes that Anne is sensible, understanding, cultivated, and from a good family.

At the end the heroine is happily married. In this sense the critics describe “Persuasion” as a wonderful example of a ‘perfect novel.’

Literature Help: Persuasion
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: About the Title
Chapter Three: Plot Overview
Chapter Four: Major Characters
Chapter Five: Complete Summary
Chapter Six: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Mar 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310938061

Students' Academy

Easy study guides for the students of English literature.

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Literature Help: Persuasion

Copyright

Literature Help: Persuasion

Students' Academy

Copyright@2015 Students' Academy

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Chapter One: Introduction

Persuasion by Jane Austen was published posthumously in December 1817. It is known to be her last complete novel. She had started writing the book in the summer of 1815 and completed it the following summer.

Six months after the death of Jane Austen, both her books Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published in the year 1817.

Persuasion of often described as a ‘perfect novel.’ It is often said that the reader of the book can easily judge by himself or herself whether the book is worthy of praise. There is perfection which definitely deserves to be praised.

It is said that once Austen wrote a letter to her friend Fanny Knight and said that pictures of perfection made her sick and wicked.

She also said that the heroine Anne Elliot was almost too good. She describes that Anne is sensible, understanding, cultivated, and from a good family.

At the end the heroine is happily married. In this sense the critics describe Persuasion as a wonderful example of a ‘perfect novel.’

The changing social order of England has also been presented very skillfully in the novel.

Chapter Two: About the Title

It is generally assumed that ‘persuasion’ may be the unifying theme of the story, but it is mentionable that the title of the book is not Jane Austen’s. It was given to her by her brother Henry.

Her brother named the novel Persuasion after the untimely death of Jane Austen. There is no doubt that the idea of persuasion runs throughout the story. There are vignettes within the story as distinct variations on that theme.

For all that, there is no available source that can tell us what Jane Austen intended to name her novel. It is said that she often spoke of the novel as The Elliots.

Some critics believe that she wanted to call the novel by that title. She may have planned to use The Elliots as the title for her book.

Both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published at the same time after the death of Jane Austen; it is assumed that that the title Northanger Abbey was also provided by Jane Austen’s brother Henry.

According to famous literary scholar Gillian Beer was always concerned about the levels and applications of persuasion which is employed in society. She said that persuasion was related to the choices and pressures which the young women had to face in her society.

Gillian Beer wrote at that time, Jane Austen's anxieties about persuasion and responsibility are here passionately expressed. She refuses to become part of the machinery with which Fanny is maneuvering herself into forming the engagement. To be the stand-in motive for another's actions frightens her. Yet Jane Austen cannot avoid the part of persuader, even as dissuader.

There is no doubt that Jane Austen was very deeply and curiously aware of the fact that persuasion is fundamental to the process of human communication. There are several situations in the novel in which the characters are influencing or attempting to influence other people or themselves.

Chapter Three: Plot Overview

Novel begins with the introduction of Anne Elliot, the middle daughter of Sir Walter. She is an overlooked person. Her father Sir Walter is a spendthrift baronet; he has very good looks and he is very much conscious of his looks and rank.

Annie’s mother died a long before. She was a very loving and intelligent woman. Elizabeth is Anne’s older sister. She takes after her father. Mary is Annie’s younger sister. She is mostly nervous, trying to seek attention. She is a fretful woman. Mary is married to Charles Musgrove of nearby Uppercross Hall. Mary’s husband is the heir to a rustic but respected local squire.

Since Anne is too sensitive, she does not get much companionship from her family. She is twenty-seven years old but