Book Review: Persuasion
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives”
Vanity, pride and the sheer ridiculousness of an overly inflated ego is the bread and butter of Persuasion by Jane Austen. The first few pages are a lot to take in. The characters are an interesting bunch, perhaps not as infuriating as some of the younger Bennet sisters and the mother (good LORD the mother) in Pride and Prejudice. But still, these people are regrettable relations to have. So, we have the incumbent Sir Elliot, Baronet of Kellynch Hall who is vain, extravagant inflated by the self-importance of his title and now, due to his extravagance, thoroughly broke. Next is Elizabeth the eldest Elliot sister who has been running Kellynch Hall for the past 13 years, indulges her father whims and has been snubbed in marriage. Therefore, she is bitter. You have Mary, the youngest. She reminds me a lot of Lydia Bennet, silly, naïve, prideful, cares a lot about money and when things don’t go her way she pretends to be ill. Lo and behold she is the stereotypical younger sibling. ‘Attention whore’ is a title too tame for Mary Elliot (now Musgrove she’s the only sister who is married). Now for our leading lady: Anne Elliot, who eight years ago was forced to give up one Captain Wentworth because he was a sailor, therefore destined to be ugly and not to mention he was broke. How could a match like that be made to a family who prided wealth and title more than anything? It also didn’t help that Lady Russell, a close acquaintance of the Elliot’s, dissuaded her as well. Well, you know what they say… the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And thus Anne, the middle child, is single. Anne is disregarded by her family, quite unfairly I must say she is put down as being plain and of absolutely no use whatso ever. Rude.
But guess what! Captain Wentworth has reappeared! And he’s filthy rich and has no interest in Anne whatsoever. Completely over Anne. Doesn’t even think Anne. Doesn’t try to be alone with Anne at all. Nah. Nope. Completely disinterested. Who are we kidding, we KNOW the spark has been re-ignited!!! But for heaven’s sake could he please stop flirting with Anne’s best friend for the love of God! And just to throw a fun spanner in this finely tuned social machine that is regency era romance, we have the heir to Kellynch Hall and the title: Walter Elliot. He spurned Elizabeth all those years ago (hence why she is bitter) married some wealth lady who is now conveniently dead and is vying for the hand of Anne. Oh, the drama! He walks like an ass, sounds like an ass and probably is an ass (Or MaYbE hE’s JuST mIsUndERstOod). I’m just glad it has a happy ending, its bittersweet though. Like how Lydia Bennet runs off with Wickham (her damned abuser) the Elliot heir runs off without receiving his comeuppance. To explain his misdeeds is a spoiler I shall not give. I shall let you discover the juicy details yourself. But it has to do with money and marriage. (ground breaking, I know) but the Elliot’s are happy at least. Especially Anne, and that’s all that matters in the end, doesn’t it?