Persuasion

Persuasion by Jane Austen

There is something in the appeal of Anne Elliot, the protagonist of Jane Austen’s final novel Persuasion, that speaks to a universal need for acknowledgment – for validation that is external not only to the characters of her novel but also to ourselves.

Further to this is a sensitivity and sensibility in Anne’s character, an empathy that not only outshines those around her but also spills into the fabric of our collective experience. It speaks to the kindness of those who reach us most deeply with their care for and understanding of others.

Ironically, Anne, who is neither truly seen nor heard by anyone other than Lady Russell and Frederick Wentworth, enables Austen to tell the story of Persuasion. In doing so, Anne becomes the fine instrument of revelation for those around her – those who constitute her world and, consequently, populate ours. Anne’s gift, her deference or empathy, if you will, allows other characters sufficient space to be themselves. This, in turn, allows the flower of their stories to bloom, sustaining a splendid notion of connectedness to others.

Persuasion is a special encounter, leaving one with a glowing endorsement of a world in which romance is celebrated and moral equilibrium maintained. But above all, it is cherished for the exquisite nature of its quietly brilliant protagonist, Anne Elliot.

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