Anne Elliot from “Persuasion” Novel by Jane Austen
Persuasion is a novel by Jane Austen, published posthumously in 1817. The novel is about Anne Elliot, who is bound to follow her family’s will and suppress her own desires when it comes to love. Specifically, she was forced to break off her engagement to Captain Frederick Wentworth, who was poor and had no high social status, even if Anne loved him to death. Missing out on the opportunity to be together, Anne takes an advantage of the moment when Fredrick returns from the Napoleonic Wars, now, being a wealthy and successful man. Having these straggles between her own, her family’s, and the society’s wills, Anne is facing a great challenge in making love related decisions. This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the development path of Anne Elliot, which greatly reflects the role of female in society.
Anne Elliot, the protagonist of the novel, undergoes significant character development throughout the course of the story. At the beginning of the novel, Anne is a quiet and reserved young woman who has been persuaded to reject the man she loves, Captain Wentworth, due to his lack of social standing. However, as the novel progresses, Anne gains confidence in herself and learns to trust her own judgment, ultimately leading her to a happy reunion with Captain Wentworth. One of the key aspects of Anne’s character development is her growing sense of self-worth. At the beginning of the novel, Anne is very conscious of her place in society and her lack of power in relation to others. She often defers to the opinions of her family members, even when she disagrees with them.
Later, as the story progresses, Anne becomes more assertive and confident in her own judgment. For example, when she learns that Captain Wentworth is returning to the area, she insists on visiting her old friend Mrs. Smith, despite the disapproval of her family: “Anne would not be prevailed on to join the others in the common sitting-room. She said it would be too much like the old days, too much like what she had been used to with him, when their feelings had been totally different” (Austen 131). This passage shows how Anne is no longer willing to simply go along with the wishes of others but is instead taking control of herself by making decisions that are not affected by others’ judgements.
Another important aspect of Anne’s character development is her ability to forgive and let go of past grievances. Throughout the novel, Anne struggles with her feelings towards Captain Wentworth, who she feels has rejected her in the past. However, as she spends more time with him and comes to understand his perspective, she is able to let go of her anger and resentment. For example, when Captain Wentworth reads aloud a letter he wrote to her after their initial breakup, Anne reflects: “Her eye half met Captain Wentworth’s, a bow distinguished her acceptance; but she had time for only the slightest acknowledgement, and the quivering of her lip as she did so, the change in her complexion, the agitation of her manner, showed how momentous had been the communication” (Austen 48). This passage shows how Anne is finally able to confront her feelings towards Captain Wentworth and come to a place of emotional resolution.
The existing research in the field of literature also supports the claims that Anne undergoes great character growth. In her article “Anne Elliot’s Identity Crisis: A Reading of Persuasion”, scholar Faezeh Bahrami argues that Anne’s character development can be seen as an identity crisis, as she struggles to reconcile her own desires and values with the expectations of society and her family. Bahrami (2) notes that Anne’s initial decision to reject Captain Wentworth is driven by her sense of duty and obligation to her family, as well as her fear of social censure. Anne is prone to conforming to society’s expectations and demands since her sense of duty to her family and her sense of worth are intertwined. So, Anne’s decision to reject Wentworth is evidence of both her lack of confidence in herself and her judgment as well as her love for her family (Bahrami 3). This pattern is present throughout the first half of the novel.
In contrast, the second half of the novel shows how Anne begins to question these values and assumptions and starts to assert own desires and needs. Bahrami (5) explains that Anne starts to take charge of her life and grows more self-assured in judgments. This need to change is also fueled by the societal norms and expectations that were pressuring Anne. Thus, she started challenging these norms to assert own wishes and ideas. Starting this new chapter of her life, Anne becomes more confident in her judgment, and begins to take control of the life in the way she wants to live, but not her family of the society.
In conclusion, the novel by Jane Austen shows the complex ways in which Anne’s character development is intertwined with broader societal and cultural expectations. By rejecting the conventions of her time and asserting identity, Anne is able to find happiness and fulfillment in life, rather than simply conforming to the expectations of others. As a result, she undergoes significant character development throughout the course of Persuasion, as she gains confidence in herself and learns to trust her judgment. By the end of the novel, Anne is no longer a passive observer of her life, but an active participant who has found happiness and fulfillment through her actions.
Works Cited
Austen, Jane. Persuasion. Penguin Classics, 2012.
Bahrami, Faezeh. “Anne Elliot’s Identity Crisis: A Reading of Persuasion.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, vol. 2, no. 2, 2018, pp. 29-38.