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rworrall78 's review for:
Persuasion
by Jane Austen
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
She's still brilliant, sharp and soft at the same time. And yet reading this for the first time in 15 - 20 years is interesting. So much to love, particularly the idea that Mrs Smith was so lovely that even in perfect health and with greater wealth she could still be happy.
Anne's discussion with Harville is Austen at her finest they disagree whether men or women are more constant:
".... let me observe that all histories are against you -- all stories, prose and verse. If I had such a memory as Benwick, I could bring you fifty quotations in a moment on my side the argument, and I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."
"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything."
"But how shall we prove anything?"
"We never shall. We never can expect to prove any thing upon such a point. It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of proof. We each begin, probably, with a little bias towards our own sex; and upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it which has occurred within our own circle; many of which circumstances (perhaps those very cases which strike us the most) may be precisely such as cannot be brought forward without betraying a confidence, or in some respect saying what should not be said."
All the lovely feminism and importance of character, intelligence and love is great. But the oddness of Mrs Smith being a sympathetic figure whilst her fortune turns out to be 'property' in the west indies. If we take the modern view that neutrality is still a stance (that of supporting the oppressive status quo) then Austen is guilty of glossing over slavery.
Anne's discussion with Harville is Austen at her finest they disagree whether men or women are more constant:
".... let me observe that all histories are against you -- all stories, prose and verse. If I had such a memory as Benwick, I could bring you fifty quotations in a moment on my side the argument, and I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."
"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything."
"But how shall we prove anything?"
"We never shall. We never can expect to prove any thing upon such a point. It is a difference of opinion which does not admit of proof. We each begin, probably, with a little bias towards our own sex; and upon that bias build every circumstance in favour of it which has occurred within our own circle; many of which circumstances (perhaps those very cases which strike us the most) may be precisely such as cannot be brought forward without betraying a confidence, or in some respect saying what should not be said."
All the lovely feminism and importance of character, intelligence and love is great. But the oddness of Mrs Smith being a sympathetic figure whilst her fortune turns out to be 'property' in the west indies. If we take the modern view that neutrality is still a stance (that of supporting the oppressive status quo) then Austen is guilty of glossing over slavery.