JANE AUSTEN

Life
Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 in Steventon, in the south of
England. She was particularly close to her sister Cassandra. Jane had a dense
correspondence with her, today for the most part destroyed. She grew in a
culturally stimulating environment. Her father, the Anglican pastor George
Austen, taught her French and Italian than in 1783 Jane and Cassandra studied
in Oxford. In 1795 Austen knew Thomas Langlois Lefroy and fell in love with
him, but Lefroys family thought that Jane was inadequate, so the marriage was
impossible. After this big letdown, the novelist decided that her novels should
have had always an happy ending. From 1795 to 1799, Austen started to write
her most famous books like Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. In
1816 she became seriously ill, so Cassandra led her to Winchester to find a
cure, but Jane Austen died there on 18 July 1817. Her novels were published
anonymously, signed only as by a Lady or by the author of Sense and
Sensibility. Only later her brother Henry revealed her name to the author to
the public. Jane Austen died unmarried like her sister. After the novelists death,
Cassandra destroyed most of Janes letters and private papers.
 Jane Austens thought
Marriage in the nineteenth century was all about money
and social class, but the marriages that provide Jade
Austens happy endings involve more than that. They are
usually marriages in which the woman manages to
overcome the disadvantage of having no money and wins
her ideal husband anyway because of her personal merits.
It is clean from her novels that she doesnt believe that
noble blood alone is enough to make a person worthy of
respect. For Jane Austen, respect is something that must
be earned through good behavior, morality and, above all,
decorum.
 Style
Austen had a natural ear for speech and dialogue. In fact,
there arent much descriptions sentences, but there are a lot
of dialogue formed by short and rapid phrases. This makes
the novel easy and pleasant to read. The narrator is external
and omniscient that knows everything about the story and
occasionally comments on the attitudes and events of
characters. The Language used in the novel is simple and not
too formal.
Jane Austen's use of biting irony, along with her realism and
social commentary have earned her great and historical
importance to critics and scholars.
 Themes
The central question in Persuasion is this: Is it a good or bad
thing to be influenced by other people? In other words,
should we allow ourselves to be persuaded by others? Jane
Austens answer in not a simple one and the story in which
she explores this question is the most moving love story she
ever wrote. However when someone asked Jane Austen what
she wrote about, the novelist replied: Love and money. What
else is there? In fact, though Jane lives during Napoleonic
wars, Austen never wrote in her novels about wars events.
Those appear only in the background. Women are the
fundamental core of every novel, so Jane is considered one
of the first writers to devote her whole work to the analysis of
female universe. Even the everyday life becomes an
important narrative subject.
 Setting
The story takes place in the nineteenth century during
Napoleonic wars, but Jane Austen doesnt talk about
them. The war events remain in the background. The
places described by the author are Bath, the property
in Kellynch Hall and Lyme. All the events take place in
those three places. Austen recounts the everyday life
and the characters, during the novel, remain always in
the same environment.
 Plot
Persuasion was written in 1815-16, but was published after writers death in 1818. The
novel starts with a description of Walter Elliots family. Hes a widow with three daughters:
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, Anne, the protagonist of the novel and Mary, the youngest.
Elizabeth isnt married. She was engaged with William Elliot, a distant cousin that will
inherit Sir Walters property and title, but at least William didnt marry her. Marys married
with Charles Musgrove and she has a son, Richard. Anne was engaged with Captain
Frederick Wentworth, but she was persuaded by Lady Russel not to marry him because of
his economic condition. Eight years later, Walter Elliot is forced to rent Kellynch Hall to
Admiral Croft, Fredericks sisters husband. Anne learns that Frederick is rich now. Charles
Musgrove invites Frederick in his cottage where his two sisters, Henrietta and Louisa
Musgrove seem interested in Frederick, but Henrietta is indeed in love with Charles Hayter,
a shepherd. During an excursion in Lyme to visit Captain Harville, Fredericks friend, Louisa
falls to the ground and hits her head. Everybody is very worried, but Anne proves to be
strong and determined and Frederick starts to admire her again. Meanwhile Louisa fall in
love with Captain Benwick, another Fredericks friend. Walter Elliot, Elizabeth and Mrs. Clay
moved to Bath where William Elliot wants to be their friend again, but Anne doesnt trust
him. In fact she talks to Mrs. Smith that tells her that William Elliot is indeed a bad person.
Hes very selfish and his only interest is to inherit Walter Elliots property. Finally Henrietta
marries Charles Hayter and Anne marries Frederick. William Elliot moves away with Mrs.
Clay and Anne and Frederick helps Mrs. Smith to improve her economic conditions.
Character
The End
William Elliot
Hes Sir Walters distant relation
and his heir presumptive. He can
be considered as the
antagonist because his only
wish is to inherit Sir Walter
Elliots property. He mends the
rupture to keep an eye on the
ambitious Mrs. Clay: If Sir Walter
married her; William's
inheritance would be
endangered.
Walter Elliot
Hes Annes father, a vain
self-satisfied baronet. In
financial straits, hes
forced to rent his
property, Kellynch Hall
and take a more
economical residence in
Bath.
Mary Musgrove
The youngest daughter of
Sir Walter, married to
Charles Musgrove, is very
attention-seeking.
She opposes sister-in-law
Henrietta's interest in
marrying Charles Hayter,
who Mary feels is beneath
them.
Elizabeth Elliot
Shes Sir Walters eldest and
most beautiful daughter. In a
first moment Elizabeth was
engaged with William Elliot,
but then the marriage was
canceled. Elizabeth was very
frustrated. She will never be
married.
Anne Elliot
Shes the protagonist of the
story. Shes a round character.
Anne incarnates Jane
Austens ideals: intelligence,
kindness, sensibility Lady
Russell persuades her not to
marry his love Frederick
Wentworth, but then the girl
will become aware that she
was wrong.
Lady Russell
Lady Russell is a round
character. Shes a friend of
the Elliots, particularly Anne.
Years earlier, she persuaded
Anne to turn down Captain
Wentworth's proposal of
marriage. She was the
intimate friend of the
mother, and has watched
over the three sisters since
their mother died.
Charles Musgrove
Hes Marys husband.
He first proposed to
Anne, who said no. He
married Mary about
five years before the
story opens, and they
have two sons.
Mrs. Clay
Shes a poor widow
with children, daughter
of Sir Walter's lawyer,
and companion of
Elizabeth Elliot.
Captain Frederick Wentworth
Hes an important
round character in
Persuasion. Engaged to
Anne some years ago,
at the time, he had no
fortune and uncertain
prospects.
Admiral Croft

He was Fredericks
sisters brother. He
rented Kellynch Hall.
Mrs. Croft
Shes Captain Wentworths
sister and Admiral Crofts
wife. She offers Anne an
example of a strong-minded
woman who has married for
love instead of money and
who has a good life married
to a Navy man.
Louisa Musgrove
Shes Charles sister.
She likes Captain
Wentworth and seeks
his attention. She is
ultimately engaged to
Captain Benwick, after
recovering from her
serious fall.
Henrietta Musgrove
Charles Musgroves eldest
sister. Henrietta, aged
about 20, is informally
engaged to her cousin,
Charles Hayter, but is
nevertheless tempted by
the more dashing Captain
Wentworth. Once he
returns home, she again
connects with Hayter.
Captain Harville
Captain Wentworths
friend. Wentworth had
not seen his friend
since the time of that
injury. Harville and his
family are settled in
nearby Lyme for the
winter.
Mrs. Smith
Shes Anne Elliots friend
who lives in Bath. Mrs.
Smith is a widow who
suffers ill health and
financial difficulties. She
revels William Elliots
true intention.
Captain Benwick
Hes Captain Wentworth
and Captain Harvilles
friend. Benwick had been
engaged to marry Captain
Harville's sister Fanny, but
she died while Benwick
was at sea. Then he will
marry Louisa Musgrove.