Balance in Persuasion and P&P
Posted by Patrick on January 19, 1998 at 15:41:49:
In response to Looking at Patrick's question from a slightly different angle, written by Caroline on January 15, 1998 at 18:47:20
Caroline:
] Also, Patrick, I think it hasn't been said, but been implied that JA perhaps moved away from the enlightenment ideal as she got older. Do you see less "balance" in Persuasion, than in P&P? Do you see less of the "man is intrinsically good, society is what makes him bad" in Persuasion than in her other works?
Patrick:
Sorry to take so long to respond on this. There was a death in my family last week - not a very close relative, but someone I liked and admired - so I have been out of town at the funeral.
Anyway, in answer to your question, do I see less balance in Persuasion than in P&P, I have to say that I see so little "balance" in P&P that I could scarcely see less in Persuasion. What I see less of in Persuasion is words. I don't mean that facetiously. As I have said somewhere else in this thread, I see Persuasion as a sort of distillation of the ideas in P&P. I am struck by the depth of feeling in Persuasion, and how central it is in the story. It may be central in P&P, too, but it is harder to tell there because there is so much going on.
As for the "man is intrinsically good, society makes him bad" idea, again, I don't see this in P&P. It seems a canard anyway, since people make society, and in my own humble view we do not escape responsibility by being one of a crowd. What JA seems to me to be saying is more like "emotional is intrinsically good, but objective measurement makes it bad."
Caroline:
I think Mansfield Park is the most "Enlightenment-based" of her novels---am I right?
Patrick:
This question is properly addressed to citizens of Pemberley who know what they're talking about - Erin, for example. Any comment, Erin or other knowledgeable types?
Cheers,
Patrick
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