Occurences of the words "persuade"/"persuasion" in the novel _Persuasion_ This is a plaintext version of the HTML document located at URL: http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/persuasn.html The following list, of all the occurrences of the words "persuade" and "persuasion", is an expanded and revised version of a post to AUSTEN-L. Note that Jane Austen actually most probably did _not_ choose the title _Persuasion_ for her last novel -- probably this was done instead by her brother Henry, when preparing this novel and _Northanger Abbey_ for publication after Jane Austen's death (according to _Personal Aspects of Jane Austen_ by Mary Augusta Austen-Leigh, Cassandra told her nieces and nephews in later years that "a name for this last work had been a good deal discussed between Jane and herself, and that among several possible titles, the one that seemed most likely was _The Elliots_"). Even so, the theme of "persuasion" is still important in _Persuasion_. ________________________________________________________________________ Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 12:32:55 EST From: Marianne Eismann Subject: _Persuasion_'s persuasions Here's my "persuasions" list handout. It's interesting to see how Austen shades the meaning, depending on who's being persuaded, and of what. 1. Instances of the verb "Persuade", of the adjective "persuadable", and of the noun "Persuasion" in its meaning of influencing others: [Lady Russel to Anne on the Elliots' need to "retrench":] "If we can <> your father to all this," said Lady Russell, looking over her paper, "much may be done." [Anne's thoughts on the Elliots' need to "retrench":] She rated Lady Russell's influence highly, and as to the severe degree of self-denial, which her own conscience prompted, she believed there might be little more difficulty in <> them to a complete, than to half a reformation. [Mr. Shephard discusses the retrenchment with Sir Walter:] "Quit Kellynch Hall." The hint was immediately taken up by Mr. Shepherd, whose interest was involved in the reality of Sir Walter's retrenching, and who was perfectly <> that nothing would be done without a change of abode. [Anne on her engagement to Capt. Wentworth:] Young and gentle as she was, it might yet have been possible to withstand her father's ill-will, though unsoftened by one kind word or look on the part of her sister; but Lady Russell, whom she had always loved and relied on, could not, with such steadiness of opinion, and such tenderness of manner, be continually advising her in vain. She was <> to believe the engagement a wrong thing -- indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it. She did not blame Lady Russell, she did not blame herself for having been guided by her; but she felt that were any young person, in similar circumstances, to apply to her for counsel, they would never receive any of such certain immediate wretchedness, such uncertain future good. She was <> that under every disadvantage of disapprobation at home, and every anxiety attending his profession, all their probable fears, delays, and disappointments, she should yet have been a happier woman in maintaining the engagement, than she had been in the sacrifice of it; and this, she fully believed, had the usual share, had even more than the usual share of all such solicitudes and suspense been theirs, without reference to the actual results of their case, which, as it happened, would have bestowed earlier prosperity than could be reasonably calculated on. All his sanguine expectations, all his confidence had been justified. [Anne at Uppercross:] Known to have some influence with her sister, she was continually requested, or at least receiving hints to exert it, beyond what was practicable. "I wish you could <> Mary not to be always fancying herself ill," was Charles's language; and, in an unhappy mood, thus spoke Mary: -- "I do believe if Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was anything the matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might <> him that I really am very ill -- a great deal worse than I ever own." [Anne hears Admiral Croft say that one of his wife's brothers is coming to stay at Kellynch, but is not sure whether he means Capt. Frederick or Revd. Edward:] Anne was left to <> herself, as well as she could, that the same brother must still be in question. [Charles Musgrove politely urges Anne not to stay the whole day nursing his son:] he still wanted her to join them in the evening, when the child might be at rest for the night, and kindly urged her to let him come and fetch her; but she was quite <>... [What Capt. Wentworth thinks about the broken engagement:] She had given him up to oblige others. It had been the effect of <>. It had been weakness and timidity. [Louisa and Henrietta, about to take a walk, call on Mary:] Mary immediately replied, with some jealousy at not being supposed a good walker, "Oh, yes, I should like to join you very much, I am very fond of a long walk"; Anne felt <>, by the looks of the two girls, that it was precisely what they did not wish, and admired again the sort of necessity which the family habits seemed to produce, of everything being to be communicated, and everything being to be done together, however undesired and inconvenient. [Louisa to Capt. Wentworth:] "What! would I be turned back from doing a thing that I had determined to do, and that I knew to be right, by the airs and interference of such a person -- or of any person, I may say? No, -- I have no idea of being so easily <>. When I have made up my mind, I have made it. And Henrietta seemed entirely to have made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day -- and yet, she was as near giving it up, out of nonsensical complaisance!" [Louisa to Capt. Wentworth on Anne's rejection of Charles Musgrove's marriage proposal:] "We should all have liked her a great deal better [than Mary]; and papa and mamma always think it was her great friend Lady Russell's doing, that she did not. -- They think Charles might not be learned and bookish enough to please Lady Russell, and that therefore, she <> Anne to refuse him." [Mrs. Croft, on marrying Admiral Croft soon after they met:] "We had better not talk about it, my dear," replied Mrs. Croft, pleasantly; "for if Miss Elliot were to hear how soon we came to an understanding, she would never be <> that we could be happy together." [Henrietta on securing a place for Charles Hayter:] "My only doubt is whether anything could <> him [Dr. Shirley, the old rector] to leave his parish. He is so very strict and scrupulous in his notions; over-scrupulous I must say." [Henrietta on Lady Russell:] "I have always heard of Lady Russell as a woman of the greatest influence with everybody! I always look upon her as able to <> a person to any thing! I am afraid of her, as I have told you before, quite afraid of her, because she is so very clever; but I respect her amazingly" [Discussions on who stays in Lyme with Louisa:] Charles... declared his resolution of not going away... Henrietta at first declared the same. She, however, was soon <> to think differently. The usefulness of her staying! -- She who had not been able to remain in Louisa's room, or to look at her, without sufferings which made her worse than helpless! [Anne on Capt. Wentworth, after he blames himself for Louisa's accident:] Anne wondered whether it ever occurred to him now, to question the justness of his own previous opinion as to the universal felicity and advantage of firmness of character; and whether it might not strike him that, like all other qualities of the mind, it should have its proportions and limits. She thought it could scarcely escape him to feel that a <> temper might sometimes be as much in favor of happiness, as a very resolute character. [Note from Marianne: I think the preceding is the key use of "persuasion" in the novel.] [Charles Musgrove reporting on developments at Lyme:] In speaking of the Harvilles, he seemed unable to satisfy his own sense of their kindness, especially of Mrs. Harville's exertions as a nurse. "She really left nothing for Mary to do. He and Mary had been <> to go early to their inn last night. Mary had been hysterical again this morning." [Anne and the Musgroves at Uppercross:] Anne was to leave them on the morrow, an event which they all dreaded. "What should they do without her? They were wretched comforters for one another." And so much was said in this way, that Anne thought she could not do better than impart among them the general inclination to which she was privy, and <> them all to go to Lyme at once. [Charles and Mary report to Anne and Lady Russel at Kellynch on Capt. Wentworth at Lyme:] He had not seen Louisa; and was so extremely fearful of any ill consequence to her from an interview, that he did not press for it at all; and, on the contrary, seemed to have a plan of going away for a week or ten days, till her head was stronger. He had talked of going down to Plymouth for a week, and wanted to <> Captain Benwick to go with him; but, as Charles maintained to the last, Captain Benwick seemed much more disposed to ride over to Kellynch. [Anne's thoughts on hearing of Captain Benwick's marriage; Mary chooses to believe that Captain Benwick had never been interested in Anne:] Louisa, just recovering from illness, had been in an interesting state, and Captain Benwick was not inconsolable. That was a point which Anne had not been able to avoid suspecting before; and instead of drawing the same conclusion as Mary, from the present course of events, they served only to confirm the idea of his having felt some dawning of tenderness toward herself. She did not mean, however, to derive much more from it to gratify her vanity, than Mary might have allowed. She was <> that any tolerably pleasing young woman who had listened and seemed to feel for him would have received the same compliment. He had an affectionate heart. He must love somebody. [During the concert that brings almost all the characters together in one room:] The first act was over... Anne was one of the few who did not choose to move. She remained in her seat, and so did Lady Russell; but she had the pleasure of getting rid of Mr. Elliot; and she did not mean, whatever she might feel on Lady Russell's account, to shrink from conversation with Captain Wentworth, if he gave her the opportunity. She was <> by Lady Russell's countenance that she had seen him. [Anne, after Mrs. Smith's revelation, on Lady Russell's support of Mr. Elliot as a suitor:] Anne could just acknowledge within herself such a possibility of having been induced to marry him, as made her shudder at the idea of the misery which must have followed. It was just possible that she might have been <> by Lady Russell! [With the Musgrove party at the White Hart:] Mrs. Musgrove was giving Mrs. Croft the history of her eldest daughter's engagement, and just in that inconvenient tone of voice which was perfectly audible while it pretended to be a whisper. Anne felt that she did not belong to the conversation, and yet, as Captain Harville seemed thoughtful and not disposed to talk, she could not avoid hearing many undesirable particulars; such as, "how Mr. Musgrove and my brother Hayter had met again and again to talk it over; what my brother Hayter had said one day, and what Mr. Musgrove had proposed the next, and what had occurred to my sister Hayter, and what the young people had wished, and what I said at first I never could consent to, but was afterwards <> to think might do very well," and a great deal in the same style of open-hearted communication: minutiæ which, even with every advantage of taste and delicacy which good Mrs. Musgrove could not give, could be properly interesting only to the principals. AND FINALLY, [Capt. Wentworth and Anne begin to understand one another:] [Wentworth:] "To see you," cried he, "in the midst of those who could not be my well-wishers, to see your cousin close by you, conversing and smiling, and feel all the horrible eligibilities and proprieties of the match! To consider it as the certain wish of every being who could hope to influence you! Even, if your own feelings were reluctant or indifferent, to consider what powerful supports would be his! Was it not enough to make the fool of me which I appeared? How could I look on without agony? Was not the very sight of the friend who sat behind you, was not the recollection of what had been, the knowledge of her influence, the indelible, immoveable impression of what <> had once done -- was it not all against me? [Anne:] "You should have distinguished," replied Anne. "You should not have suspected me now; the case so different, and my age so different. If I was wrong in yielding to <> once, remember that it was to <> exerted on the side of safety, not of risk. When I yielded, I thought it was to duty; but no duty could be called in aid here. In marrying a man indifferent to me, all risk would have been incurred, and all duty violated." [Wentworth:] "Perhaps I ought to have reasoned thus," he replied, "but I could not. I could not derive benefit from the late knowledge I had acquired of your character. I could not bring it into play; it was overwhelmed, buried, lost in those earlier feelings which I had been smarting under year after year. I could think of you only as one who had yielded, who had given me up, who had been influenced by any one rather than me." ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Instances of the noun "Persuasion" in its meaning of one's own beliefs: [Anne's thoughts on Capt. Benwick:] He was evidently a young man of considerable taste in reading, though principally in poetry; and besides the <> of having given him at least an evening's indulgence in the discussion of subjects, which his usual companions had probably no concern in, she had the hope of being of real use to him in some suggestions as to the duty and benefit of struggling against his affliction. [Elizabeth Elliot, when the Musgraves arrive in Bath:] She felt that Mrs. Musgrove and all her party ought to be asked to dine with them; but she could not bear to have the difference of style, the reduction of servants, which a dinner must betray, witnessed by those who had been always so inferior to the Elliots of Kellynch. It was a struggle between propriety and vanity; but vanity got the better, and then Elizabeth was happy again. These were her internal <>: "Old fashioned notions; country hospitality; we do not profess to give dinners; few people in Bath do..." [Anne deduces Capt. Wentworth cares for her from his jealousy of Mr. Elliot:] Their last meeting had been most important in opening his feelings; she had derived from it a delightful conviction; but she feared from his looks, that the same unfortunate <>, which had hastened him away from the Concert Room, still governed. He did not seem to want to be near enough for conversation. From the "cancelled chapters" of Persuasion: [After the proposal at the Crofts' house, in Austen's first draft ending to Persuasion:] When the Eveng. closed, it is probable that the Adml. received some new Ideas from his Wife; -- whose particularly friendly manner in parting with her, gave Anne the gratifying <> of her seeing & approving. ________________________________________________________________________ Marianne ________________________________________________________________________