Being Persuaded

The effect of persuasion becomes palpable in the novel 'Persuasion' through Jane Austen's depiction of it as a motivator for actions or inactions in life. Being persuaded causes significant changes in Anne's character development, which was quite unpredictable once she decided not to be with Mr. Wentworth. Not only because the person who suggested that Mr. Wentworth is not the perfect match for her is her mentor and confidante, Lady Russel, but also because of the societal norms imposed on Anne's mind by her father, she is resolved to break off the engagement with Wentworth.

Anne Elliot is a young woman who is full of feeling, integrity, and maintains a modest attitude. Furthermore, she embodies aspects of her nobility and lineage, reminding herself of the baronial codes, and behaves accordingly. Even though she is deeply in love with Mr. Wentworth, who is a sailor and not a member of the aristocratic society like Anne, she becomes involved in an engagement with him. Despite all the love and affection Anne feels for him, she heeds her logical side, influenced by Lady Russell’s aristocratic doctrines, and ignores her feelings to break up with Wentworth, which ultimately leads to her melancholic demise during the eight years of their separation, and this separation also leads Wentworth to look for someone who is self-ordained and not easily influenced by anyone.

Persuasion is the primary symbol in the sequence of events, underscoring the reasons why Anne is persuaded by Lady Russell and influenced by her father’s way of life although she has the exact opposite mindset to that of her father. Due to the expectations and pressures society imposes, constantly prioritizing the social equality of marrying individuals, Anne feels compelled to give up on her beloved because of his social status, as societal interference affects women’s individual choices. She is persuaded by her societal role as a woman and must face the emotional consequences of her decisions after eight years. The novel demonstrates the powerful force of persuasion in changing one’s life, costing her losses along with gains such as Anne losing her bloom and gaining her growth. Anne comes to a realization of the value of true love for social conformity with the absence of Wentworth in her life, and loses her bloom hereby.

Austen, through her realistic outlook for women in her time, highlights the significance of class distinctions. Women are torn between their individual feelings and social constraints, which influences their way of perceiving things, such as being easily persuaded by someone regarding marriage. The character of Anne perfectly serves as the susceptible figure among these women, prioritizing societal expectations rather than personal desires, a conflict that emphasises the complexities of social norms and individual autonomy in Jane Austen's narrative.