Jane Austen lived in a time when the two definitions of the word Gentleman were both in general use. The first definition was the older, economic sense of the word. This alluded to a man who does not have to “work” for a living, because they were independently wealthy. The most respected Gentlemen in this sense were landlords, who often owned whole towns as well as vast acreage for farming. The second definition was brand new, but is the only one that has survived to date. This alluded to a man’s behavior, and meant that he was courteous. Like the word Courtesy itself, which arose from a definition of proper behavior at the royal court, Gentlemen were those who understood proper etiquette. In essence, a Gentleman in this sense put everyone at their ease. He would never make anyone feel uncomfortable in his presence. Consider Frederick Wentworth in comparison to William Elliot. Setting aside, for the moment, the issue of motive (i.e. Mr. Eliot’s selfishness), what is it in their manners that makes Lady Russell prefer Mr. Elliot? Why does Anne prefer Captain Wentworth’s manners? Was it wrong that William Elliot held Mrs. Clay in contempt, “yet Mrs. Clay found him as agreeable as anybody”? In real life which do you prefer, someone who speaks their mind with frankness, or someone who is ever vigilant about your feelings? Are you susceptible to flattery?
Do you find Anne Elliot a sympathetic character? Would you want to be friends with her? Does she have any faults? What, if any, are they? What are her defining characteristics? Would you want to be like her?
Do you find Captain Wentworth an appealing character? What, if anything, do you like about him? What, if anything, do you dislike? Would you want to be friends with him? Would you want to be like him?
What do you think of the marriage of Charles and Mary Musgrove? Would you consider theirs a good marriage? We see their pettiness quite clearly, would our own marriage hold up under such close scrutiny? What do you think of Austen’s assumption that Charles would have been a different man if married to Anne? What do you think of the marriage of Admiral Croft and Sophie? Would you consider their marriage ideal? Their attachment is mocked by Austen when expressed by Louisa as the sentiment, “I would rather be overturned by him, than driven safely by anybody else.” Do you think her treatment overall reflects admiration for their marriage, or are they just for comic relief? Are they in any way a representation of Anne's possible future?
I’m sure you remember having a Reading Group discussion about this some months ago, but you’ve had some time to think about it now. What is Meekness? How does it manifest itself? Do you see meekness as “feebleness and timidity’ as Captain Wentworth did? Is it possible for a woman to be too meek? Do you think that Anne is too meek? Do you agree with Captain Wentworth that she has shown a “feebleness of character”? Or, do you agree with her conclusion that duty justified her meekness? Are you more willing to accept meekness in a woman than a man? Why? Is there a relationship between meekness and duty as Anne suggests? To whom do we owe meekness? To whom do we not? When is meekness a proper response? Do you think that Anne had become less meek over time? Why? Do you think meekness is related to maturity? Considering how important meekness is as a gospel principle, what role should meekness play in an adult personality? What role did it play in Christ’s life?
The primary theme in this novel is that of Persuasion, thus the title. Yet, this is a theme that Austen explores in all of her novels, so one that she considered of enormous consequence. What conclusions do you think the author has come to in this story? Which characters are persuaded by which other characters? Is it important to be persuadable? Or is there something to be said for Captain Wentworth’s expression, “Let those who would be happy be firm”? Who has a responsibility for influencing another person? Whom should we be influenced by? What can we conclude about someone who is a good influence? Was Captain Wentworth a good influence? What do you make of his statement of Louisa that, “she would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak”? Who ultimately influenced whom? Consider also the influence of such minor characters as Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Clay.
What do you think of the role that Gossip plays in this novel? Do you believe that the characters were justified in their use of information about other people?
The powerful people in Anne’s life tended to be inconsiderate of her needs and desires. Is this kind of behavior ever justified? Is there anyone in your life that you tend to overlook in this way? Or that you see others overlook on a regular basis? Are everyone's needs and desires important? What if their desires are wrong?
“How quick come the reasons for approving what we like.” This is the kind of Reasoning that Sir Walter Elliot uses in making decisions. Anne wants the family to retrench in the most drastic fashion. She believes that their Dignity depends on this. What is Anne’s view of dignity? What is her father and sister’s view of dignity? Does dignity play a role in today’s society? In which sense?
Have you ever experienced the situation that Anne does in which she removes from one set of people to another, and finds “a total change of conversation, opinion and idea”? Is it wrong that each group is so self-consumed? Is it right? Or is it just normal?
Have you noticed how reserved Austen’s heroines always seem? How they keep their feelings to themselves almost constantly? For example, at one point Anne must play the piano while she watches others enjoy dancing, and “though her eyes would sometimes fill with tears as she sat at the instrument, she was extremely glad to be employed, and desired nothing in return but to be unobserved.” Do you honor her for her forbearance in not breaking into sobs and running from the room? Anne feels that she is “being treated with too much confidence,” of “being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house” while she’s staying with the Musgroves. Do you agree with Anne’s assessment? In today’s society, probably due to our modern forms of entertainment, we are used to sharing in everyone’s most intimate feelings, but is this right? With whom should we share our feelings? Anne believes that she values “open-heartedness”; in what way is that related to sharing feelings? Do you think that Austen is reacting against the strong stoical behavior that was evident in her own culture? In other words, do you think she was trying to maintain a balance? What would she have written about if she lived in our modern world in which it is rare for people to keep their feelings to themselves? Do you think she would have emphasized the opposite?
Anne at one point is walking with Harriet, and considers herself “as ready to do good by entering into the feelings of a young lady as of a young man.” She knows how rare true sympathy is, since so few are ever willing to listen to her. Is it an act of charity to listen, to empathize with another, and to agree with their perceptions? How does this differ from being open with ones feelings as above? Why do you think that Austen gives the character William Elliot the ability to show empathy to Anne, as confirmed by his “concern for what she must have suffered in witnessing” the scene at Lyme? Is sympathy an important character trait? In our modern day, influenced by the Romantic Philosophers, we tend to believe that sympathy is one of the highest virtues. Does Austen suggest there are more important ones?
One of the key elements of women’s fiction in Austen’s day was the melodramatic Rescue of the heroine. Austen parodies, or at least uses, this in several of her novels, including this one. Just for fun, can you find the Rescue scene? Is it an effective scene? Or, do you think it was over the top? Do you think rescue scenes are important elements in making us appreciate the hero? In other words, does it make him a hero? Do you remember the use of this idea in the movie Hitch? How might this scene be related to the kind of “rescue” that Hitch stages for his clients? How is it different?
What are your feelings about Captain Benwick? Do you recognize what Anne sees as a “duty and benefit of struggling against affliction”? What part do you think reading plays in encouraging indulgence of sentiment, or in helping people endure? Do you think this is important? Do you think that he and Louisa will find happiness together in spite of their difference of temperament? or, because of it?
What was revealed by the way that everyone looked to Anne for direction after Louisa’s fall? Does she show natural leadership? Would the same thing have occurred if the group were made up of people like Sir Elliot and Elizabeth? What makes the difference?
Do you believe that the “sick chamber” shows examples of “ardent, disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, patience, resignation—of all the conflicts and all the sacrifices that ennoble us most”? Or “selfishness and impatience rather than generosity and fortitude”? Do you agree with Mrs. Smith that there is “little real friendship in the world”? Do you think of friendship as actuating the kinds of sacrifice that Anne is talking about? What part did friendship play during Austen’s time in the care of the sick? What part does it play today?
In the latest movie production of Persuasion, the Masterpiece Classic version, Anne confesses to Captain Wentworth at the end that she has been wrong. She promises never to be so persuadable again. Did you find this ending as satisfying as the book ending? Who learns the lesson about persuasion in the novel? Do you think Jane Austen thought Anne was too persuadable? What was the ultimate cause of the long separation of Anne and Frederick? Do you believe that they will be happy as a married couple? Why? What part does persuasion play in domestic happiness? Do you think persuasion will play a part in their happiness? What was Jane Austen’s opinion on the matter?
