Persuasion Group

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celinecia
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Discuss the themes of making decisions, social changes and relationships. Using quotation with close reference to the text of "Persuation".

Persuasion

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Posted by celinecia on Friday September 5, 2008 at 5:12 AM and tagged with decisions, persuasion, relationships, social change, themes.

Answers:

  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    'Decision  making' is an important thematic thread linking  the various incidents before and after the incident at Lyme Regis in Ch.12. 

    Initially Anne is presented as a weak character whose decisions are easily over ruled by the other characters:

    1. In Ch2 she alongwith Lady Russell draw up plans to economise and thus save Sir Walter from his financial difficulties.  But their wise plans are rudely brushed aside and Kellynch Hall is let out the Crofts.

    2. In Ch4 we read how Anne was persuaded not to accept Wentworth's proposal of marriage.

    3. In Ch.5 It is Mary who decides that Anne should remain with her at Uppercross cottage till Lady Russell takes her to Bath and Anne's sensible advice that Mrs.Clay should not go to Bath alongwith her sister and father is rejected rudely by Elizabeth.

    The incident at Lyme Regis  where Louisa falls down and injures her head marks the  turning point. From then on Anne metamorphoses into a strong and assertive person:

    1. It is she who manages everything immediately after Louisa is injured-from calling for the surgeon, to how the news is to be conveyed to Uppercross and in managing the Uppercross household: "but without Anne it would hardly have been resolved on." Ch13. 

    2. In Ch.17 she firmly tells her father that she will keep her appointment with Mrs. Smith; and she also tells Lady Russell that Mr.Elliot is not a suitable match for her.

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    Posted by lit24 on Saturday September 6, 2008 at 7:41 AM