Persuasion, by Jane Austin, is a short romantic classic
manners novel, slightly different from Austin's
more famous books but just as masterful at demonstrating how
love works in a
day where propriety is everything and romance next to nothing. It shows
how
good intentions are not always the best thing for a person when faced with
true love.
Persuasion centers around a lady who will probably never be married, as she is
getting beyond the age where most young women marry. Her beauty, while
never thrilling, is now truly fading obviously, and the only man she ever loved
she was dissuaded from marrying when she was younger. This man had had
great potential for
fortune, as he was going into the
navy and was planning on
going in search of building an estate for the future. However, at the
time he did not have very much to live on, so even though he was a gentleman,
her friend, who had sworn to protect her when her mother died, told her that it
was not a good
match and would not let her marry him. The man had left
for the navy and did not come back to see her.
The book opens, however, when this man had come back. He did indeed make
his fortune out on the seas, and now would be a great match -- but not for
her. She had already rejected him once, and now she was too old. So
the man goes around the village with younger ladies, looking for a wife who
will be beautiful and not despise how he made his fortune.
Persuasion is a cautionary tale for those who would meddle in the affairs of
love, and tells us that yes, following our hearts is the proper course even if
money seems to bar the way to happiness. For it is better to be poor and
with the one you love than to remain rich and alone. Austin
reflects perhaps some on her own life as she weaves this tale of love versus a
good match in a time where love is truly underrated.
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