Anthony’s Reviews > Persuasion > Status Update

Chapter Fourteen:

The dynamic building between Anne & Captain Benwick reminds me of a stage adaption I saw this past November, dealing with Mary Bennet receiving a love interest. The bookish, why demeanour of her suitor is almost identical to Captain Benwick.

Lady Russell, on the other hand, is starting to overstay her welcome in my eyes. She is more of a force for evil, not good, & hampers Anne’s independence.

Chapter Thirteen:

Anne is continuing to endear herself to me. Her good manners are not tainted with a snobbish personality, as with Lady Russell. As Austen writes,

“Admiral Croft’s manner were not quite of the tone to suit Lady Russell, but they delighted Anne. His goodness of heat and simplicity of chapter were irresistible.””

I believe Admiral Croft & Anne share similar qualities in that regard.

Chapter Twelve:

I love reading for many reasons. However, I must concede, action is not something I comprehend well when reading. Louisa’s fall & injury happened so fast, I did not comprehend it at first. In a film, I would have much sooner realised what happened.

This chapter also shows the difference in emotional maturity between Mary & Anne. It is disappointing to see how immature Mary is in this situation.

Chapter Eleven:

Whenever there is a reference to the Isle of Wright, as there was in this chapter, I have to pause, as I am very fond of that little island. Good memories.

Additionally, I immediately can connect with Captain Harville. Tall, dark, & a perfect gentleman? I hope I can live up to these qualities. I would not mind being a bit lame too, if it meant I could indulge in his artistic & intellectual hobbies.

Chapter Ten:

Whether it be Mary, Louisa, Henrietta, or Anne, I can see any of these young ladies being the main character in their own novel. Of course here, Anne is the focus. Despite being the shy & reserved character in many respects, she also has an air of maturity, & dare I say, maternal instinct. The moment between Charles & her was sweet. By being a gentleman, Charles shows his virtue & sense of forgiveness.

Chapter Nine:

In a more modern, (I dare not say civilised) age, Captain Wentworth & Charles Hayter would be exchanging some comedic glances at one another, as they vie for Anne’s affection. I suppose this is why I enjoy the written word. The modern embellishments, which in my humble opinion, detract from the story, are absent. I know for certain, I would wince at any modern adaptation of this story.

Chapter Eight:

“If a man has a lot of wife, he still wants to be afloat again.”

How very true. Of all the motifs in literature & film, one of my favourite is the young soldier/sailor/man in uniform. Even more so, I feel for the loss, suffering, & even death of these young men, such as Richard.

Again, Anne is left out to dry just like Mary Bennet in this chapter. Left to provide the music instead of dancing.

Chapter Seven:

As with Pride & Prejudice, I am surprised with how well the dynamics between young men & women hold up in this story. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

In this chapter, we see the eternal struggle between the nurturing, motherly type (Mary), and the jaded, cold type (Anne), when it comes to children.

Frederick & Anne’s chemistry could easily be that of young adults today.

Chapter Six:

The dynamic between Mr. & Mrs. Musgrove is similar to that of Mr. & Mrs. Bennet: a disinterested husband & an overbearing wife.

Likewise, I find Anne to be quite similar to Mary Bennet as they are the often forgotten sibling with a musical panache.

In all, I enjoy making these comparisons as they allow me to quickly form bonds with the characters in the story & understand their perspectives.

Chapter Five:

I enjoy any chapter which mentions Michaelmas.