Changes of Work Features in Jane Austen’s Persuasion

【Abstract】In the early 19th Century，Romanticism began to challenge the predominant role of Rationalism.In Persuasion，the last completed novel of Jane Austen，new characteristics of Romanticism are also broadly reflected.Considered as the most mature work of Jane Austen，Persuasion apparently differs from its predecessors in that it presents a brand-new heroine and a melancholy tone on which the whole novel is rooted.

【Key Words】Jane Austen； Persuasion； change

As Jane Austens last completed novel，Persuasion was finished in 1816，one year before Austens death and was published posthumously.However，only in recent years that critics are growing increasingly interested in the uniqueness of Persuasion，and readers are engaged in the “peculiar beauty and peculiar dullness” in it.

I.Melancholy Tone

Generally，Austens works are defined as comedy：happy endings，funny characters and amusing conversations and narration，all of which make the reading relaxed and comfort.In Persuasion，however，the whole story is wrapped up in an elegiac tone.

“A few years before，Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl，but her bloom had vanished early”.At the very beginning，we are aware that the heroine，Anne Elliot，had already been an “old” girl aged twenty-seven.Because of her mothers early death and the indifference of her father and sister，Anne led a lonely life until she met Captain Wentworth who then was neither a member of the aristocracy nor a nobleman with huge property.They soon engaged.Nevertheless，under the “persuasion” of her friend，Lady Russell，and the opposition from her father，Anne changed her mind，deciding not to continue with “a naval officer with no connexions，alliance or fortune，a poor match for the daughter of Sir Walter”.Captain Wentworth was heavily hurt，so was Anne.

Before Captain Wentworth came back，Anne meant nothing to her father and sister.Her words were weightless，and physically speaking she always has to give way.Her father “had found little to admire in her”.“Anne we may call the girl on the threshold，existing in that limboid space between the house of the father which has to be left and the house of the husband which has yet to be found.” Thus，Anne lived in her own sad and depressed world with her faded appearance all day long.After Captain Wentworth showed up，Anne experienced more frightened and tensed emotion every time she met him.His words that “you were so altered he should not have known you again” severely wounded her.In more than half of the book，Anne was surrounded by her regret.Only after they came from Lyme did Anne pick up her bravery and confidence to face Captain Wentworth with her heart，going out of her depressed and struggling feelings.

II.New Heroine and Hero Image

Anne Elliot，in Persuasion，possesses unique characteristics which mark her the most ideal heroine throughout Jane Austens works.In Janes other works，heroines are usually the Cinderella-type girls：being adorable young girls with beauty and little property，they all married handsome aristocratic youths with large fortune after ups and downs.

Nevertheless，we cannot simply imagine Anne as the young and beautiful heroines in other works，like Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice and Catherine in Northanger Abbey，since Anne was already twenty-seven years old.At the very beginning，Anne was not so attractive compared with other female characters.Though born in noble family，she lost her part of property due to her fathers prejudice and wasteful extravagances.The bitterness of her past love affair destroyed her youth and pretty appearance.It presented to us that “her word had no weight； her convenience was always to give way”.However，Anne，“with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character”，gradually placed her high with any people of real understanding.

Even when Annes heart was deeply buried in the intolerable sadness，she did not let herself vent or express her sad emotion to people around her.No other characters possessed more positive energy than her.Anne was so adept in managing emotions that wherever she presented，the world surrounded her became gentle，harmonious and joyful.She gradually became the most important and desirable one for everybody.

Generally，Persuasion diverges greatly from Austens other works in terms of work feature，portraits of characters and marriage concept.No matter how Persuasion are criticized，it is fairly clear that its status remains unshaken.No one can deny that it marks the transition of Jane Austens writing career.

Reference：

[1]Tanner Tony.Jane Austen.Cambridge：Harvard University Press，1986（208）.

[2]Jane Austen.Persuasion.New York：W.W.Norton，1995（5）.

[3]Arthur E.Walzer.Rhetoric and Gender in Jane Austens Persuasion.College English，Vol.57，No.6，1995（698）.

[4]Tony Tanner.Jane Austen.Cambridge： Harvard University Press，1986（208）.

作者简介：刘燕飞，女，1990年10月20日，中国政法大学硕士研究生，英语语言文学专业英美文学方向。