Persuasion

Just finished reading Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Got to know about this book through the movie Lakehouse by Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. In the movie, this book is described about 2 people waiting for love. After reading it, I have to say that it is more than that. Then again, the movie is just taking what's useful and putting it in. It doesn't have to give a full review of the book.

This book was first published in 1817. So understandably it is written in old English. Grammar, vocabulary and spelling even aren't what we are used to. I wasn't too used to it initially. But PLEASE DO NOT let this put you off. I've never read a book quite like it. (Alright alright I haven't read many books) I mean haven't you had enough of crime, thriller and Da Vinci's Codes? Had a wonderful time reading it.

The book is titled Persuasion. So naturally it's about persuasion. It's about being persuaded. It's about persuading others. It's about persuading yourself. When is it a right time to hold true to your belief or path and when is it right to let go? Do you ever know? It is only with hindsight that you think, "ah, I should have done this." or "this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't ...." When you tell others, "you should do this" or "it'd be better if you kept away from ..." how do you know it's for the best? Can't your opinions be equally likely to be wrong? Perhaps it isn't about persuading or being persuaded by others. It is about persuading first and foremost yourself. Making yourself believe that what you are doing or what you are being told is correct or true to you heart.

In Persuasion, the 2 protagonists (Anne Elliot and Fredrick Wentworth), deeply in love, were separated due to an untimely persuasion of Anne to give things up. So eight years passed. Both of them living in suffering. Suffering from the hate of being abandoned, from remorse for the moment of weakness and from the prospect that such a miracle could never happen again in their lives. But the miracle doesn't have to happen twice. It has never stopped its work on Anne and Fredrick. They meet again. (fast forward to the end) They live happily ever after.

I have to admit, when I first picked up this book, I had quite a hard time. Not just because the English is not what I am used to, but also because it's just plain boring. This is in no way a discredit to the book. It sets the scene for what is to come. It gives the reader a feel of how gloomy the life of Anne Elliot has become since she was separated from Fredrick. As the story goes on, the style becomes more light hearted and animated as it describes how the flame between the 2 people are slowly rekindled. Both of them had persuaded that they didn't need each other and there weren't any feelings anymore. Persuaded they were, but only superficially. Deep within, they loved each other still. Just that pride, social norms and petty anger kept them apart. How superficial persuasion can be! Only cosmetically changing things. And yet the 2 main characters were kept away but such superficial things. So doesn't that make them superficial creatures? Sometimes that's the way we are, isn't it? Are the things that we feel important or affect us greatly REALLY matter? Can we persuade ourselves that it really matters? I guess sometimes it's easier to lie to ourselves and take the easy way out isn't it?

In this book you will see the traditional upper class society of old England. How people judge by appearances. How people hanker after connections to well known people. How people value their "friendships" by the benefits it can bring them. "How superficially they lead their lives!" I thought while reading. But then again, aren't we all sometimes like that? "What a dull life!" I thought. Does that mean that we lead "exciting" lives? Or are we just RELATIVELY more "exciting" with our TV, internet and stuff?

The love story of the Anne and Fredrick absolutely fills the book. There is no doubt that they will be together. But you just keep waiting and waiting for that to happen as the author describes what happens between them and how every little action by one party creates a storm in the other's heart. Quite funny isn't it? The 2 main characters waited for 8 years to be together and while reading the book it seems as if you are waiting with them. I absolutely love the author's method of revealing the story through the description of small details and everyday event. Normal conversations, little action, glances, etc. All of these advance the story. Through such everday things you see the characters evolve and the story unfold. It's as if every sentence every word has a hidden meaning to it, foretelling what is to come.

I feel that I can never do the book enough justice by writing about it in this blog. Go read it. I can hardly imagine you be disappointed.