Persuasion: Good Storytelling in a Seemingly Generic Plot

Persuasion by Jane Austen tells the story of Anne Elliot, the daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, a man of high societal status. Anne is the middle daughter and least favorite of Sir Elliot's children. Her sister Elizabeth is the favorite while her other sister Mary has married into a fairly well to do family so her father acknowledges her importance more than Anne's. The novel tells of the Elliot's, choosing to focus specifically on Anne. Throughout the story, Austen threads in many other characters who add to the depth of the story. Although the subject matter of the novel is not overly complicated nor is it full of much excitement; however, Austen once again displayed her excellent storytelling capabilities. 

I chose this novel from the list because I had read Pride and Prejudice before and was rather underwhelmed by the story. I read that novel many years ago and did not appreciate Austen's writing, so I chose to give her another chance. In my opinion, Persuasion was a much better novel. Even with the occasional slow points, the climatic ending made this a novel a very good example of storytelling. I felt that some of the background information was a bit superfluous. It provided a good background for Anne’s life, but at times, I felt that it diverged from the main character for a little too long. For example, When Sir Walter Elliot could no longer afford to live in Kellynch Hall, he and Elizabeth had to move to Bath, where it was cheaper to reside. This is a vital part of the story because it allowed to Anne to have more independence than before; however, Austen chose to provide a lot of detail regarding the move and I think this took away from the flow of the story. Also, the times when Sir Walter Elliot spent a lot of his energy passing judgments on his peers seemed to expose his true character but, at the same time, was too detailed and impacted the quality of storytelling. There were not an abundance of unnecessary details in the book, yet the ones that were present greatly impacted the reading of the story.

One part of the novel that I found to be the best example of story telling was the last few chapters. Earlier in the book Austen had explained the complicated relationship between Anne and Captain Frederick Wentworth and their called-off engagement. The built up relationship between Anne and Captain Wentworth finally is showcased when Captain Wentworth expresses his true feelings for his former lover rather than suppressing them forever to avoid being hurt again. The climactic letter given to Anne from Captain Wentworth allows her to also uncover her hidden feelings and makes the bond between the two characters possible again. The exciting element of suspense is what makes this part of the novel an excellent example of storytelling, because a good story always makes the reader want to continue reading and this section did just that.

Even with a few slow and drawn-out details, such as the long walks in Lyme and the times when Sir Walter Elliot shows his judgmental character, the overall story of Persuasion was, in my opinion, a very good example of storytelling. The plot really drew the reader in, and although some parts were a little long, every detail was purposeful and only contributed positively to the story as a whole. 

Favorite Books of All Time

In no particular order:

1) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini- The storytelling was so enticing and I found that I didn't want to put the book down until I was finished. Also, the subject matter was a little morose, which is the type of book I tend to be drawn towards.

2) Night by Elie Wiesel- I have always liked to read memoirs, and especially those from the Holocaust because I've always had an interest in the study of the Holocaust since my exposure to it in Hebrew School.

3) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult- I read the book before the movie was produced and loved it. Once again the story was more of a tragedy and that is the type of subject matter I am most drawn towards. Also, the storytelling was very compelling and I felt a connection with the main character. I also went to see the movie so that I could compare the two, and the book was much better.

4) Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger- This was by far my favorite book I have ever read from school. I really enjoyed the style of writing Salinger used. I liked that the book was easy to follow, but at the same time, there were a lot of deeper meanings we were able to explore in class which made me love the book even more.

5) Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger- After reading Catcher in the Rye and A Perfect Day For Bananafish, I realized that I really enjoyed Salinger and his works and wanted to read more. The organization of this novel was unlike any I had read before but I ended up enjoying it and being able to see a certain situation from multiple points of view.

6) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain- I began reading this novel not expecting much, but as I got farther into it, I really enjoyed the plot as well as the relationship between Jim and Huck. This book also peeked my interest in the study of race and racial inequality.

7) Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya- This novel really exposed me to life in India and how difficult it really is for women. I tend to enjoy books that explore adversities and I thought the story in this novel was well told and informative.

8) A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah- This was another memoir that I really enjoyed. It provided me with a real account of the situation in Africa. I really enjoy memoirs where the author has overcome great challenges and is better because of them. For me, memoirs like these really make me appreciate the things in my life an puts everything into perspective for me.

Storytelling Within a Book

"to "Miss A. E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily. While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also addressing her! On the contents of that letter depended all which this world could do for her. Anything was possible, anything might be defied rather than suspense. Mrs Musgrove had little arrangements of her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following words:

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W." -Persuasion by Jane Austen

I felt that Persuasion, by Jane Austen is a very good example of storytelling. The way in which she is able to include all of the different intricacies of the plot into a fairly compact novel and manage to keep the story compelling is why I think this book is an excellent example of good storytelling. The passage shown above is, in my opinion, the best storytelling of the entire novel. Although it is from the letter Frederick Wentworth wrote to Anne, this part of Persuasion, is the type of storytelling that entices me and makes me want to just keep reading. In this passage, Austen used a good mixture of emotion and reality and was able to create a scenario that is desirable to many, including myself.  I think that for Austen to be able to delve into the number of different relationships throughout the novel and then lead them all to this moment is what makes her a good storyteller. The weblike structure of the plot, including the relationships between Anne and her sisters, her father, Lady Russel, the Musgroves, Charles Hayter, and the rest of the characters, all culminate in the one letter that settles all the chaos, and makes the relationship between Anne and Frederick Wentworth appear to be the most important. I think that Persuasion is a great example of good storytelling because of the character relationships that provide enough excitement while still maintaining a sense of reality that I think is vital to all good stories.