Why I Love Jane

I just finished re-reading Jane Austen's Persuasion, and a couple things stood out in a way they hadn't before.

First, I noticed how aptly she makes her characters known, and how little physical description she offers of them. She is more inclined to reveal characters' perceptions of physical appearance, whether their own or another's. When the author herself highlights a bodily feature (such as her declaration that Captain Benwick is short) it is memorable, precisely because it is infrequent. Austen is more likely to pen a lengthy description of one's character than of his appearance, and even these are often done through another's eyes. For example, Anne's perception of Mr. Elliot's character is set over against Lady Russell's, revealing profound truths about each of those three characters.

Secondly, at least in this particular novel, Austen's characters are made known to us, not so much by their actions or inner thoughts, but by their speech. Out of the abundance of their mouths, their hearts speak. Those who should, don't have the good sense to hide what is in their hearts! They are completely oblivious to their faults and blatantly advertise their idiocy!

Since I've never been very skilled at visualizing an author's description of physical place or person, I don't miss struggling through these sorts of detailed passages. With Austen, regardless of the way any of us envision Anne, Elizabeth or Captain Wentworth, all of us necessarily come away with a keen sense of each one's character. We KNOW them.

Here is Anne's perception of her invalid and recently impoverished friend, Mrs. Smith:

Anne could hardly imagine a more cheerless situation in itself than Mrs. Smith's. She had been very fond of her husband - she had buried him. She had been used to affluence - it was gone. She had no child to connect her with life and happiness again, no health to make all the rest supportable. Her accomodations were limited to a noisy parlour, and a dark bed-room behind...yet in spite of all this, Anne had reason to believe that she had only moments of languor and depression, to hours of occupation and enjoyment. How could it be? A submissive spirit might be patient, a strong understanding would supply resolution, but here was something more; here was that elasticity of mind, that disposition to be comforted, that power of turning readily from evil to good, and of finding employment which carried out of herself...It was the choicest gift of Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counterbalance almost every other want.

But Anne's father thinks thus of her acquaintance with Mrs. Smith:

"Westgate buildings!" said he; "and who is Miss Anne Elliot to be visiting in Westgate-guildings? - A Mrs. Smith. A widow Smith, - and who was her husband? One of the five thousand Mr. Smiths whose names are to be met with everywhere. And what is her attraction? That she is old and sickly. - Upon my word, Miss Anne Elliot, you have the most extraordinary taste! Everything that revolts other people - low company, paltry rooms, foul air, disgusting associations - are inviting to you."

In this way, Miss Austen makes known to us the shallow arrogance of Mr. Elliot, the strength and dignity of Mrs. Smith, and the grace and compassion of Anne.

She's a literary genius, that Jane! Read her...over and over again!