Persuasion: Traumatic Brain Injuries and Depressed Sea Captains
The Year with Jane Book Club
If you’re new to this Substack, one of the things I’m offering subscribers in 2023 is A Year with Jane. We’re reading through Austen’s six novels this year and ending the year with a bang: Persuasion is our read for November/December.
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This week our reading in Persuasion takes us to Lyme Regis, a seaside town where Captain Wentworth’s dear friends Captain Harville and Captain Benwick live. Benwick was engaged to Harville’s sister, Fanny. But Fanny died when Benwick was at sea and since her death he has struggled to cope. Anne, in typical thoughtful Anne fashion, is especially kind to Benwick. She sits next to him and draws him out, encouraging him to rally. They also talk about books and she suggests that perhaps he’s reading a bit too much poetry for such a depressed season.
The party of young people enjoy walking on the “Cobb,” a stone harbor wall with a great view of the sea. On one of their walks, a mysterious gentleman passes them and seems to fancy Anne. Captain Wentworth notices his admiration for her. Later they realize the man was Mr. Eliot, Sir Walter’s heir.
Then the drama! Louisa Musgrove insists on running up the stairs of the Cobb and jumping into Captain Wentworth’s arms. In an attempt to try it again, Louisa jumps too soon and hits her head on the stone wall causing a traumatic brain injury. She is unconscious. Anne remains calm and clearheaded and gets Benwick to run for a surgeon and has Louisa carried to a bed at the Harville’s. This crisis reveals that although Wentworth has been resentfully ignoring Anne, he still greatly prizes her virtues. He argues that Anne should be the one to stay and nurse Louisa (“no one so proper, so capable as Anne!”) but Mary has a complete meltdown over not being chosen to stay with her sister-in-law and so Anne travels with Henrietta and Wentworth to inform the Musgroves of the accident.
In my opinion, this carriage ride back to Uppercross is a turning point. I love the moment when Wentworth explains his idea of breaking the news to the Musgroves gently by going in alone when they arrive. He asks Anne, “Do you think this is a good plan?” This deference to her is significant. It’s also the first conversation he has begun with her. It highlights his respect for Anne’s opinion and Anne takes notice.
Anne reunites with Lady Russell and enjoys a pleasant visit to Kellynch to see the Crofts who think highly of Anne. Mary and Charles return from Lyme and Charles notes a change in Benwick, suggesting that it’s due to a growing attachment to Anne. Louisa is also recovering, although the recovery is slow.
Anne must now join her family in Bath, a city she dislikes. She discovers quickly that Mr. Eliot, previously estranged from Sir Walter has been brought back into his good graces. When Anne and Mr. Eliot meet, he is delighted to become acquainted with the mysterious and beautiful woman he spied in Lyme Regis.
I love this part of the novel because we don’t yet know everything that Wentworth is thinking about Anne or what his feelings are for Louisa. We can only guess. But we are starting to see hints of his admiration: his irritation at Mr. Eliot’s notice of Anne in Lyme, his respect for Anne’s capability and wisdom, and even his deference to her opinion. But will his attachment to Louisa keep them apart?
Discussion Question: What do you think of Louisa’s behavior? Does her unpersuadable recklessness make an impression on Wentworth in comparison with Anne’s measured, thoughtful decisions? Do you think it makes him question his resentment toward her decision to break off their engagement many years ago? Chime in by replying to this post!
Reading schedule:
Week of November 12th:
Gather your books and read Chapters 1-5 of Persuasion. There are many editions out there, so just grab what’s on your shelf or at the local library. And if you enjoy audiobooks, this is an excellent novel to enjoy with a great narrator. My favorite for this novel is Juliet Stevenson’s audiobook version. Grab Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life from Ave Maria Press (use STEWART20 for 20% off) or from Amazon.
If you didn’t start reading with us in January, you may want to catch up by reading the Introduction and Chapters 1-6 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life to set the stage.
November 19th-25th:
We’ll discuss Chapters 1-5.
Read Chapters 6-10 of Persuasion
November 26th-December 2nd:
We’ll discuss Chapters 6-10.
Read Chapters 11-15 of Persuasion
December 3rd-9th:
We’ll discuss Chapters 11-15.
Read Chapters 16-20 of Persuasion
December 10th-16th:
We’ll discuss Chapters 16-20.
Read Chapters 21-24 of Persuasion
December 17th-23rd:
We’ll discuss Chapters 21-24.
Read Chapter 7 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life
Caveat:
On the reading schedule I have suggested reading the chapter about Persuasion after finishing the novel. This is because as a reader I hate spoilers. But if you’ve already read the novel or are familiar with the story and want a resource to help you dive deeper as you re-read it, feel free to read Chapter 7 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life first.
I’ll be sending out weekly reflections and discussion questions to consider as you read. If you want to read faster or slower, go for it. This is fun, not homework.
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Looking forward to discussing Persuasion with you!
Haley
(Editor of Word on Fire Spark, Author, Former Podcaster)
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I think the whole incident brings Wentworth back down to earth, when up to this point he has been flirting with Henrietta and Louisa to try to prove to himself that he’s not still in love with Anne. It’s a reminder to him that actions and decisions have consequences and that Anne’s prudence throughout her life, while it has caused them both grief, is ultimately a healthier way to move through the world. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with Louisa; she’s quite pleasant throughout the story and appreciates Anne’s good nature. But she lacks Anne’s maturity and thoughtfulness, which I think Captain Wentworth realizes through this ordeal. On a different note, I laughed out loud when Captain Wentworth tried to go running off looking for a surgeon even though he was a tourist in an unfamiliar town and had no idea where a surgeon might be. The fact that Anne was more composed in a crisis than a gaggle of experienced sea captains is delightful.
I have never had any patience with Louisa - she seems immature, attention seeking and completely oblivious to Anne’s (and every other woman’s) feelings because she’s so focused on monopolizing Wentworth. …And I was exactly like that at her age, so of COURSE I am pitiless when I see those traits in someone else 😂
I do think that her behavior - particularly the “courage of her convictions” / pigheadedness (depending who you ask…) helps Wentworth appreciate Anne’s level headedness and maturity. The appreciation for her maturity and judgment in particular is rewarding since the expectation in those days was for women to get married SO young - nice to see that a man of real substance could appreciate an actual adult woman