Preparing for the Leaving Certificate English exam with an analysis of Jane Austen's novel 'Persuasion'.
'Persuasion' was the last of Jane Austen's novels published in 1817.
It's a very serious, very adult novel.
The novel focuses on personal relationships above everything else providing a sensitive account of two people moving towards an adult relationship.
One of the accusations levelled against Jane Austen is that her novels are limited in scope and appeal. The novels are limited to one location and usually the upper middle class. While focusing on the upper middle class, Jane Austen is not a snob and is not at all class conscious. Her concern is rather with human nature.
She attacks viciously those who are snobs and those who speak of class consciousness.
For Jane Austen, the best form of moral education is two people growing to know each other better, openly and honestly growing to love each other.
In 'Persuasion', the focus is on the growing relationship between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. The writing is non descriptive and the characters are revealed through personality and what they say and do. As readers, we notice the irony between what the characters say and how they behave.
She lets her characters act and speak quite freely.
Readers today can still relate to the characters as human behaviour has not changed. Jane Austen analyses the motives of human behaviour and these motives reflect the reality of society.
This episode of 'Telefís Scoile' was broadcast on 18 February 1972. The presenter is James O'Malley.
Telefís Scoile began broadcasting on 4 February 1964.
The programmes covered maths, science and literature in English and Irish to both junior and senior secondary school level.
