AUTUMNAL MELANCHOLY IN JANE AUSTEN'S PERSUASION

 

Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliott - Persuasion 2007

“Her pleasure in the walk arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn, that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness, that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.” - Persuasion

Fall is here again and it's definitely my favourite season. Autumn, with its wistful beauty and the melancholy it often carries, has long been a source of inspiration for poets, writers, and artists. It's a season that mirrors the bittersweet emotions of change, reflection, and the passing of time. Jane Austen, in her final completed novel Persuasion, masterfully weaves the melancholic essence of autumn into the narrative, a reflection of her own life circumstances as she penned the novel while seriously ill.

In Persuasion Jane Austen tells us about Anne Elliott and how "Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day." Here, Austen introduces us to the protagonist, Anne Elliot, as she takes a solitary walk. The exercise and the day may bring Anne a measure of contentment, but it's the backdrop of autumn that infuses her walk with a unique melancholy. Austen's words paint a vivid picture of the "tawny leaves and withered hedges," evoking the browning foliage and fading vibrancy that autumn is known for.

As we delve deeper into the novel, we discover that Anne's melancholy is not solely tied to the changing season but also to her own personal history. Anne is a character who has experienced loss and regret. She once had a chance at love with Captain Frederick Wentworth but allowed herself to be persuaded to break off their engagement. The passing of time and her lingering feelings for Wentworth create a sense of melancholic nostalgia that permeates the narrative.

Austen herself was no stranger to life's uncertainties and regrets. She wrote Persuasion while in declining health, and the novel was published posthumously. Her own experience of facing mortality and her uncertain future undoubtedly influenced the tone of the novel. The sense of second chances and the regret of choices not taken are themes that resonate strongly in Persuasion, mirroring the author's own situation.

In the world of literature, autumn is often seen as a metaphor for the later stages of life. It's a season of maturity and reflection, where the beauty of the past mingles with the inevitable approach of winter, symbolizing the end of life's journey. Austen's autumnal imagery in Persuasion reflects both the beauty and sadness of this stage of life, as Anne and Wentworth are given a second chance at love, but it comes after years of separation and personal growth.

Jane Austen's Persuasion beautifully captures the melancholy of autumn, a reflection of her own life's uncertainties and the passing of time. Through Anne Elliot's journey and the rekindling of her romance with Captain Wentworth, Austen explores the themes of second chances and the regret of choices unmade. As we read Austen's final completed novel, we are reminded that like autumn leaves, life's opportunities may wither and fall, but with patience and perseverance, love and happiness can still bloom in the autumn of our lives.

So, as we savor the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves, let us also cherish the timeless melancholic beauty that Jane Austen has gifted us in Persuasion.