Short version: everyone is bitches.
Long version: this the most irritatingly snooty, shallow, and melodramatic book I have ever picked up. I had to write a journal about what I've read thus far, and I used it as an excuse to compose the most passive-aggressive thing I've written. I think this passage from it summarizes my feelings about this book best.
Quote:
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The next nicest thing I can divulge is that Anne has made me appreciate my favorite protagonists even more. It's so neat how her entire character is reduced to being a contrast to her surroundings. Her family is snooty while she is modest. Society wants her to marry someone important while she wants to be with (what was initially) an archetypical dashing rogue. Class and rank are held onto dearly by the rest of the cast while she (allegedly) doesn't care about it. Coupled with a shallow love story to draw people in, she becomes an excellent vehicle for social commentary. Recognizing this in Persuasion has led me to realize my preference for books that focus on storytelling and character development. In that sense, Austen has succeeded in giving me direction in the world of literature, which is after all, the entire reason I am taking this course.
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