Jane Austen s Persuasion, By Prizing Theory Of Mind And...

Should a person yield their desires to those of the society or social group they are a part of? Throughout history, this issue, the sovereignty of an individual human, has captured the attention of thinkers from John Locke and Carolyn Sherif, to Josiah Warren. Jane Austen explores the theme of individuality in her novel, Persuasion. By prizing theory of mind and free indirect discourse, Austen proposes an argument against the dhavni of the time period in which she wrote, England’s Georgian era. Austen suggests individuality and one’s own desires should be valued above those of the surrounding society. Anne Elliot, the main character in Persuasion, contrasts with other characters in the novel. While some characters, namely Sir Elliot and Elizabeth, prize power and influence, Anne is motivated by love and other internal emotions. She fell in love with Captain Wentworth, a man â€Å"who had nothing to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence, but in the chances of a most uncertain profession, and no connexions to secure even his farther rise in the profession† (Austen, 35). To Anne, Captain Wentworth’s social and financial statuses did not matter. She would be willing to, as Sir Elliot would say, throw her life away, to marry Wentworth’s â€Å"confidence†¦warmth†¦[and] wit. Anne is the most independent character in Persuasion because she does not prioritize the greed for social power that reverberated through the baron class. Anne only decided not to marry Wentworth due to the