Persuasion by Jane Austen - Book Report/Review Example

Persuasion novel has been considered, to be one of the greatest literary works by Jane Austen. Indeed the book version of the novel has been far moresuperior due to the clear description of the characters of the novel, than the film Persuasion. This is well evident since any person who would read the novel and then watch the film, would clearly understand the distinction. The film begins with the discussion between Sir Walter, Lady Russel and Anne who are in a heated debate about letting the house for rent. While in the novel it starts with the description of Sir Walter, Anne and Lady Walter. The opening plot of the film starts with the arrival of Lady Russel and the discussion of retrenchment of Sir Walter to England or Bath, after renting their house Kellynch Hall. In the movie it is seen that this discussion takes place in the garden, along with Mr Shepherd who gives a hint about possible tenants in the form of naval officers. But in the novel this discussion takes place within the house behind closed doors. (Persuasion) The novel gives a clear picture about the way in which Mr Shepherd, tries to convince Sir Walter regarding the prospects of giving the house for rent to naval officers. Sir Walter has some misconceptions regarding getting naval officers as tenants but all these are well fought out by Mr Shepherd, who tries to defend why he favours navy persons as tenants. “Sir Walter, It will not be a better time, for choosing the tenants and that too very responsible tenant.” (Persuasion) These descriptions are not made available in the movie, which directly jumps to the two statements made by Sir Walter, regarding why he is against renting the house to naval officers. The second contradiction comes when the movie features the meeting of the Musgrove’s and Admiral Croft and Captain Frederick Wentworth in the form of a dinner at Uppercross, in which Anne who has to take care of the wounded child does not take part. The accidental meeting of Anne and Captain Wentworth happens the very next day morning, when he visits the Musgrove’s to know the condition of the wounded child. The novel portrays the first meeting of the Musgrove’s and Croft family in the form of a visit at Uppercross. Captain Wentworth comes to stay at Kellynch Hall only after this and visits Uppercross for the dinner party, after being invited by the Musgrove’s. (Persuasion) In the movie there is no mention of Richard, the son of Mr Musgrove who had been a sailor and was working under Captain Wentworth. The novel gives a clear description of Richard and the reason he was made to join the navy. “My mother is thinking of my brother, poor Richard” one of the girls whispered.(Persuasion) In the case of wounded child of Mr Musgrove who fell from the tree top and had the collar bone dislocated, the novel gives a clear description of the child being attended by Mr Robinson who was the apothecary. It is he who is the one who investigates the child thoroughly and gives hope to the Musgrove’s, that there is nothing much to worry about the child’s condition. “Till the apothecary Mr Robinson arrived and felt and rubbed the collar bone which was soon replaced, they had the worst apprehensions.” (Persuasion) But in the film it is Anne who is seen to take care of the child and diagnoses the child to having the collar bone dislocated. There is no portrayal of Mr Robinson and his role as apothecary in the film. This is a clear contradiction, which become quite visible in the movie and to the readers of the novel. The novel shows the meeting of Captain Wentworth and the Musgrove’s and the discussion regarding the various ships, which were captained by Wentworth. The discussion also leads to the enquiry by the Musgrove’s, regarding their son Richard who worked under Captain Wentworth. Mrs Croft also gives details about the various journeys that she made, along with her husband in the navy during the past fifteen years. “In each of Richard’s letters he spoke well of his captain Wentworth” (Persuasion) These discussions have not been depicted in the film. The film also does not clearly depict the character of Charles Hayter, who had been close to Henreitta, till the arrival of Captain Wentworth. “Among all the cousins, Charles Hayter was the eldest, who was amiable as well as pleasing and was well attached to Henreitta.” (Persuasion) Indeed in the novel there had been one occasion in which Anne Elliot met with Captain Wentworth at Uppercross, while all the other family members had been busy upstairs. These scenes are neglected in the movie. During the journey to Winthrop by the Musgrove’s, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth in the movie, Anne gets wounded while crossing a wooden bridge and is quite unable to walk forward with the party. The novel version does not portray any such incident. (Persuasion) The journey of Musgrove’s, Anne and Captain Wentworth to Lyme, for meeting Captain Harville and their lodging over there have not been clearly depicted in the movie, as has been clearly described in the novel. Louisa’s accident at the Cobb at Lyme and the consequent nursing of her head injury by the Harville’s, have been described in detail in the novel, while not much clear description of the same has been made in the film. Indeed it has been seen in the film that, once Anne returned back to Uppercross, she very soon went back to Bath to rejoin her father along with Lady Russel. In the novel she has been shown as rendering her services to the Musgrove’s, by consoling them and giving them company, when their daughter Louisa is recovering from the head injury. (Persuasion) It is seen in the novel that there happens a meeting of Anne Elliot, Lady Russel with the Croft family when they pay a visit to Kellynch. But it is seen in the film that there is no such meeting with the Croft family and Lady Russel and Anne travel to Bath for meeting Anne’s father Mr Walter. Anne’s stay at Camden Place in Bath and her meeting with Mr Elliot have been described in detail in the novel, while the same has been totally neglected in the movie. The views about Mr Elliot by Anne during their first meeting at Camden Place, has also been discussed in detail. The general mood of the people and their way of life has been very interestingly portrayed in the novel, while the same has not been given any importance in the film. Mrs Smith who had been a classmate of Anne was at Bath. Her brief history and the circumstances, which made her to arrive at Bath and life over there, has been clearly described in the novel. The movie does only show the instance when Anne pays a visit to Mrs Smith. (Persuasion) The Croft’s arrival and stay at Bath and their occasional meetings with Anne has been dealt with in the novel, while the movie does not deal with this in great detail. The meeting of Anne and Captain Wentworth at the Octagon hall at Bath and their exchange of words, have been very briefly shown in the movie, while the same takes place at length in the novel. (Persuasion) In the same way the novel portrays that Anne and Mr Elliot enjoy the music at the concert hall and it is only during the second hour of concert, that Captain Wentworth makes his appearance along with the Crofts. In the movie it is during the concert, that Captain Wentworth makes his exit only to be joined by Anne and Mr Elliot. This scene and the various happenings during this particular stage of the story seem to be absolutely contradictory in the movie and the novel. (Persuasion) Mrs Smith’s meeting with Anne to dissuade her from marrying Mr Elliot, has been also mentioned in detail in the novel. The explanation regarding the real intentions of Mr Elliot in marrying Anne and the fortunes that he would acquire due to the same, has been clearly described by Mrs Smith in the novel . She even makes Anne believe that she is telling the truth, by showing the letter which Mr Elliot had written to Mr Smith in the past. “Answers that were sent to Mrs Smith from Mr Elliot for some of the urgent applications were shown to Anne.” (Persuasion) It is only after this that, Anne is really convinced that Mrs Smith is telling the truth and is forewarning her, regarding the problems she might face in the future, if she goes forward with her marriage to Mr Elliot. In the movie this meeting of Anne and Mrs Smith takes place in the street and is a very brief one. It is seen that in the film, after Anne meets Mrs Smith in the street and from the discussion with her understands the true intentions of Mr Elliot, she rushes forward to meet Captain Wentworth who is about to leave Bath. At last she meets Captain Wentworth’s friend, who hands over a letter to Anne written by Captain Wentworth. After reading the letter Anne is very much certain that Captain Wentworth still loves her and has the intentions to marry her. She runs through the streets only to finally meet Captain Wentworth for a final reunion. But in the novel it is seen that, the plot differs totally with Anne returning back to her house, after meeting Mrs Smith. (Persuasion) Thus it is seen that, the film and novel version of Persuasion have many differences in them. For a person who has to get the enjoyment of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the novel has got a detail description of the various characters and also the various scenes, which makes it far more superior when compared to the film version, which is in a much condensed form. The reader gets a very good knowledge about the various characters in the novel, while in the film the viewers are drawn directly to the plot. This is a limitation which the film has to offer its viewers than to any person who reads the book, since they are made to believe about the incidents taking place, without any prior knowledge about what is in store for them. Works Cited: Literature Network, Jane Austen “Persuasion” , January14. 2012 Read More

There is no portrayal of Mr Robinson and his role as apothecary in the film. This is a clear contradiction, which become quite visible in the movie and to the readers of the novel. The novel shows the meeting of Captain Wentworth and the Musgrove’s and the discussion regarding the various ships, which were captained by Wentworth. The discussion also leads to the enquiry by the Musgrove’s, regarding their son Richard who worked under Captain Wentworth. Mrs Croft also gives details about the various journeys that she made, along with her husband in the navy during the past fifteen years.

“In each of Richard’s letters he spoke well of his captain Wentworth” (Persuasion) These discussions have not been depicted in the film. The film also does not clearly depict the character of Charles Hayter, who had been close to Henreitta, till the arrival of Captain Wentworth. “Among all the cousins, Charles Hayter was the eldest, who was amiable as well as pleasing and was well attached to Henreitta.” (Persuasion) Indeed in the novel there had been one occasion in which Anne Elliot met with Captain Wentworth at Uppercross, while all the other family members had been busy upstairs.

These scenes are neglected in the movie. During the journey to Winthrop by the Musgrove’s, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth in the movie, Anne gets wounded while crossing a wooden bridge and is quite unable to walk forward with the party. The novel version does not portray any such incident. (Persuasion) The journey of Musgrove’s, Anne and Captain Wentworth to Lyme, for meeting Captain Harville and their lodging over there have not been clearly depicted in the movie, as has been clearly described in the novel.

Louisa’s accident at the Cobb at Lyme and the consequent nursing of her head injury by the Harville’s, have been described in detail in the novel, while not much clear description of the same has been made in the film. Indeed it has been seen in the film that, once Anne returned back to Uppercross, she very soon went back to Bath to rejoin her father along with Lady Russel. In the novel she has been shown as rendering her services to the Musgrove’s, by consoling them and giving them company, when their daughter Louisa is recovering from the head injury.

(Persuasion) It is seen in the novel that there happens a meeting of Anne Elliot, Lady Russel with the Croft family when they pay a visit to Kellynch. But it is seen in the film that there is no such meeting with the Croft family and Lady Russel and Anne travel to Bath for meeting Anne’s father Mr Walter. Anne’s stay at Camden Place in Bath and her meeting with Mr Elliot have been described in detail in the novel, while the same has been totally neglected in the movie. The views about Mr Elliot by Anne during their first meeting at Camden Place, has also been discussed in detail.

The general mood of the people and their way of life has been very interestingly portrayed in the novel, while the same has not been given any importance in the film. Mrs Smith who had been a classmate of Anne was at Bath. Her brief history and the circumstances, which made her to arrive at Bath and life over there, has been clearly described in the novel. The movie does only show the instance when Anne pays a visit to Mrs Smith. (Persuasion) The Croft’s arrival and stay at Bath and their occasional meetings with Anne has been dealt with in the novel, while the movie does not deal with this in great detail.

The meeting of Anne and Captain Wentworth at the Octagon hall at Bath and their exchange of words, have been very briefly shown in the movie, while the same takes place at length in the novel. (Persuasion) In the same way the novel portrays that Anne and Mr Elliot enjoy the music at the concert hall and it is only during the second hour of concert, that Captain Wentworth makes his appearance along with the Crofts. In the movie it is during the concert, that Captain Wentworth makes his exit only to be joined by Anne and Mr Elliot.

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