Act Of Independence In Persuasion

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The Balancing Act of Independence and Communication Love and marriage have been a part of people’s lives for many centuries. They have always been changing as society shifts. Modern views soon overcome outdated traditions; this concept is addressed in the novel Persuasion. Many couples are presented and the audience has the opportunity to notice which pairs work together the best . Some couples have many conflicts and differences that cannot be overcome, while others are able to navigate through the troubled waters. Throughout the novel marriage is given a modern definition. Marriage is not meant to be a random pairing with mayhem, but a unit of coexistence with balance. Jane Austen depicts successful and unsuccessful pairs throughout the …show more content…

The Crofts, in Anne’s opinion, are the ideal couple; they are perfect for each other and get along very well. Anne appreciates the freedom that Mrs.Croft has and the bond that she and her husband share. They defy the normal activity of couples during this time period - “They brought with them their country habit of being almost always together...knowing their feelings as Anne did, it was a most attractive picture of happiness to her.”(161) The Crofts are going out and conversing together and sharing the same amount of independence. In the Regency Era, a man and woman had very different roles in a marriage and in society - the man would be the more independent and the woman would stay at home and do as her husband said. This pair defies social standards. Mr.Croft brought his wife onboard the ship he captained, displaying an uncommon action because women were thought to be too fragile to do the things that men did and conveys that there can be equality in …show more content…

Both Mr. and Mrs.Croft show a great sense of independence as Anne “always watched them as long as she could; delighted to fancy she understood what they might be talking of as they walked along in happy independence … Mrs.Croft looking as intelligent and keen as any of the officers around her.”(162) Anne appreciates the fact that Mrs. Croft has her own opinions, and is fully capable of sharing them, just like her husband. Anne also acknowledges that Mrs.Croft supports her husband and values his motives; she is always involved in his life and makes him a better

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