I think that often film and series makers think that we all want our heroines the same way. We want them young, strong-willed, confident, sure of themselves, standing apart from the oppressive strictures and mores of their society. But that's not Anne's story. 1/ https://twitter.com/RomGothSam/status/1390015818071691272

Austen is rarely particularly subtle in her titles and Persuasion is no exception. It's about a heroine who is *too* persuadable. Who respects and listens to her elders when she's young. Who follows the advice of those she trusts because she trusts their principles 2/

As a young woman, she was persuaded. She didn't stand up for herself, for the man she loved or for burgeoning principle somewhat at odds with those around her. It's a journey that she goes on. She finds the strength and ability to trust herself, her desires, her judgements 3/

Persuasion is a story about a woman who is older and wiser than where she started but she's not a confident, demanding, headstrong woman. She's put upon by her family and rarely considers or is able to consider herself. She has to learn to. 4/

Persuasion is the story of a woman who gets a second chance at the happiness she let go. But this isn't grabbed with two hands. Anne is retiring through most of the novel. Supportive. Sensitive to the hurt she's caused. Not daring or believing in demanding her own happiness. 5/

The reason that I love the story so profoundly is because we see Anne incrementally come to know what she wants, come to ask for it, come to accept it and come to be happy in her own way. And that too is a powerful story. 6/

Many of us aren't Lizzie Bennet, striding across the moors, full of opinions. Many of us aren't young people entering adult life and falling in love for the first time. Many of us are people dealing with finding our place in the world, daring to ask for what we need and want. 7/

Many of us are older with stories and regrets and lessons learned. We don't want every heroine to be a headstrong confident queen of the world and somehow immune to the societal norms in which she lives. We want other stories because we live other stories. 8/

Anne is that for so many people. Let us have Anne! In all her persuadable glory. Fin.

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