A book can’t be judged by its cover, true, but it should be revealed by its title. Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” is a perfect example, for the title is an expertly set diamond, reflecting the plot of the novel, its theme, and its meaning. Persuading is THE action of the novel, and it is an action that uncovers the meaning of the virtues of prudence, kindness, and their connection.
The heroine of “Persuasion,” Anne Elliot, is a master of every kind of persuasion: by word and example, and even, as we see in the beginning, by silence.
