Persuasion: pp. 45-145

     Before beginning this book, I read part of the introduction and it goes on to give multiple definitions of the word "persuasion". It was interesting that there are varying definitions for the word that Austen chose for the title of this book. As I began to read the first assigned section, I kept this word and its multiple definitions in mind. At the very beginning of the book there are already examples of persuasion, and people being persuaded to do something. Anne was persuaded by Lady Russell not to marry Frederick Wentworth, Sir Walter Elliott is persuaded by Mr. Shepherd about letting Kellynch-Hall and is persuaded about how to get out of his debt. There are many more examples throughout this section. When Anne goes to stay with Mary, she states how both parties on opposites sides of conflict consult her to persuade: Mary's so-called "illnesses", who seems like a complete hypochondriac-always complaining of some ailment or other and Charles wants Anne to help Mary not claim to always be ill and Mary wants Anne to persuade Charles to take better care of her when she is "ill".

     All of these instances brought to mind how often persuasion is going on around us and how we are constantly affected by it. I have always fancied myself an independent thinker, who doesn't often take other people opinions into account. But this reading has made me think a little deeper and realize that I'm being persuaded all the time when making decisions, whether or not I am aware of it. 

      People close to me, my family and close friends, are constantly shaping my decisions and actions. Not because I am too meek to make my own, but I often consult them, or they consult me when making any choice. As I am writing this, a very recent incident has been brought to mind.

      My grandparents are going down to Florida for a few months and they left a couple days ago. About a week prior to their departure they asked if I could dogsit for them.  I have recently moved. Previously I lived about 4 minutes down the road from them, and now I am about 15 minutes away. I have always dog sat for them in the past because I was so close. When they originally asked me if could dogsit, I said that I could not do it because it was too much of a hassle with my school and work schedule. Eventually,though, I said yes because other factors persuaded me to change my answer.

     It would be much easier on me not to have to go 30 min out of my way (15min there and 15 min back not including the time spent there) three times a day, especially because I have an old car and I like to drive it as little as possible. This is the reason I said no. The first instance of persuasion came from my grandparents (of course) who offered me their house, saying that I could stay there as often as I needed. This was not enough to make me reconsider. Then, they said their neighbors could take Lucy (their dog) out at nights. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, I thought, but I still said no. My mom was the next person to persuade me, who was persuaded by grandma (her mom) to talk me into it. My grandma told my mother that they would pay me handsomely to take care of Lucy AND that if any issues should arise with my car, or if I don't want to drive it, that I was more than welcome to use their car. (My car's radio doesn't work, their's does...) This persuaded me to truly reconsider, and after my grandma told me there was two bags and an entire jar of chocolate-covered gummy bears in the freezer, it was a done deal.

    I was completely persuaded from my original decision by my grandparents and my mother. Although I did not pay any attention to it, I now realize that without me really thinking about how they were doing it, they used persuasion to make me change my mind!

   Now, I hope I haven't rambled on too much, I tend to do that, but it was just interesting that the topic of this book was so easily connected to an event that has just recently happened in my life. I am not very good at conclusions, so I will leave it at that.