Persuasion

My plan this evening was to watch the Canada/Slovakia game, but my mom did not want to, so we watched Persuasion instead. I forgot how good it is. Now I want to go back and reread it.

Jane Austen's novels are incredibly dramatic with romantic notions tied in everywhere. I used to think they were senseless fantasies, but addictive nonetheless. Then I realized my own life is that complex. Not exactly the same, but similar mind sets and mistakes.

Prior to the events of the novel Anne Elliot falls in love with an intellegent and ambitious naval officer. Unfortunately he's poor and so her family highly disapproves. Her mentor and stand-in mother persuades her to break off their courtship. Years later she runs into him after he has become a wealthy and well known naval captain. She has not moved on of course and still loves him, but does not think he could forgive her for breaking it off years before. He still loves her, but tries not to show it. Then there is mistaken jealousy on her part and she thinks he's engaged to another woman. She finds out he's not, but then she is proposed to. He thinks she's engaged and she has to say no. He leaves, but writes a letter proposing and eventually they live happily ever after.

This misunderstanding happens a lot in Austen's novels and indeed in real life. Mostly because neither side wants to be the first to take the risk of receiving a broken heart and the loss of pride. It happens in a lot of movies actually, and I almost always want to yell at them to just say it already. Then I think about real life. We never just say it. It's always a game. My guy friends ask why girls play games with them. My girl friends ask the same about guys. It's not really necessary. There's a difference between courting and playing games.

Personally I value courage and honesty over all, because without them you can't express love. Being loved and expressing it are both human needs. You're alone if you don't have it and humans weren't meant to be alone. Inability to express feelings leads to loneliness as well and insanity. This isn't just toward the man or woman you love. It's also for friends and family. There's more than one type of love.

My personal favorite is unconditional. No matter what you love them. No matter what they do, no matter what happens, no matter how great or bad life is, it will always be. It's the place where blame rarely exists and forgiveness is almost always given.