Persuasion Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
Persuasion follows Anne Elliot, who at nineteen was persuaded to break off her engagement to a young naval officer with no fortune, Frederick Wentworth. Eight years later he returns, now a rich captain, and she must watch him court other women while hiding that she still loves him.
It was the last novel Jane Austen completed.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Anne Elliot | Quiet, intelligent heroine, 27 |
| Captain Frederick Wentworth | Naval officer Anne once loved |
| Sir Walter Elliot | Anne's vain, spendthrift father |
| Elizabeth Elliot | Her proud elder sister |
| Mary Musgrove | Her complaining younger sister |
| Lady Russell | Anne's trusted older friend |
| Louisa Musgrove | Lively young woman Wentworth seems to favor |
| William Elliot | Anne's charming cousin and the family heir |
| Mrs. Smith | Anne's old school friend |
How does the story begin?
Sir Walter Elliot has spent beyond his means and must rent out Kellynch Hall and move to Bath. The tenants are Admiral and Mrs. Croft. Mrs. Croft is Wentworth's sister. Anne stays behind with her sister Mary's family at Uppercross.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens when Wentworth returns?
Wentworth visits often. He is cool and polite to Anne and seems drawn to Mary's lively sisters-in-law, Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove. He tells everyone he wants a firm, decisive wife, which Anne takes as a reproach. Yet in small ways, like lifting a child off her back or arranging a ride for her, he still looks out for her.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens at Lyme?
On a trip to the seaside at Lyme, Louisa insists on jumping down the steep steps of the Cobb into Wentworth's arms, misses and is knocked senseless. Everyone panics except Anne, who calmly takes charge. Wentworth sees her worth again, and realizes he has let people believe he is attached to Louisa.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens in Bath?
In Bath, Anne's cousin William Elliot, heir to the estate, courts her. Lady Russell would welcome the match. News arrives that Louisa is engaged to Captain Benwick, freeing Wentworth. Anne's old friend Mrs. Smith reveals that Mr. Elliot is cold and calculating, wants the title and once ruined her husband.
↑ Back to the topHow does Persuasion end?
Wentworth overhears Anne telling a friend that women love longest, even when hope is gone. He writes her a passionate letter, confessing he has never stopped loving her, and leaves it for her on the desk. They walk together through Bath and finally reach an understanding. They marry, and Anne becomes a sailor's wife, proud of his profession and its risks.
↑ Back to the topMore about Persuasion
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.