A major theme in this passage from Jane Austen’s Persuasion is the comparison between past and present. Cheryl Weissman purports that when this passage is read, readers experience a “painful residue of doubt” concerning the novel’s ending and have “ambivalent desires” for how this will all play out (Weissman 90). Some of her ideas are vague, whether or not by design, to emphasize her point of mixed feelings. This passage does indeed present and address those doubts, but persuades readers that the situations and characters have changed and thus things will resolve favorably in the end.
One way the passage accomplishes the above is by contrasting old and new experiences; everything is better now compared to how it was in the past. When Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth “exchanged again those feelings and those promises” from eight years ago, it does not come with the “many, many years of division and estrangement” that had followed them the first time around (225). As they “returned again into the past” by “[indulging] in those retrospections and acknowledgements”, thus reinforcing their love for each other, this couple feels “more exquisitely happy” than they did the first time they fell in love. Why would they have more intense feelings the second time around? After a long period apart from each other – and taking into account how both characters have undergone much heartache, frustration, and even resentment – their love is now “more tender, more tried, more fixed in a knowledge” of the other person’s feelings and personality. These eight years apart have shaped Wentworth and Anne in regards to how one felt for the other, how they felt about themselves, and have given them greater perspective on the differences in their emotions and interactions between the present and their past. While there is some uncertainty “perhaps, in their re-union” due to what happened last time they were together, this new insight –that their love is now stronger and more intense than at any previous time – in turn helps the couple feel like they are “more equal to act, more justified in acting” to ensure the success of their relationship. Each has gone through a unique but necessary refining process via cancellation of their engagement and emotional hardship in order for him/her to mentally be where they are now. A reignited love in conjunction with strengthened minds and hearts indicate that this not-so-young couple is much better equipped to pursue marriage than their eight-year-younger selves would ever be. And in the end, much to the relief of the readers, Anne and Frederick are successful.
The love of the couple has grown stronger over time; the hardship that they have endured has made it all worthwhile. The comparison to the past is vital in this passage because it compares what was once puppy love to something that is now more mature and powerful. The eight years that split Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth apart has made them “more exquisitely happy” when they met each other again knowing that they still love each other (Austen 160). As you have stated, the reason for the more intense feelings they have for each other is because of the time of separation. Both Anne and Captain Wentworth never really got over each other; deep down they still had feelings for each. These feelings were realized and told in detail in this passage. The part about mental preparation is interesting; both of them have gone through separate challenges but they are now prepared to love each other. They cannot be persuaded to leave each other like they did eight years ago.
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