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Personification
Explanation and Analysis—A Beautiful Glossy Nut:
In Chapter 10, during a conversation with Louisa Musgrove, Captain Wentworth uses a simile and compares a person with conviction—a person who is not "yielding"— to a hearty nut:
Let those who would be happy be firm. Here is a nut to exemplify: a beautiful glossy nut, which, blessed with original strength, has outlived all the storms of autumn.
Like the nut, people who hold onto their beliefs can’t be "cracked" and move through life unmoored, with a firmness of resolve. Captain Wentworth continues by personifying the nut, saying:
This nut [...] while so many of his brethren have fallen and been trodden under foot, is still in possession of all the happiness that a hazel nut can be supposed capable of.
The use of a simile and personification of the nut reflects Captain Wentworth's general attitude and stance on persuasion. He believes that in order to be principled, one must be adamant in sticking to one’s beliefs. This idea is explored throughout the novel. Characters either seek the advice of others or attempt to convince others to make certain choices. Early in the novel, for example, Sir Walter Elliot goes to Mr. Shepherd and Lady Russell for financial advice. Lady Russell advises Anne against marrying Captain Wentworth due to his rank, but then—ironically—he turns out to be a more than suitable match. All in all, Persuasion offers commentary on whether it is best to consult and seek the counsel of others or rely on one’s own convictions and desires, and this instance of a simile (that makes use of personification) provides a good snapshot of the novel's focus in this regard.
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