Inspired by the course’s focus on the duality of “then and now,” I decided to cast Anne Elliot as a twenty-first century blogger and Emma Woodhouse as her devoted reader and number one fan. Among Austen’s heroines, Anne is unique in her age and commensurate wisdom. But to gain such strength, she first needed to endure great weakness—like the hazelnut, she had to fall before she grew. Through “Always, Anne,” I track Anne through the developmental phases of her life as she struggles to be heard and take the rein of her own story. As a figure of wisdom, Anne has so much to share with a younger heroine like Emma—commiseration, inspiration, and ultimately, the knowledge that there is so much yet to learn. Blogging, I found, was the perfect medium …show more content…
To me, this discovery was astounding. These three artists dominate today’s music scene—thus, the fact that I unearthed sentiments from Persuasion in their chart-topping records proves that Austen is as resonant as ever. The song that haunted me most of all, however, was “Astronaut” by Simple Plan. This song could very well be the anthem of Anne Elliot, Eleanor Dashwood, and Fanny Price alike. I’d never heard this song before—but now, every time that I catch a snippet of its lyrics, I can’t help but think of Austen’s …show more content…
For me, every stylistic choice holds clear meaning—from the header photo (a woman, mid-reflection, facing the sea) to the color scheme (blues, greys, blacks, and whites that remind me of Anne and her various moods and phases of development throughout the narrative) to the simply beauty of the template itself. Ultimately, I think that the most unique—and rewarding—aspect of this project is the interaction across stories that arose as I explored my inciting question: what would Austen’s final heroine tell those who preceded her? Inevitably, this question led me to the issue of failed guidance. As Anne advises Emma and vice versa, one can’t help but wonder: where were the figures in their lives when they needed to hear these words? Using technology to bridge this gap was truly amazing—at the project’s completion, I couldn’t help but think that, were Austen’s heroines alive today, a blog might be just the tool they needed. Finally, perhaps my favorite part of the entire project is the comments section. I loved tracking the growing bond between Anne and Emma and seeing the give and take that comes from a healthy relationship. It was both heartwarming and empowering to watch the heroines inspire one another without controlling one another as they evolved into the pseudo-mother figures they needed, all