Decolonizing imperialist discourse in Jane Austen’s Persuasion

In his highly influential work Culture and Imperialism , Edward Said unravels the imperialist undertones in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park . Throughout chapter entitled “Jane Austen Empire,” demonstrates how this seemingly domestic novel of manners, not normally associated with imperialism, is actually densely saturated colonialist discourse. For Said, marginalized representation colonized territory Antigua as simply a “colonial garden” for British imperial patriarch further accentuates superior sense entitlement. Thus, Said’s approach decolonizing discourse may be extended to other canonical works generally considered nature. article, researchers utilize strategies involved reading probe nuances Persuasion usually categorized romance/novel manners which depicts two lovers’ second chance at happiness despite all social obstacles their way. The attempt foreground rhetoric novel, specifically tendency romanticize glorify rising naval society champions Empire. Furthermore, article investigates absent, peripheral colonial terrains opposed privileged, central position Empire narrative.