The Persuasion of Lyme

[Working on an essay for The British Novel and reached a point regarding possibly one of my favorite paragraphs in Persuasion. Thought I'd share just for kicks.]
“. . . with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of town . . . [the] scenes in its neighbourhood, Charmouth, with its high grounds and extensive sweeps of country, and still more its sweet retired bay, backed by dark cliffs, where fragments of low rock among sands make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide, for sitting in unwearied contemplation . . .” (89)
[My thoughts]: Lyme presents novelty to almost all involved, and it is a striking novelty, as evidenced by Austen’s attention to its description. The assertion that “a very strange stranger it must be, who does not see the charms in the immediate environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better” (89) is enough to suggest that the scenery persuades one to forget and lose oneself in the greater surrounding picture. Anne is persuaded.
[If anyone actually reads this and has read the book, favorite descriptions?]

Jealousy

I admit, I am a glutton for punishment. I love my CAS class.
CAS: Communication Arts and Sciences.
CAS 101: Oral Rhetoric

Yeah, uh, speeches. So the concept of my loving the class and its contents seem a little contradictory. And it is, to an extent. I love the challenge. I love that it is familiar but new. I love that the professor is passionate about her teaching.

This is what gets me jazzed on subjects. When the subject is somehow familiar and new at once, and the professor/teacher/lecturer cares very much about the subject, about the students/audience, and pushes for a cohesive understanding of that subject, with perhaps the hope for genuine appreciation.

Anyway. Where does that jealousy element come into play? Our professor is going to a conference, so we don't have class next Monday. The conference is in San Francisco. !! I want to go to California. I sent her a list of to-dos (which is a joke as I've been in-in San Fran, what, twice?), the primary obligation being to watch the sun set into the ocean.

My ignorance of the area makes me want to do something there, to get to know San Fran. Is that weird or what? Me, want to get to know a city . . .