Persuasion
Louisa Musgrove
The headstrong sister
A high-spirited young woman who admires Captain Wentworth and takes a dramatic fall at Lyme.
Louisa Musgrove is the younger sister of Charles and Henrietta. She is spirited, impulsive and fond of adventure, and she wins Wentworth’s admiration by being resolute. He praises firm characters, and she is determined to be one.
Her enthusiasm can tip into recklessness. She is the center of the Lyme chapter, where her insistence on being caught by Wentworth leads to the story’s turning point. She loves a dare and a walk in the open air.
“Catch me, Captain! I love the thrill of being jumped down!”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
On the Cobb at Lyme, Louisa insists on jumping from the steep stone stairs and slips past Wentworth’s hands. She falls unconscious on the pavement, and everyone panics except Anne. She survives with a severe concussion and is nursed by the Harvilles.
Weeks later a letter reveals that Louisa has recovered and is engaged to Captain Benwick. The news frees Wentworth, who realizes he had never been committed to her.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
