Sense and sensibility report

Sense and sensibility report

"Sense and Sensibility" is the first published work of famous British writer Jane Austin. Jane

Austen is considered a pioneer of the romance genre of novels, and for the realism portrayed in

her novels, is one the most widely read writers in English literature.

This novel mainly portrayed the life and loves of Dashwood sisters: Elinor and Marianne. The

sisters are different from each other; Elinor is the epitome of prudence and self-control while

Marianne embodies emotion and enthusiasm.

About the main characters

The first is Elinor, the sensible eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood. She is 19 years

old at the beginning of the book. She becomes attached to Edward, the brother-in-law of her elder

half-brother, John. Always feeling a keen sense of responsibility to her family and friends, she

places their welfare and interests above her own, and suppresses her own strong emotions in a way

that leads others to think she is indifferent or cold-hearted.

The second is Marianne, the romantically inclined and eagerly expressive second daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Henry Dashwood. She is 16 years old at the beginning of the book. She is the object of

the attentions of Colonel Brandon and Mr. Willoughby. She is attracted to young, handsome,

romantically spirited Willoughby and does not think much of the older, more reserved Colonel

Brandon. Marianne undergoes the most development within the book, learning her sensibilities

have been selfish. She decides her conduct should be more like that of her elder sister, Elinor.

About the analysis of plot

After Mr. Dashwood died, his only son (the child of his first wife) John inherited the estate,

Norland Park. On Mr. Dashwood’s deathbed, John promised his father that he would take care of

his half sisters. However, his wife, Fanny, is a selfish and greedy woman, she persuaded john to

renege. When John and Fanny moved into Norland Park, fanny forced Mrs. Henry Dashwood and

her daughters to move out. In this period, the eldest daughter Elinor falls in love with Edward

(Fanny’s brother), Edward is a pleasant and intelligent young man and at that time he loved Elinor.

However, fanny thought that Elinor wasn’t the suitable person for him and she even thought that

Elinor was motivated by money rather than love. Fanny said some bad words to Mrs. Henry

Dashwood, so Mrs. Henry Dashwood decided to move out immediately. Elinor thought the

harmony of family is most important so she tried to restrain her love to Edward.

After Mrs. Dashwood moved her family to Barton Cottage, her second daughter Marianne met

another important man Colonel Brandon the one Marianne didn’t like. In contrast, Marianne loved

another handsome guy named John Willoughby. Some day, Marianne was caught in the rain, she

slipped and sprained her ankle, and John Willoughby saw the accident and assisted her. After that

Marianne soon fell in love with him. However, one day, Mr. Willoughby informed the Dashwoods

that his aunt was sending him to London on business, indefinitely. Marianne was distraught and

she had to abandon herself to sorrow. Marianne never gave up her love to John Willoughby; she

kept sending letters to him but never received his letter. At last, Marianne knew that he fell in love

with another young lady with a big fortune. Marianne was desperate and was badly ill.

About the romanticism and sensibility of the novel

The novel may be read as a parody of the full-blown romanticism and sensibility. In this novel,

Jane Austen uses many comparisons to show the differences between sense and sensibility and

aroused discussion about the standard on morality and behavior. Till today, the novel has been influencing people’s thinking about sense and sensibility.

Actually, we can find that the novel described a romantic but realistic love story. In this novel, the

author let me see many issues about the love such as the social position; family wealth; family

background and so on. There are many exaggerate contrast in this novel. The eldest daughter

Elinor represents “sense”. She always put the interests of her family in the first place. Therefore,

when she new that Edward have to engaged with another lady, she thought she shouldn’t indulge

herself in those kind of love and she should take responsibility to her whole family, so she just

buried her love. This is a kind of sensible love.

Marianne represents “sensibility”, she is the opposite of Elinor. She is full of passion and she

wants a vigorous love. So she fell in love with Willoughby, a young and handsome guy, even he

abandoned her, Marianne still won’t give up her love to him. She tried to persuade herself that he