Sense And Sensibility Essay, Research Paper
ook Report – Sense and Sensibility
1.) In Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, the title is a metaphor for the two main
characters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor represents sense and Marianne represents
sensibility.
We find out early that Elinor does not share her feelings. When Edward comes into the
story, there was an immediate attraction. She tells no one of her feelings. It was just
assumed that they are meant for each other. When Edward has to leave, Elinor says
nothing. Edward does promise he will come down and give Margaret an atlas. When the
atlas comes and not Edward, the one who ends up crying was Margaret and not Elinor.
We do learn, however, that Elinor can get emotional too. When Marianne was playing
the piano at their new cottage, Elinor cries as she listens. She said the song was her
late father’s favorite. Later on in the story, Marianne kept on nagging Elinor for not
sharing her feelings. Finally, Elinor shows her emotions by telling her that she did have a
broken heart after she found out that Edward had a fiancee – Lucy. Elinor would
definitely represent sense. She keeps her thoughts to herself. Maybe it is because she
thinks she will not end up hurting so bad as Marianne did.
Marianne, on the other hand, represents sensibility. She follows her heart. She does
not let anything come in the way of showing her emotions. When she first met Colonel
Brandon, it is obvious that he was in love with her at first sight. Marianne, shows very
clear that she was not interested in such an old man like him. However, when Marianne
meets Willoghby, it was like a hero rescuing his princess. They fall in love with each
other. Marianne does not hide her emotions about Willoughby to anyone, However, in
the society that they were in, Willoughby did not think he could marry Marianne
because of the social class. In the end, this almost kills Marianne. As Marianne realizes
that the Colonel has always been there, she falls in love with him.
2.) My favorite character is Colonel Brandon. I think in a way he is very much like
Elinor. He does not show his emotions a whole lot, but he does talk to people about his
problems. There were so many instances when he asks Elinor about the relationship
between Marianne and Willoughby. He was always depressed to hear and to know that
there was no way of getting his lover from Willoughby. However, that does not stop his
passion for her. I admire his integrity and dignity. Despite his sadness and jealousy
perhaps, he was never tempted or intended to destroy their relationship and never tried
to break them up. He was always silently wishing in his heart that Marianne someday
will notice him. I think he is sophisticated and does not deserve a brat like Marianne.
Even now, I still do not understand why a rich and sophisticated like him would want an
immature and na’ve lady like Marianne? I guess maybe the opposite attracts!!
3.) My favorite scene of the story is in the ending. The story ends happily with Elinor
marrying Edward, and Marianne marrying the Colonel. There is a gentle irony in the
outcome of Marianne’s life. “Marianne was born to extraordinary fate. She was born to
overcome an affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment
superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily to give her hand to
another-and that other, a man who had suffered no less than herself under the event
of a former attachment, whom, two years ago, she had consider too old to be married,
and who still sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!”(pg. 304) I feel
most happy for Colonel Brandon because, “he was now as happy as hose who best
loved him believed he deserved to be; in Marianne he was consoled for every past
affliction. Marianne could never loves by halves; and her whole heart became, in time,
as much devoted to her husband as it had once been to Willoughby.”(pg. 305) As for
Willoughby, he could not hear of her marriage without a pang; He long thought of
Colonel Brandon with envy and of Marianne with regret!
As for Elinor and Edward, I think it’s especially comforting for Elinor. I can imagine how
happy and joyful she must have felt. After all those days of wondering and doubting if
Edward really loved her or not, she must felt a sense of relieve now. “They are realistic;
they do not imagine that one can live on integrity and no income. But, given a stipend
sufficient for moderate comfort, another fact of life is that something is more important
to true sense and sensibility that the selfish and ignorant possession of a great deal of
money.” (pg. 314)
4.) There are two climaxes in the novel. One that belongs to Marianne and the other to
Elinor. Marianne’s climax came first. It all began when Willoughby left without bidding
her goodbye i
was struck, she cried and mourned for days and days without talking to anyone much
or eating her meals. Later, when Marianne and Elinor went to London with Mrs.
Jennings, Marianne was so eager to see Willoughby. She wrote a letter to Willoughby as
soon as she reached London. For the whole day, Marianne was so eager to receive
Willoughby’s mail. Her heart sank when no shadow of Willoughby was seen and no voice
of his was heard. Marianne continued to write him two letters.
Finally, after Marianne’s third letter he wrote back. It included first an apology, then his
honest feeling towards Marianne. Marianne was shocked to hear that he did not feel
the same way as she felt for him. She always assumed that he loved her. This was not
only her own assumption, there are many others assumed this too! They seemed so
close that some believed that they were engaged. After reading that note, Marianne
felt that her whole trip is now pointless, for she came all the way there just so that she
might meet him again. As you know by now, Marianne who represents sensibility, never
hides her feeling. She again wept for days and days without eating or talking with
anyone. Her immediate resolution was followed by Elinor’s climax. It began when Elinor
met Lucy (who is Edward’s fiancee). Elinor was more than shocked to face the shocking
truth. However, she still kept her promise of keeping it a secret. Lucy and Edward had
been engaged for more than four years, and they were supposed to be married very
soon. This thought bothered Elinor so much. She began to doubt the credibility of
Edward. “Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her? Had he feigned a regard for her
which he did not feel? Was his engagement to Lucy an engagement of the heart? NO,
whatever it might once have be, she could not believe it such at present. His affection
was all her own. She could not be deceived in that. Her mother, sisters, Fanny, all had
been conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not an illusion of her own vanity.
Her certainly loved her. How much could it not tempt her to forgive! He had been
blamable, highly blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first felt her influence over
him to be more than it ought to be.” (pg. 127) From that little passage, it is explicit
that Elinor is confused with soberness. From later passages, we can infer that Elinor
has suffered as much pain as Marianne and, the only difference is that she carried on
with composure and never showed her feelings. She practically went through the whole
situation without arousing anyone’s suspicion. The first climax fell when Elinor finally
tells Marianne the pain she has been going through. Marianne felt guilty and
embarrassed because, Elinor, besides, going through her own pain, she has also
suffered along with Marianne’s pain. Furthermore, in Marianne’s view, Elinor has been
suffering FOR her. Marianne, regretted her own behavior and felt extremely shameful.
Fortunately, they got over their sadness fairly soon. The climax occured when Elinor
found out Edward had always loved her and not Lucy. It is also during that time that
Marianne and the Colonel developed a mutual relationship. Soon, both couples were
married.
5.) I don’t like Jane Austen’s book that much. There was not much suspense in it and
the happy ending is just too mundane. Despite the negative aspects, I think it is a very
well written book. I learned that our life is pre-destined. There really isn’t much we can
do to change the path of our life. As in Marianne’s life, she married the man whom she
thought was too old. I also learned that when things do not turn out the way we
expected, or when things all the sudden turn down-side, we should react with calmness
and composure and not just cry and burst out with our immediate feelings. Patience is
the keyword. With patience it is much easier to deal with painful situations. Most of the
time, it turns out pretty well if you can think optimistically’. J
6.) Yes, I am glad I read this book because it is one of the well-known classics. I see
no harm only benefits in reading a book. Sense and Sensibility has given me a better
understanding of the women and lifestyle during that time-period. Most of the women
back then are pretty much like Elinor and Marianne. Education for them wasn’t viewed
as highly as now. It seems their parents just want to marry them off to some rich and
upper class man so that they may lead a luxurious life without bothering their parents
anymore. Also, women back then are a lot more artistic than women now. Most of them
play the piano “really” well; if not, they have some sort of other artistic talents.
Personally, I’m glad I am born late in this century. I do not know how I could survive if I
lived back then!!
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