The main story line of Sense and Sensibility follows the young Dashwood daughters and their mother through their lives and focuses on the two older sisters’ stories of trying to find love. What truly makes this book is the similarity in Elinor and Marianne’s stories and the contrast in their character that makes the similar story lines differ in their results. The differences in the sisters’ personalities are strengthened by the parallel characteristics between Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood which also acts to sway readers to Elinor’s way of thinking. Marianne’s personality is compared to her mother’s which is then in turn compared to Elinor’s. Mrs. Dashwood is set apart from other mothers in the third chapter of the first volume. The narrator
…show more content…
She is even said to work better alone which seems to go along with the fact that unlike her sister there is no character that seems to be compared to her as her equivalent (Austen 101). Mrs. Dashwood is shown following the suggestions of her daughter when the narrator explains “the horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. Her wisdom too limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment at Norland.” (Austen 21). Because of the parallels between Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne, this shows Elinor having some type of superior thought over the two. Her careful thought into what should and should not be done for the good of their finances instead of the good of their comfort. This is further shown with another horse example when Elinor explains to Marianne that she cannot except a horse from Willoughby because they cannot take care of the horse. Elinor is set up as the …show more content…
Marianne is quick to cry and shut herself from the world when something goes wrong with her love. Elinor tends to act unaffected. She busies herself instead of locking herself away. She is even able to keep the engagement between her love interest and another woman a secret on request of the other woman. This leaves the reader to wonder about the title Sense and Sensibility. Does one sister represent “sense” and the other “sensibility” or do they encompass both characteristics? Is one better than the other? These sisters’ similar love lives yet opposite personalities give readers a chance to decide the answers to these questions for themselves when they reach the conclusion of the
She is even said to work better alone which seems to go along with the fact that unlike her sister there is no character that seems to be compared to her as her equivalent (Austen 101). Mrs. Dashwood is shown following the suggestions of her daughter when the narrator explains “the horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. Her wisdom too limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment at Norland.” (Austen 21). Because of the parallels between Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne, this shows Elinor having some type of superior thought over the two. Her careful thought into what should and should not be done for the good of their finances instead of the good of their comfort. This is further shown with another horse example when Elinor explains to Marianne that she cannot except a horse from Willoughby because they cannot take care of the horse. Elinor is set up as the …show more content…
Marianne is quick to cry and shut herself from the world when something goes wrong with her love. Elinor tends to act unaffected. She busies herself instead of locking herself away. She is even able to keep the engagement between her love interest and another woman a secret on request of the other woman. This leaves the reader to wonder about the title Sense and Sensibility. Does one sister represent “sense” and the other “sensibility” or do they encompass both characteristics? Is one better than the other? These sisters’ similar love lives yet opposite personalities give readers a chance to decide the answers to these questions for themselves when they reach the conclusion of the