In Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are constantly caught in the struggle between expectation and reality. They undergo suffering when reality unfolds against their wishes and expectations. However, the sisters rely on hope in order to better contend not only with their internal conflicts but with society’s expectations as well. Therefore, Jane Austen illustrates the ability of hope to influence Elinor and Marianne’s perception of reality to highlight the differing characters of the sisters.
The degree of Marianne’s reliance on hope alienates her from reality. The author points out that for Marianne, “to wish was to hope and to hope was to expect” (21). Therefore, Marianne’s expectations are a direct result …show more content…
When Marianne notices a ring on Edward’s finger, Elinor is convinced that it is her hair. Even though Edward mostly ignores her during his visit to Barton Park, she fails to take the hint or acknowledge the possibility that the hair on his ring might belong to another woman. Elinor, in this one instance, is too tempted to miss the “opportunity of satisfying herself beyond all doubt that it was the exact shade of her own” (95). Elinor’s doubtful character and her tendency to check her hopes appear to have completely vanished in this one instance as she ultimately allows hope to misguide her to conviction. Even Elinor, who readily gives up hopes and desires, is tempted by the “lurking flattery of hope” (337). The use of “lurking” suggests that Elinor might have been hoping to marry Edward all along even though she tries to convince herself that she barely has even an inkling of hope left. Through this exception, the author points out that even Elinor, who never allows hope to give rise to conviction, is not immune to the temptation to hope for it helps ease the pain created by …show more content…
Initially, Marianne’s unfaltering hope does not allow her to doubt Willoughby’s character, even for a moment. She also goes to extremes to deal with the shock reality tosses her. When she loses all hope, she pushes herself to the brink of “self destruction” pondering over Willoughby’s change of character (327). The author, through Marianne realization, warns against the detrimental effects caused by the complete depletion of hope. Though Elinor does not allow hope to persuade her to the point of conviction, except in one instance, like her sister, she too is capable of losing all hope. However, Elinor’s hope, unlike her sister’s, is easily rekindled by the faintest hint of any fact or logic that will allow her to support her expectations. Therefore, the author stresses the fact that hope should be moderated just like reason and
The degree of Marianne’s reliance on hope alienates her from reality. The author points out that for Marianne, “to wish was to hope and to hope was to expect” (21). Therefore, Marianne’s expectations are a direct result …show more content…
When Marianne notices a ring on Edward’s finger, Elinor is convinced that it is her hair. Even though Edward mostly ignores her during his visit to Barton Park, she fails to take the hint or acknowledge the possibility that the hair on his ring might belong to another woman. Elinor, in this one instance, is too tempted to miss the “opportunity of satisfying herself beyond all doubt that it was the exact shade of her own” (95). Elinor’s doubtful character and her tendency to check her hopes appear to have completely vanished in this one instance as she ultimately allows hope to misguide her to conviction. Even Elinor, who readily gives up hopes and desires, is tempted by the “lurking flattery of hope” (337). The use of “lurking” suggests that Elinor might have been hoping to marry Edward all along even though she tries to convince herself that she barely has even an inkling of hope left. Through this exception, the author points out that even Elinor, who never allows hope to give rise to conviction, is not immune to the temptation to hope for it helps ease the pain created by …show more content…
Initially, Marianne’s unfaltering hope does not allow her to doubt Willoughby’s character, even for a moment. She also goes to extremes to deal with the shock reality tosses her. When she loses all hope, she pushes herself to the brink of “self destruction” pondering over Willoughby’s change of character (327). The author, through Marianne realization, warns against the detrimental effects caused by the complete depletion of hope. Though Elinor does not allow hope to persuade her to the point of conviction, except in one instance, like her sister, she too is capable of losing all hope. However, Elinor’s hope, unlike her sister’s, is easily rekindled by the faintest hint of any fact or logic that will allow her to support her expectations. Therefore, the author stresses the fact that hope should be moderated just like reason and