Use Of Motifs In Sense And Sensibility, By Jane Austen

“Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience- or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope” (Austen 98). Motifs can be found in every story. A motif is a recurring theme or idea, especially in works of literacy. Authors like to use motifs to connect different scenes or points. They help develop the piece’s major themes. Three prevalent motifs in “Sense and Sensibility,” by Jane Austen, are change, grief, and selflessness. These three motifs lead up to one of the main themes: expectation and reality are rarely ever the same. Change appears first in the story. The most prevalent motif in the story is change. Many characters change throughout the story, as well as the situation. For example, Marianne was disgusted at the idea of marrying Colonel Brandon at first, but she grew to love him. Austen shows change in character on page …show more content…
Selflessness is when you have little concern for yourself. Elinor was very selfless throughout the story. She went to London for her sister, as well as tried to make up for her sister’s uncivil behavior. She “was to be the comforter of others in her own distress, no less in theirs; and all the comfort that could be given by assurances of her own composure of mind…” (Austen 251). Throughout her own pain and worries, she did her best to comfort others. Selflessness is a trait that many people lack. People spend a lot of today thinking about themselves and what they can do to improve their own lives. All three motifs had a special meaning. Change was chosen as a motif because there is no way to avoid it. Things change for everyone, for better or for worse, and there is nothing one can do about it except to accept it and move on. Grief is another thing that happens to everyone. Many try to avoid it, but one simply cannot. It is a part of life. Lastly, selflessness was chosen as a motif because it is important. People should always try to think of others and do what they can to help