First Journal Response: Sense And Sensibility

Novel Response: Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen's first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, revolves around the lives of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, along with their mother and younger sister. They are left financially destitute after the passing of their father and, consequentially, after their removal from Norland Park. This forces the family to move into a small cottage that their cousin, Sir John Middleton, generously offers to them.

Within the novel, there are no particular characters that I strongly identify with. However, certain traits of a couple of the characters do parallel my own characteristics. Like Marianne, I am the second eldest daughter and at times we are both very melodramatic. When Willoughby leaves for London, "she [is] unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment" (84), illustrating her overly theatrical and exaggerated conduct. Her "sorrows [and] joys [that] have no moderation" (24) are unlike my own feelings, however. Of course I am impractical and juvenile at times, but never to the point of disrupting an entire day. My self-discipline is stronger than Marianne's, but not as great as Elinor's who only reveals the emotions that are necessary for her to get by on a daily basis. Unlike Marianne, I do not "[abhor] all concealment" (61) which is comparable to her sister. Elinor Dashwood is much easier to relate to my sister, Leanne, though. Responsible, composed, and sensible, the eldest sisters in their families possess attitudes and dispositions that are paralleled thus far in the novel. Having "strength of understanding and coolness of judgment" (24) allows the two to be able to convince and advise their parents on a variety of topics. While Elinor insists that her mother sell the carriage - though the thought of losing their only means of transportation is unwelcome - to obtain more money for the family, my sister warns my father on the dangers of letting me go to Italy next summer. Acceptance of both opinions comes readily as the two have better judgment than most. They also both feel as if they have to protect and ensure that their families live comfortable, happy lives because they are the eldest sisters. Upon discovery of Willoughby's lack of love

for Marianne, Elinor is the one that consoles her sister even though she is in pain as well because of Edward's engagement to Lucy Steele.

In every Jane Austen novel there are always characters that the reader intensely dislikes. Fanny Dashwood's selfish, heartless behaviour, causes the three sisters and their mother to survive on three thousands pounds less. She and her husband are very unpleasant characters. Mrs. John Dashwood was able to convince her "cold-hearted" (23), dimwitted husband - who also happens to be the Dashwood sisters' stepbrother - to disregard his father's wishes of assisting his sisters and stepmother. Then, "[n]o sooner was [Henry Dashwood's] funeral over [when] Mrs. John Dashwood, without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law arrived with her child and their attendants" 23) to take possession of Norland park. There is nothing the Dashwood sisters are able to do about the entailment, but Fanny did not even allow time for them to mourn for their father and heal. The least agreeable character in the entire novel is Mr. Palmers, though. A clear demonstration of this occurs when he is in the company of his wife, relatives, and other individuals; he certainly has "superiority in ill-breeding" (106). He is always disrespecting his wife and his behaviour is disgusting; how he can be running for a seat in Parliament with that attitude is quite strange. He is not the type of man that should be running the country.

In addition to the similarities in the main characters and the 1800s, English countryside setting, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility also share other likenesses. Through many encounters, Marianne and Mr. Willoughby are illustrated as passionate lovers, but are silly for their lack of restraint. They seem inseparable until Marianne discovers that he is actually engaged to another woman. It emerges as a recognizable situation when it is compared with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Wickham's relationship in Pride and Prejudice. Though Elizabeth and Wickham do not parade their companionship around town, they still spend a fair amount of time in each other's company until Wickham leaves Elizabeth for a lady who has recently gained a large fortune. It isn't certain yet if Willoughby simply is engaged to gain access to his fiancйes wealth, though. The concept of overcoming financial and cultural boundaries is shown throughout the first half of Sense and Sensibility. When Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood acquire Norland Park through an entailment after Mr. Henry Dashwood's passing, they decide not to provide the Dashwood family with anything, even with John Dashwood's father's final request of ensuring the comfort of his family. Mr.

Bennet in Pride and Prejudice also is forced to concede the house to Mr. Collins because of a similar entailment. The Dashwoods and the Bennets are worried about what will happen to them once the fathers die. However, in Sense and Sensibility, Mr. Dashwood passes away and his family is pushed into a difficult predicament. They are forced to give up their home and move to a location they have never been to before. Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility both satirize wealthy women and men of high classes. Mrs. Jennings "takes a lively interest in all the comings and goings of all [her] acquaintance" (74) just like Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to her nephews' and neighbours' lives in Pride and Prejudice. Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Edward Ferrar's mother also share the same interfering attitude. Edward, promised to a wealthy woman by his mother, appears to be in love with Lucy Steele causing a conflict: if he marries Lucy, he will not inherit his mother's fortune. If he marries the woman his mother chooses for him, then he will not be happy. Lady Catherine, however, does not have that much authority over Mr. Darcy so he marries Elizabeth despite his aunt's warnings.

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