Sense Versus Sensibility (Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen)

Member Name: campb3ll

Product:	Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
Date:	23/09/01 (786 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dramatic and absorbing love story

Disadvantages: Some old-fashioned language and concepts may hinder comprehension

Sense and sensibility are the hallmarks of sisters Elinor and Marianne, allowing the former to present a facade of dignity and civility in the face of disappointment and the latter to "[abhor] all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve". (Sensibility in this context represents behaviour governed by emotions.)

They and their sister, Margaret, and their mother, Mrs Dashwood, are happy at their home in Norland but circumstances force them to leave and retreat to Barton. Mrs Dashwood married a widower whose estate was wholly tied up for his son, John, by his previous marriage. Although John promised his dying father to provide for his sisters and step-mother, the influence of his wife - "a strong caricature of himself; more narrow-minded and selfish" - quickly reduced this promise to nothing, forcing their relations to fend for themselves.

So, under relative poverty, Mrs Dashwood and her daughters set out to Barton Cottage at the invitation of their kind cousin, Sir John Middleton, rather than spend any more time lingering around their unfeeling nearer relations. At this new setting, a couple of romantic dramas unfold involving Elinor and Marianne. The more obvious one is Marianne's rapid attachment to John Willoughby, a dashing young man with charming manners and as little sense as Marianne. The other drama is Elinor's deep disappointment over Edward Ferrars, her sister-in-law's brother. Although Elinor's relationship with Edward was never as advanced at Norland as Marianne's relationship is at Barton, Elinor did love him and continued to think of him with hope. However, the introduction of Lucy Steele, a more distant and less appealing "illiterate, artful and selfish" cousin, reveals that Edward has been secretly engaged to Lucy for the past four years.

One character I must highlight is Colonel Brandon who, although (initially) too "old" to win Marianne's hear
t, is happy to seek the consolation of Elinor's friendship. Colonel Brandon, like Elinor, is entitled to bear the title of Sense and I feel these two characters are the real heros of the novel. Both of them are at work throughout the novel to provide assistance and promote tolerance and understanding between the other characters.

After the developments at Barton, Elinor is reluctant and Marianne eager to follow their respective beaus, Edward and Willoughby, to London. They travel there with Mrs Jennings, the mother-in-law of Sir John. Events in London rapidly spiral out of control, resulting in heartache for Marianne as well as Elinor, and some painful months later see them returning home to Barton via Cleveland. Even on this simple journey, the sisters cannot be left in peace for fate decrees that Marianne's health - dangerously compromised by her sensibility - necessitates a protracted stay at Cleveland.

Fortunately, for all concerned, Marianne's illness and recovery promote the discovery of certain truths and helps sort out a few misunderstandings. This, last but not least, leaves Colonel Brandon and Elinor to finally be rewarded for their wisdom and merit.

"Sense and Sensibility" was first published in 1811 and nearly two centuries later it is still being read. This is a fascinating story of domestic dramas and the minutae of family life. Like all of Austen's novels, the story draws you into a self-contained little world and leaves you marvelling at how such (ordinarily) mundane events can hold so much charm. The premise that good sense is better than unchecked sensibility is entirely reasonable and is continually promoted by the novel. Perhaps this strong notion of duty or righteousness came from Austen's father, a parson in the Anglican church. In any case, although Marianne - representing sensibility - is unquestionably the more vibrant character, the reader's sympathies are strongest with sensible
Elinor who bears so many difficulties with no less feeling but more grace than her sister.

Although "Pride and Prejudice" is my favourite Austen novel, "Sense and Sensibility" comes a close second. It may already be familiar to many people as, like most of Austen's novels, it has been translated on to the Big Screen several times. The most recent version starred Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet; it was reasonably close to the novel although certain elements were exagerated to enhance comprehension. "Sense and Sensibility" has some of the sparkle of "Pride and Prejudice" and some of the solemnity of "Persuasion". Essentially, though, it is a love story - both dramatic and deeply engrossing.

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