Sense And Sensibility

by Jane Austen

The old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure. He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew;—but he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest. Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife and daughters than for himself or his son;—but to his son, and his son’s son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear to him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or by any sale of its valuable woods.

Austen must be one of the most witty and humorous writers I know about. How she is able to describe the reading of the will and death of the gentleman Dashwood. the cleaver news of the distribution of the estate was a pleasant surprise of the arc of the ladies of the Dashwood family have found themselves.

Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence. She had an excellent heart;—her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them:

Marianne’s abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor’s. She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great.

Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister’s sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished.

Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne’s romance, without having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.

He admires as a lover, not as a connoisseur. To satisfy me, those characters must be united. I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point coincide with my own. He must enter into all my feelings; the same books, the same music must charm us both.

Oh! mama, how spiritless, how tame was Edward’s manner in reading to us last night! I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep my seat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference!”

Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!

“No taste for drawing!” replied Elinor, “why should you think so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of improving it. Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would have drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgment in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general direct him perfectly right.”

Elinor’s retort to her sister is pure poetry. It’s concise and effective and so true that it causes her sister to take a second to stop and reflect before continuing to speak. Although they are all polite, they are all also so cunning in the usage of their vocabulary. It seems EVERY conversation is an opportunity to reflect on one’s own faults. It is a process of constant self reflection and self improvement that alters and changes me as the reader as well.

next—that with them, to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect.

I relate and understand this sentiment so much but the pointing out of it makes it seem like such a silly trait to have. also , it is interesting to me that Elinor would like her sister to spend as much time with her new boyfriend and feel as strongly towards him as she does. It seems that when one Mary’s, they do indeed marry into the entire family.

They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy.

Again, what an example of a society that I am so unfamiliar with where each person, for the sake of the other, would consider their behavior. What a different society it must have felt like. I wonder how everyone was so thoughtful yet there was a lack of worth to humanity where the extreme poor were treated horribly and Italian immigrants were considered worse than rats.

A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her accident happened.

Willoughby’s entrance WAS ad entrance. Was THE entrances of all entrances and was done so skillfully knowing the aftermath of it all.

“You are mistaken, Elinor,” said she warmly, “in supposing I know very little of Willoughby.

“But, Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now.

“I want no proof of their affection,” said Elinor; “but of their engagement I do.” “I

The concealment of the verbose promise of marriage although extremely passionate about one another has cause Elinor suspicion from the very start and it appears now rightfully so. (Writing the note in past tense, omg how spot on I was. lol) Appealing again to her sensibility in this whole story. She is so grounded and sensible to be able to distinguished between wild affections displayed and eluding to commitments and spoken, out loud, and verified commitments. There seemed to be a total silicone of both on ONE subject. Marriage.

“Grandeur has but little,” said Elinor, “but wealth has much to do with it.”

Elinor continues to show her mastery of reason with all situations great and small. She is truly sensible with a grounded perspective that seems to hold her steady amongst her peers.

“Shyness is only the effect of a sense of inferiority in some way or other.

Elinor looked surprised at his emotion; but trying to laugh off the subject, she said to him,

This Edward character annoys the shit out of me. He has no control over his emotions and I can’t even tell if he LIKES either of the sisters let alone was in love with one. LOL.

Elinor saw, with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend. His visit afforded her but a very partial satisfaction, while his own enjoyment in it appeared so imperfect.

I believe that Elinor forgives too easily but is that not the way of a Christian heart. I am curious to see what the religious sentiment of the time was and also what Austin’s personal beliefs were. Was she a Christian practicing? Was Christ important in her life and how she conducted herself?

This, and Marianne’s blushing, gave new suspicions to Edward. “And who is Willoughby?” said he, in a low voice, to Miss Dashwood, by whom he was sitting.

I feel like Edward KNOWS what Marianne said about him and is responding gruffly but also in jest to avoid discomfort with her while at the same time trying to let her know that they are on equal grounding.

Such behaviour as this, so exactly the reverse of her own, appeared no more meritorious to Marianne, than her own had seemed faulty to her.

Elinor’s response to Edward leaving is in stark contrast to Marianne’s response to Willoughby leaving and are so indicative of each sister. Marianne wallowed in her grief indulging it with songs and books and music and walking the same paths they used to walk together. Elinor rather, while heartbroken tried her darnedest to remain strong for herself and her family.

“They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now,” said Elinor, “by these frequent invitations, than by those which we received from them a few weeks ago.

I adore Elinor’s ability for hospitality and self reflection. She seems to be able to maintain a keen sense of the outer world obligations and customs even when her inner world may be in turmoil. Very unlike Marianne. Very unlike me. Wanting to be Elinor but truly being Marianne.

“I am sure you think me very strange, for enquiring about her in such a way,” said Lucy, eyeing Elinor attentively as she spoke; “but perhaps there may be reasons—I wish I might venture; but however I hope you will do me the justice of believing that I do not mean to be impertinent.”

Elinor’s skepticism is wonderful. With men, with friends, just in general, she plays her cards close to her chest.

The youthful infatuation of nineteen would naturally blind him to everything but her beauty and good nature; but the four succeeding years—years, which if rationally spent, give such improvement to the understanding, must have opened his eyes to her defects of education, while the same period of time, spent on her side in inferior society and more frivolous pursuits, had perhaps robbed her of that simplicity which might once have given an interesting character to her beauty.

Elinor’s stoic ways are so admirable to me for every reason. The complete control of faculty. Truly.

But it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be commanded, though Lucy was as well disposed as herself to take advantage of any that occurred; for the weather was not often fine enough to allow of their joining in a walk, where they might

WOW. Her read on Lucy is so powerful and so succinct. She seems to understand human nature as more of an observer and an intellectual rather than an experiencer of it. She has a wit and an extreme depth of thought and insight. She is an extraordinary reader of energy.

“I understand you.—You do not suppose that I have ever felt much.—For four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least.—It was told me,—it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself, whose prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought, with triumph.—This person’s suspicions, therefore, I have had to oppose, by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most deeply interested;—and it has not been only once;—I have had her hopes and exultation to listen to again and again.—I have known myself to be divided from Edward forever, without hearing one circumstance that could make me less desire the connection.—Nothing has proved him unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to me.—I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and the insolence of his mother; and have suffered the punishment of an attachment, without enjoying its advantages.—And all this has been going on at a time, when, as you know too well, it has not been my only unhappiness.—If you can think me capable of ever feeling—surely you may suppose that I have suffered now. The composure of mind with which I have brought myself at present to consider the matter, the consolation that I have been willing to admit, have been the effect of co...

The monologue that Elinor provides is such a window into her mind. She is so self aware, and cautious. She sees so much and understands the expectations of society and also of family. She is willing to endure no matter the circumstances. She loves deeply and feels deeply but her intelligence will often win over her pride and I find that fascinating and admirable. Elinor is goals!! (Sticky Note: This entire speech is rich with 0000Elinor’s values and ideals. It shows her ability to be truly selfless. How AWARE she is of her surroundings and the expectations of society. The amount of work and effort to remain “indifferent” predictably, but to be seething inside.. I LOVE ELINOR)

“I never heard anything of the kind hinted at before, I assure you,” said Elinor.

Elinor feels truly like a mastermind. She is able to pick up on the smallest clues and plays society to her advantage. The way in which she plays coy as if disinterested and is able to prod and pull more information without the slightest hint as to its importance to her, is stunning. I LONG to feel as strong in my character as Elinor is inside hers.

As soon as they returned to the carriage, Mrs. Jennings was eager for information; but as Elinor wished to spread as little as possible intelligence that had in the first place been so unfairly obtained, she confined herself to the brief repetition of such simple particulars, as she felt assured that Lucy, for the sake of her own consequence, would choose to have known.

Elinor’s morals ar impeccable. doesn’t want gossip or overheard gossip through a room conversations. Won’t spread rumors.

“Bartlett’s Building, March. “I hope my dear Miss Dashwood will excuse the liberty I take of writing to her; but I know your friendship for me will make you pleased to hear such a good account of myself and my dear Edward, after all

This letter is such a petty girl shit. Like FUCK THE FUCK OFFF LUCY. WHO said you could write me, we are not friends like that.,

The world had made him extravagant and vain—Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish. Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of another, had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed. Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment.

This paragraph sums up the book in its entirety. And it is so beautifully written. I ADORE this passage. Probably my favorite passage of the book.

But the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours of the most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by irritation of spirits. Willoughby, “poor Willoughby,” as she now allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts;

But por que????????????? Does he deserve it.

which I now feel myself to want.”

The ultimate Im gonna get my shit together because I am gonna improve me break up game ever. Love it.

The whole of Lucy’s behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience.

Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.

Marianne could never love by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.