Sense and Sensibility question

I always see Edward as a counterbalance to Willoughby. "Duty" is a foreign word to Willoughby. He gets Brandon's charge with child and leaves her to fend for herself. He behaves in a way that isn't proper for a man not engaged to her towards Marianne and then leaves her, too. The proper way for him to act would have been to stick it out. Tell his aunt he was going to Marianne, because his previous behavior couldn't justify any other action.

On the other hand there is Edward. He loves Elinor but can't acknowledge it because he is already engaged. He might be drawn to her and his behavior isn't fair to her, but he does his duty and stays with Lucy. He is visibly struggling to do so. Even in the end, when he would have had an "easy out" by obeying his mother and drop the engagement with Lucy, he sticks to her and does her duty. Had she not changed her mind after his mother disinherited Edward, he would have done his duty and married Lucy. He only admits his feelings to Elinor after Lucy released him from the engagement.

So while I agree that Edward is not one of the most likable heroes, he also isn't that bad. I love Sense and Sensibility as a whole and I suffer more for Elinor and Edward and their silent struggles than for Marianne, who as I think brought some of her disaster on to herself.

As much as Jane Austen has become synonymous with romance, I've never really found either her novels or characters to be ideally romantic. And honestly, I think that's the way Austen wanted it. She consistently centers her plots around marriage as a social and financial necessity for most women; her female characters don't need a romantic hero -- they need a trustworthy mate. The best example is Marianne: she (and supposedly the reader) are drawn towards Willoughby because his charming, dashing and romantic. Yet he's shown to be dishonest, greedy, and undutiful, and Marianne eventually realizes that she never would've really been happy with him. Seeing as she's the most romantically driven character in the novel, that realization discredits romance altogether. As for Edward, he's the object of Elinor's romantic desire, but he becomes so because he appeals to her "sensible" nature that recognizes the more pragmatic needs in a marriage. That doesn't leave much room for him to be the sort of hero we'd expect in a romance.

Of Jane Austen's leading men, Edward Ferrars is kind of boring. Worst leading man is Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park(incidentally, Fanny Price is the lamest heroine). He chooses Fanny because he didn't get the girl he wanted. Sour grapes, I liked Fanny better anyway. At least Edward Ferrars is constant in his affection,if a bit stupid. LESSON TO BE LEARNED: In Austen literature, guys named Ed are generally putz-es.

I'm not convinced Edward is the hero of this story. I think it's supposed to be Elinor, which then complicates matters as she's not a traditional hero figure. Who does she save, except Marianne, and then how far can her ability to save a sister go? If she truly saved her sister then the ultimate goal was to live as a spinster in the house with their mother in poverty. Elinor seemed ready to accept this situation with quiet resignation, all the while buring under-neath with passion and fury. Austen could be commenting on the situation women find themselves in, completely wronged, but ultimately powerless and voiceless in society, which they were at this time.
If Elinor's a hero, it's only as far as a woman's heroics can reach, which at this time, were not far. So if Elinor's the hero then Edward and Brandon are merely the prizes the girls win for being saved by their own sex.
It's not a happy ending, and it's not even comforable, but it's the best I can come up with. :/

I too thought that Colonel Brandon was actually the hero of the novel. Well Edward was such a likeable fellow, he just didn't have any umph. Couldn't seem to stand up for himself. I think if a man loves a woman he must show it!!!! A tad wishy washy.

Since I haven't read all of Austen's novels, I don't know whether or not Edward is the worst. But I do know that I didn't really care for him. Also, I don't consider him a hero...
BTW, I do like Col. Brandon. :)

I didnt mind Edward Ferris as a character but he is not what I would call a 'hero'. He is just a nice polite shyish-kinda guy. Edwards seem to struggle with knowing himself and learning to speak up. He could have saved Elinor a whole lot of deeply hurt feelings ~Susan

As much as I get that elinor deserves the happy ending, I can't help but think she settled for less, convinced herself she wanted less at least.
Edward is only looked at in a good light by the end of the novel because he is behavior is subliminally compared to willoughbys and Edward comes out tops.
Counterfactual as it is, if willoughby had been excluded from the novel, at least a few of the woman readers would have considered Edward the villain. Luring in another woman with his ability to make them "sincerely attached to him", while his fiancé is left with a miniature of him and letters.
I am aware that it was a different century and the honorable thing to do was to stay. But that raises the question, is it honorable to lie to your wife for the rest of your days, because you had "nothing better to do that fancy yourself in love"
If he truly loved elinor (in the Marianne sense of the word love) he would have been unable to continue the farce. Yet her does.
I think he is the fortunate byproduct of a happy ending for elinor and utterly confused as to his path until the caniving little skwirt Lucy decided it for him by running away with his brother.
They are brought together by luck, not love.
I do not understand why elinor is so sure that he does not love lucy. Sure, by the end she is told he did not, but before she knows what makes her so sure that he loves her.
When he visited her at Barton he was insipid and mysterious. Like a confused puppy, but rather for shame than love.
I honestly do not believe there is a stroke of sense or sensibility in him beyond what some textbook on manners has told him he must have.Sense and Sensibility

I think Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park is a worse hero than Edward. I was hoping that Eleanor and Col Brandon would get together.

I like it that he's not macho.

Shelley, http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

Although Edward was heroic in standing by Lucy, he behaved badly by encouraging Eleanor in the first place - therefore, he cannot be a hero. Not to me.

Elinor I like okay, others? Not so much. And all the guys are really ugly in the 1995 S&S movie. :(

No, Mansfield Park's Edmund is the worst hero, hands down.

I think Sense and Sensibility is the most confusing of Austen's stories. I am somewhat dismayed by Edward's behavior. He acts a lot like Frank Churchill...coming among the Dashwoods as if free and unattached, yet he IS attached. He knows he's gaining attention from Elinor but proceeds with the friendship without careful discretion The hero, Brandon behaves very questionably...IMHO. The thing that grates on me, and never seems to be mentioned by others evaluasting the characters in Sense and Sensibility is WHY he fails to notify the Dashwood family EARLIER about Willoughby. He knows him to be extravagant and dissipated...and worse, long before she is "dumped" by Willoughby, but Brandon says nothing. HE'd have let her marry this guy without a wimper. Some think it was to protect the reputation of his ward...but oddly enough he goes ahead and DISCLOSES what happened to his ward anyways AFTER it can do any material good. Austen has him claim he discloses it in hopes that it might make Marianne feel better BY COMPARISON! BY COMPARISON with the fate of this dear ward he's supposed to love like a daughter. And what are the supposed reasons he said nothing sooner? He was afraid he might not succeed...succeed at WHAT exactly? Being believed? Since when is THAT a consideration for a man almost twice Marianne's age...old enough to be her father. He's essentially a peer of Mrs Dashwood, yet he's afraid. He'snot some addled schoolboy we could forgive if he was afraid, HE's a grown man who should have known better. He also tells Elinor he things Marianne might reclaim this dissipated fellow. Why doesn't this irritate women to high heaven? To think it's their duty to reclaim extravagant and dissipated men. I sometimes think Austen was poking fun at the world, so to speak. She tricked generation after generation to believe Brandon was a gentleman.

My favorite male character is Mr. Brandon. I found him to be super sexy. Edward came across to me as kind of dull and I never really understood Elinor's attraction to him.

I liked their half brother the least, because he was so spineless against his wife Fanny.

what are the things that u liked and don't liked about the novel???

Oh my! I am guilty I think of making my judgments based on themovie, since I saw it before I read the book, but I loved Elinor, Marryanne, and Edward, because I love the actors and they were well cast, I thought. Elinor's relationship with Edward seemed to me a very friendly, equal one, and I liked it for that reason. Whcih is the same reason I thought he never told her about his engagement--they were such good friends, it might've felt presumptuous. He was obviously in agony, didn't know what to do, and yes, I suppose he was a weak man, but still, he was a really good guy in most ways.

I love the insights everyone here had; it's given me much food for thought.

I also dislike Edmund intensely. What a prude and a prick (excuse me, but...) His horrid judgement of Mary Crawford makes my skin crawl. He and Fanny are much alike, but with her it's easy to see how her great feelings of intimidation and low self-esteem were instilled. She can have Edmund!

Edward isn't my favorite hero but I wouldn't say he is the worst that honor belongs to Mr-oh-so-perfect Knightley.He and Emma(the snobbish heroine)both drive me crazy.Him being so perfect and always right and Emma being such a spoiled little brat.

I like Edward. I never thought he was silly. Actually the romance between him and Elinor is one of my favorites, and Elinor is one of my favorite female characters! I have to agree though that Marianne is annoying and self-centered..

I don't mind Edward or Elinor. I'm a pretty quiet, honorable person by nature and to me their conduct was good and I like to ponder on their peaceful, happy life together. I found Marianne too dramatic for words, and think Colonel Brandon should have looked for someone more his own age. He would end up more of a father figure to Marianne than a husband, with no equal partner in life, and he deserves what he gets. I'd say my least favorite Austen hero is Edmund from Mansfield Park, but I find Fanny a pain as well so they are well matched. :)

well i think colonel brandon is worse

No, I think there are quite a few of the characters are annoying. There isn't a one of them that I would like to meet! Oh, yes, Colonel Brandon is all right. But Elinor is also a pain in that she put so many hopes into this one guy who she never sees or hears from. I know that the times were different but come on. Edward is a jerk, Lucy is kind of slutty, Marianne, too. Definitely not my favorite of Austen's either!

OH heavens! I love Sense and Sensibility. So much happens! Infidelity, impregnating women before marriage! Its wonderfully scandalous! I love the juxtaposition between Elinor and Marianne. I wish I could be more even tempered and thoughtful like Elinor. And Edward Ferrars rides up on a white horse, and whisks Elinor away! How could it be more lovely!??!?! I almost die of twitterpation everytime I read the bit about Elinor having to go to the other room so she can cry for the joy of finding Edward can be with her!

I think this is a book without a completely strong/ like-able male. And I think that is possibly the point of the book. If you look at all the husbands or husbands to be in this novel, all of them have large flaws. Even Colonel Brandon is a slightly weak, hesitant man who gives up too easily. He finally marries Marianne, but only after she is a broken woman who can no longer protest. Notice how she is completely silent for the rest of the book once she marries Col. Brandon?

This book angers me a lot - where is the feminine pride we see in Pride and Prejudice? It annoys me that Elinor accepts Ferrars after he causes her so much grief, and Marianne accepts Brandon only after she has ruined her reputation. I can't understand the message Austen is trying to put forth here - perhaps that is is better to be single and alone? Or maybe she thinks women are malleable and should change for the man? Or that we are all only human and so should be forgiven our follies??

Well I recently watched DVD again, and thought Hugh Grant was bad casting as Edward. He is always Hugh Grant whatever role he plays. The costume made him look ridiculous. However I thought Alan Rickman right as Colonel Brandon, looked good, and acted the part well.

I found that although I did not enjoy Edward's character much, I understand his purpose for existing in the story. He is the match for Elinor because both put duty before themselves, but they do it in such a way that I don't find either character the least bit interesting, but I do respect them anyways.

Marianne was the second most annoying character I've ever read. She was selfish, self-centered, and left me wanting to knock some sense into her. She accepts Willoughby and lets her mind be carried away by this idea of a fictional romance and allows herself to be put in the position that causes her great pain, Willoughby wasn't at fault either because he pushed her along in this fantasy world she created.

I have to say that both ladies left me wanting more from them and I never got it. Edward and Willoughby both were annoying.

Not my favorite Austen novel.

Edward never seemed much of a hero to me. it's honestly difficult for me to say if i thought the book had a hero at all. obviously Willoughby is a dolt, but no one else seems to be quite as they ought either. for me, Elinor was the only remotely likeable character and even she wasn't heroic in an sense of the word. i DO like the book, but it is hardly my favorite of Austen's.

I found him to be likable if not heroic, but a good match for Elinor.

Colonel Brandon was my hero of the novel. Though in terms of Edward Ferrars, I do agree, he is quite an unremarkable character but in no way Austen's worst - I think that belongs to the figure of Edmund in Mansfield Park

I have to agree with some of the others that Brandon is the moral center of the story. He's a terrific character and one of the only ones who actually exercises his 'will' - a character trait which Austen seems to value in the extreme. I'm not a fan of any of the others. Elinor is acceptable to some extent but Ferrars just had me fuming at his ineptitude and equivocating nonsense. Willoughby is a turd, of course, but he's supposed to be but for some reason Austen seems to think we'll forgive Ferrars and... well... i just can't.

He definitely isn't great. We have to give him credit for sticking to his promise to marry whatshername, and for seemingly taking the disinheritance issue in his stride, but he doesn't really invoke passion in the reader. He is a good match for Elinor since they both have similar characters but I wanted him to be more. I wanted him to stand up for himself more. I'm not even sure he deserves the title "hero." Yes he gets the girl, but it's all a little too reserved.

I still like the book, but Edward leaves me a little cold. (Plus I picture Hugh Grant every time I read it now!)

Edward is definitly not my favortite Jane Austen hero. He was too backward. He did act the gentleman though regarding Lucy. He wasn't all that bad, but he's no Mr. Darcy. I wasn't a huge fan of Colonel Brandon either. I liked Marianne at the end, but only at the end. Elinor was the only person that I truly liked.

I don't think Edward Ferrars silly or something like that mainly because the novel ended up the way I wanted, with him marrying Elinor.. maybe it is because I liked Elinor's character a lot that I liked Edward as well.. she was in pain for being away from him and because of his proposal we learn that she became the happiest person in the world..
I did not like Marianne's character so much because I found her self- centered and she always judged other people..

From the brother, number one being a total jerk and being whipped by his wife, to Willoughby, Ferrars is in dubious company.

Edward isn't Darcy or Captain but he is a good guy !!! The worst of all is the hero of Mansfield Park.

I liked Fanny best in the story, She was a brilliant bad guy in opinion, the other characters were either silly (Marianne), Stupid (Edward), slimy (Lucy), or completely repressed (Elinor). I loved Fanny because she was at lest meant to be annoying and horrible.