“Sense and Sensibility” By Jane Austen

“Sense and Sensibility” Jane Austen’s first published work under the pseudonym. “A lady”. The romantic fiction novel is set in the years between 1792 – 1797, in Southwest England, London and Kent. The novel portrays the young life and love of the two sisters, Marianne and Elinor Dashwood. 

During this time, (1700’s to the 1800’s) woman did not inherit anything when their father died. They had s dowry, which would go to whomever the woman married. Throughout the novel, the characters travel through Narland, Devonshire, Barton park and London. The novel’s plot line is primarily dependent on the life events of Two Dashwood Sisters. And in this novel Both sisters went through mary problems before they married the loves of their lives.

Overall  story:

When Mr. Dashwood dies, his property, Norland Park, is given to his only son from his first wife, John. Before he dies, Mr. Dashwood asks John to promise that he will care for his half sisters and step mother, Mrs.Dashwood, Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. However, John's greedy wife, Fanny, convinces her husband, that his father meant little of what he said. So, the Dashwood's become unwelcome guests at Norland

Fanny's brother, Edward Ferrars visits his sister at Norland and soon forms an attachment to Elinor Dashwood. Fanny greatly disapproves of the match and insinuates that Elinor is only motivated by money.

Mrs. Dashwood begins looking for somewhere else to live and receives a letter from a distant relative, Sir John Middleton, inviting her onto his property. The Dashwoods soon move to Barton Cottage in Devonshire, and are welcomed by their cousin. Sir John introduces the Dashwoods to Lady Middleton, Mrs. Jennings, and Colonel Brandon. It is soon apparent that the Colonel loves Marianne, but Marianne considers him to be too old a bachelor to fall in love.

When Marianne goes out for a walk, she gets caught in the rain, slips, and sprains her ankle. The dashing, John Willoughby comes to he rescue. Marianne soon comes to admire his good lucks, and love of poetry and art. Willoughby's attentions are so overt, Elinor and Mrs. Dashwood soon believe the couple are secretly engaged. Elinor warns her against her unguarded emotion, but Marianne refuses to fix her actions. Unexpectedly, one day Willoughby announces that his aunt has sent him on business to London. Marianne is left distraught, after his departure.
Edward Ferrars than comes and visits Barton Cottage, but seems unhappy. Elinor soon believes that he no longer loves her, but hides her sad feelings from her family. Soon after he leaves, the Dashwoods are introduced to Anne and Lucy Steele, the uneducated cousins of Mrs. Jennings. Lucy tells Elinor that she has been secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars for four years. Elinor soon believes that Edward is being held to an unwanted engagement, due to his gentlemanly honor.

During the winter, Elinor and Marianne accompany Mrs. Jennings to London. Marianne writes rash personal letters to Willoughby, which go unanswered. They soon meet at a ball, but Willoughby greets Marianne coldly. She soon receives a letter from Willoughby, with her lock of hair and letters, informing her that he is engaged with a lady of a large fortune. Marianne is upset, but admits to Elinor that she was never engaged to him, but loved him and he led her to believe that he reciprocated that love. Col. Brandon comes to inform the Dashwoods , that Willoughby seduced his ward, who was 15 years old, and left her pregnant.

In the meantime, Fanny invites Lucy and Anne Steele to her home. Lucy perceives it as a compliment, but really the invitation was meant to slight Elinor. Anne Steele, confident of her sister's and her own popularity, rashly reveals Lucy's secret engagement. The Misses Steeles, are turned out of the house, and Edward is told to break the engagement, or be disinherited. Edward refuses honorably, gaining respect from everyone for his gentlemanly conduct, and sympathy for his sacrifice.

Marianne becomes dangerously ill because of her misery over Willoughby. Willoughby is traumatized by rumors of her impending death, so he visits Elinor, and informs her that he did love Marianne, but needed to marry for money, because he was going to be disinherited for his numerous scandals. Elinor pities his unhappiness.

When Marianne recovers, Elinor tells her of Willougby's visit. Marianne comes to understand things with sense, rather than emotion, and realizes she would've been unhappy with Willoughby's nature in marriage. She wishes she would've acted more like Elinor, who had a similar situation.

Elinor learns that Lucy marries Mr. Ferrars, but Edward himself, comes to inform her that Lucy jilted him in favor of his rich brother, Robert. Edward tells Elinor he loves her and they soon marry. In a few years Marianne comes to love Col. Brandon, and they marry. Colonel Brandon invites Elinor and Edward to live at his estate with him and Marianne.