Sense and Sensibility, a classic novel by Jane Austen, explores the lives of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they navigate love, heartbreak, and societal expectations in early 19th-century England. The story begins with the death of their father, which leaves the sisters in a precarious financial situation and highlights the challenges women faced regarding inheritance and marriage. Through a series of romantic entanglements, the novel delves into themes of sense versus sensibility, contrasting Elinor's pragmatic approach to love with Marianne's passionate nature. Austen's keen observations of social class and gender roles resonate with readers, making this work a timeless exploration of human relationships. Ideal for literature students and fans of classic romance, this edition provides a rich understanding of Austen's narrative style and character development.

Key Points

  • Explores the contrasting personalities of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood in their pursuit of love
  • Highlights the impact of inheritance laws on women's financial security in the 19th century
  • Examines themes of societal expectations and personal happiness through romantic relationships
  • Features a rich cast of characters that illustrate various social classes and moral values
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272 pages
Literature
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Sense and Sensibility
Jane Austen
Chapter 1
THE FAMILY OF DASHWOOD had long been settled in Sussex. Their
estate was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the cen-
tre of their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so
respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their sur-
rounding acquaintance. The late owner of this estate was a single man,
who lived to a very advanced age, and who for many years of his life,
had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister. But her death,
which happened ten years before his own, produced a great alteration in
his home; for to supply her loss, he invited and received into his house
the family of his nephew Mr. Henry Dashwood, the legal inheritor of
the Norland estate, and the person to whom he intended to bequeath
it. In the society of his nephew and niece, and their children, the old
Gentleman’s days were comfortably spent. His attachment to them all
increased. The constant attention of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood to
his wishes, which proceeded not merely from interest, but from goodness
of heart, gave him every degree of solid comfort which his age could re-
ceive; and the cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his existence.
By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his
present lady, three daughters. The son, a steady respectable young man,
was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been
large, and half of which devolved on him on his coming of age. By his
own marriage, likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to
his wealth. To him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was
not so really important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent
of what might arise to them from their father’s inheriting that property,
could be but small. Their mother had nothing, and their father only
seven thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the remaining moiety of
his first wife’s fortune was also secured to her child, and he had only a
life-interest in it.
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S E N S E A N D S E N S I B I L I T Y
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. The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child,
who, in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland, had so
far gained on the affections of his uncle, by such attractions as are by no
means unusual in children of two or three years old; an imperfect artic-
ulation, an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks,
and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all the value of all the attention
which, for years, he had received from his niece and her daughters. He
meant not to be unkind, however, and, as a mark of his affection for the
three girls, he left them a thousand pounds a-piece.
Mr. Dashwood’s disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper
was cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many
years, and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the
produce of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate
improvement. But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was
his only one twelvemonth. He survived his uncle no longer; and ten
thousand pounds, including the late legacies, was all that remained for
his widow and daughters.
His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him
Mr. Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which
illness could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
Mr. John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the
family; but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at
such a time, and he promised to do every thing in his power to make
them comfortable. His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,
and Mr. John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there
might prudently be in his power to do for them.
He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold
hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general,
well respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge
of his ordinary duties. Had he married a more amiable woman, he might
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J A N E A U S T E N
have been made still more respectable than he was:—he might even have
been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and
very fond of his wife. But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature
of himself;—more narrow-minded and selfish.
When he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself
to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds
a-piece. He then really thought himself equal to it. The prospect of four
thousand a-year, in addition to his present income, besides the remain-
ing half of his own mother’s fortune, warmed his heart, and made him
feel capable of generosity.—“Yes, he would give them three thousand
pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to make
them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he could spare so consid-
erable a sum with little inconvenience.”—He thought of it all day long,
and for many days successively, and he did not repent.
No sooner was his father’s funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood,
without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law, arrived
with her child and their attendants. No one could dispute her right to
come; the house was her husband’s from the moment of his father’s de-
cease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater, and
to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood’s situation, with only common feelings,
must have been highly unpleasing;—but in her mind there was a sense
of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind,
by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of immoveable
disgust. Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of
her husband’s family; but she had had no opportunity, till the present, of
shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people
she could act when occasion required it.
So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so
earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of
the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the entreaty
of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the propriety of going, and
her own tender love for all her three children determined her afterwards
to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
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 en-
abled 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 affection-
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FAQs

What are the main themes of Sense and Sensibility?
Sense and Sensibility primarily explores the themes of love, social class, and the role of women in society. The novel contrasts the rationality of Elinor Dashwood with the emotional impulsiveness of her sister Marianne, illustrating the balance between sense and sensibility in relationships. Additionally, it critiques the limitations placed on women regarding inheritance and marriage, showcasing how these societal pressures shape the sisters' lives and choices. Austen's keen observations reveal the complexities of human emotions and the societal expectations that influence personal happiness.
Who are the main characters in Sense and Sensibility?
The main characters in Sense and Sensibility include Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the two sisters whose contrasting personalities drive the narrative. Elinor represents sense, demonstrating practicality and restraint, while Marianne embodies sensibility, showcasing passion and emotional depth. Other significant characters include Edward Ferrars, Elinor's love interest, and Willoughby, who captures Marianne's heart but ultimately betrays her trust. Their interactions and relationships highlight the novel's exploration of love, loyalty, and societal pressures.
How does the novel address the issue of inheritance?
Inheritance plays a crucial role in Sense and Sensibility, particularly in how it affects the Dashwood sisters' lives. Following their father's death, the sisters are left with limited financial resources due to the laws of primogeniture, which favor male heirs. This situation underscores the vulnerability of women in the 19th century, as their financial security often depended on marriage rather than personal wealth. The novel illustrates the struggles faced by women like Elinor and Marianne, who must navigate societal expectations while seeking love and stability.
What is the significance of the title Sense and Sensibility?
The title Sense and Sensibility reflects the central conflict between rational thought and emotional intuition represented by the two Dashwood sisters. Elinor, embodying sense, approaches life and love with logic and restraint, while Marianne, representing sensibility, embraces her emotions and desires without reservation. This dichotomy serves as a framework for the novel, as Austen explores the consequences of each approach to relationships and societal expectations. The title encapsulates the balance that the characters must achieve in their pursuit of happiness.

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