Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen Collin Bradley

Author Info Jane Austen (1775-1817) Birth: December 16, 1775, Steventon, Hampshire, England Wrote Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Emma and more Known for her commentary on social views

Austen & Romanticism 1800s Also known as the, “Age of Sensibility.” Feeling and Emotion were explored in all forms of art Austen went against the valuing of expressiveness

Sense and Sensibility Background Three sisters and their mother must live on their own after their father passes. They are forced out of home because of Fanny They must live on their own

Protagonists Elinor Dashwood Marianne Dashwood Personifies Sense Wise, Patient, Understanding “possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgement…her feelings were strong but she knew how to govern them” (Austen 5). Personifies Sensibility Expressive, Emotional, “eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent” (Austen 6).

Thesis Through the story of each of the girls, Austen shows how immoderate amount of sensibility can lead to various inconveniences.

Love Interest Edward Willoughby Love interest of Marianne Love interest of Elinor Marianne does not see what Elinor sees in him Shy, Smart “At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance is perceived” (Austen 34). Love interest of Marianne Met Marianne in the woods on a walk. “His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior attractions” (Austen 29).

Behavior Marianne, at times, has trouble understanding Elinor’s behavior Elinor’s and Edward’s farewells: “How strange this is! What can be the meaning of it!...How cold, how composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the last evening of their being together!” (Austen 27). How did she keep her emotions so bottled up? Marianne, when saying an unexpected goodbye to Willoughby, act completely differently: “Marianne came hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affection, with her handkerchief at her eyes; and without noticing them ran upstairs.” (Austen 52).

Sensible behavior and Romanticism Artists from this era valued expressiveness and individuality Austen’s claim goes against the views of the Romantic society, a society that was not for reserved behavior like Elinor’s or Edward’s. The invalidity of Edwards behavior is pointed out when he explains his insecurities regarding his own personality: “I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.” (Austen 97).

Scholars’ View Sense over Sensibility in this novel has been widely discussed “At Seventeen: Adolescence in Sense and Sensibility,” Shawn Maurer: “Austen uses the imaginiative space of the novel to depict adolescence by allowing her protagonist to first explore and then to grow out of this stage of life” (Maurer 12). Views sensibility as a stage that people “grow out” of.

Repercussions of Marianne’s excessive sensibility She becomes so emotionally invested she cant pull back from the situation. She become worn out, physically and mentally, making her less attractive, as John states: “I question whether Marianne now will marry a man worth five or six-hundred a-year at the utmost, and I am very much deceived if you do not do better” (Austen 159). Her excessive sensibility even lead her to becomes ill.

Does Austen HATE feelings? In justifying Elinor’s behavior and devaluing Marianne’s could Austen be implying that sensibility is wrong behavior? Most of Elinor’s actions are compelled by her love and affection for her sister. In her article on human behavior, Mariam Thalous writes, “good sense is guided by good sensibility” (Thalous 72). Connects directly to Elinor, who had strong feelings but “knew how to govern them” (Austen 5).

Conclusion Austen uses the love interest and the behavior of the girl to show the dangers of too much sensibility. In doing so she goes against Romanticism views Sensibility is dangerous by itself, and works best when guided by sense.

Works Cited Austen, Jane. Sense and Sesnibility, 1811 Maurer, Shawn L. “At Seventeen: Adolescence in Sense and Sensibility.” Eighteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 29, no. 3, University of Toronto, 2017. Mazzeno, Laurence W. “Jane Austen Two Centuries of Criticism.” Camden House, New York, 2011. Reena, Reena. “Women in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.” Journal of Literature, Culture and Media Studies Vol. 4, no. 7, Dec 2012. Thalous, Miriam. “Sense and Sensibility.” American Philosophical Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 1, January 2007