Sense and SensibilityIn its marvelously perceptive portrayal of two young women in love, Sense and Sensibility proves that Jane Austen’s novels, along with their perfection of form and tone, are full of strong feeling. Its two heroines—so utterly unlike each other—both undergo the most violent passions when they are separated from the men they love. What differentiates them, and gives this extroardinary book its complexity and brilliance, is the way each expresses her suffering: Marianne–young, impetuous, ardent–falls into paroxysms of grief when she is rejected by the dashing John Willoughby; while her sister, Elinor—wiser, more sensible, more self-controlled—masks her despair when it appears that Edward Ferrars is to marry the mean-spirited and cunning Lucy Steele. All, of course, ends happily—but not until Elinor’s “sense” and Marianne’s “sensibility” have equally worked to reveal the profound emotional life that runs beneath the surface of Austen’s immaculate and irresistible art. |
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a-year acquaintance affection Ántonia assure attention Barton behaviour believe brother carriage Colonel Brandon comfort cottage cried Marianne curricle dare say daughter dear Delaford delight disappointment Edward engagement expected eyes fancy Fanny farther feelings felt Ferrars friends gave girl give glad happy hear heard heart hope immediately JANE AUSTEN Jennings Jennings's John Dashwood kind knew Lady Middleton laughed less letter live look Lucy Lucy's ma'am Madame Bovary manner Mansfield Park Marianne's married mind minutes Miss Dashwood Miss Steeles morning mother never Norland Northanger Abbey opinion pain Palmer park party perhaps pleasure poor Pride and Prejudice replied Elinor returned Robert Ferrars seemed SENSE AND SENSIBILITY shew silent Sir John sister smile soon speak spirits suffered suppose sure surprise talk tell thing thought thousand pounds tion told town voice walked Willoughby wish woman young