Sense and Sensibility

Sense And Sensibility

ook Report - Sense and Sensibility 1.) In Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, the title is a metaphor for the two main characters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor represents sense and Marianne represents sensibility. We find out early that Elinor does not share her feelings. When Edward comes into the story, there was an immediate attraction. She tells no one of her feelings. It was just assumed that they are meant for each other. When Edward has to leave, Elinor says nothing. Edward does promise he will come down and give Margaret an atlas. When the atlas comes and not Edward, the one who ends up crying was Margaret and not Elinor. We do learn, however, that Elinor can get emotional too. When Marianne was playing the piano at their new cottage, Elinor cries as she listens. She said the song was her late father's favorite. Later on in the story, Marianne kept on nagging Elinor for not sharing her feelings. Finally, Elinor shows her emotions by telling her that she did have a broken heart after she found out that Edward had a fiancee - Lucy. Elinor would definitely represent sense. She keeps her thoughts to herself. Maybe it is because she thinks she will not end up hurting so bad as Marianne did. Marianne, on the other hand, represents sensibility. She follows her heart. She does not let anything come in the way of showing her emotions. When she first met Colonel Brandon, it is obvious that he was in love with her at first sight. Marianne, shows very clear that she was not interested in such an old man like him. However, when Marianne meets Willoghby, it was like a hero rescuing his princess. They fall in love with each other. Marianne does not hide her emotions about Willoughby to anyone, However, in the society that they were in, Willoughby did not think he could marry Marianne because of the social class. In the end, this almost kills Marianne. As Marianne realizes that the Colonel has always been there, she falls in love with him. 2.) My favorite character is Colonel Brandon. I think in a way he is very much like Elinor. He does not show his emotions a whole lot, but he does talk to people about his problems. There were so many instances when he asks Elinor about the relationship between Marianne and Willoughby. He was always depressed to hear and to know that there was no way of getting his lover from Willoughby. However, that does not stop his passion for her. I admire his integrity and dignity. Despite his sadness and jealousy perhaps, he was never tempted or intended to destroy their relationship and never tried to break them up. He was always silently wishing in his heart that Marianne someday will notice him. I think he is sophisticated and does not deserve a brat like Marianne. Even now, I still do not understand why a rich and sophisticated like him would want an immature and na've lady like Marianne? I guess maybe the opposite attracts!! 3.) My favorite scene of the story is in the ending. The story ends happily with Elinor marrying Edward, and Marianne marrying the Colonel. There is a gentle irony in the outcome of Marianne's life. Marianne was born to extraordinary fate. She was born to overcome an affection formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no sentiment superior to strong esteem and lively friendship, voluntarily to give her hand to another-and that other, a man who had suffered no less than herself under the event of a former attachment, whom, two years ago, she had consider too old to be married, and who still sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat!(pg. 304) I feel most happy for Colonel Brandon because, he was now as happy as hose who best loved him believed he deserved to be; in Marianne he was consoled for every past affliction. Marianne could never loves by halves; and her whole heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband as it had once been to Willoughby.(pg. 305) As for Willoughby, he could not hear of her marriage without a pang; He long thought of Colonel Brandon with envy and of Marianne with regret! As for Elinor and Edward, I think it's especially comforting for Elinor. I can imagine how happy and joyful she must have felt. After all those days of wondering and doubting if Edward really loved her or not, she must felt a sense of relieve now. They are realistic; they do not imagine that one can live on integrity and no income. But, given a stipend sufficient for moderate comfort, another fact of life is that something is more important to true sense and sensibility that the selfish and ignorant possession of a great deal of money. (pg. 314) 4.) There are two climaxes in the novel. One that belongs to Marianne and the other to Elinor. Marianne's climax came first. It all began when Willoughby left without bidding her goodbye in a sincere manner; in fact, his attitude was rather rude. Marianne's heart was struck, she cried and mourned for days and days without talking to anyone much or eating her meals. Later, when Marianne and Elinor went to London with Mrs. Jennings, Marianne was so eager to see Willoughby. She wrote a letter to Willoughby as soon as she reached London. For the whole day, Marianne was so eager to receive Willoughby's mail. Her heart sank when no shadow of Willoughby was seen and no voice of his was heard. Marianne continued to write him two letters. Finally, after Marianne's third letter he wrote back. It included first an apology, then his honest feeling towards Marianne. Marianne was shocked to hear that he did not feel the same way as she felt for him. She always assumed that he loved her. This was not only her own assumption, there are many others assumed this too! They seemed so close that some believed that they were engaged. After reading that note, Marianne felt that her whole

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