Vishva Gajjar
Roll No. 33
Paper No. 5 – The Romantic
Literature
Topic – Justify the title of
the novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’
S. B. Gardi Deperatment of
English
Bhavnagar University.
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Justify
the title of the novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’.
Sense and Sensibility (1811) by Jane Austen
offers a clue to the central theme of the novel. The word ‘’ Sense ‘’ in the
title means the capacity of a person to maintain his or her emotional
equilibrium, while word ‘’ Sensibility ‘’ means and inability to maintain such
an equilibrium, and tendency to be carried away by an excess of emotion. Thus,
the word ‘’ sense ‘’ interpreted as a capacity for emotional- restraint, while
the word ‘’ Sensibility ‘’ may be taken to mean a lack of emotional self-
restraint.
Character
sketch of Elinor Dashwood:
Elinor-‘’ the more important of
the two possible heroines. ‘’
Elinor Dashwood is undoubtedly
the heroin of this novel and at any rate, the more important of the two
heroines which this novel seems to possess in the opinion of several critics
who even believe that the other heroin, namely Marianne Dashwood, is the more
important of two. Whatever be the case, Jane Austen herself intended Elinor
Dashwood as the novel’s heroine. Throughout, the novel Austen at pain to
establish the greater importance of Elinor by comparison with Marianne. Though
the critics are of the opinion that Austen has failed in her effort to justify
and prove her intention.
Elinor, who is
the eldest daughter of Mrs. Dashwood, and who is nineteen years of age when the
novel opens, is described as possessing strength of understanding and coolness
of judgement which qualify her to her mother’s adviser and counselor. Elinor
disposition is affectionate and her capacity to keep her feelings strictly
under control, she feels somewhat perturbed by the excess of Marianne’s
sensibility.
Mrs. John
Dashwood’s opposition to Edward’s Affection towards Elinor becomes attached to
a young man named Edward Ferrars who is the brother of the wife of Elinor’
step- brother, John Dashwood. It is an act of reciprocity of Elinor’s part to
feel attached to Edward Ferrars who has first given distinct signs of having
become emotionally interested in her. However, this affair is prevented from
developing because the hostility of John Dashwood’s wife to any attachment
between her brother and her husband’s step- sister. After the removal of Mrs.
Dashwood and her three daughters from Norland Park in Sussex to Barton cottage
in Devonshire, Elinor and the other members of the family expect Edward Ferrars
to pay them a visit at that place; but he does not turn up. Elinor does not
experience any deep grief on account of this disappointment because she knows
how to keep her feeling in check. She has formed a high opinion of Edward’s
merits and qualities; but, if he has not come to see her, she can endure the
feeling of a disappointment with great fortitude. She never feels dejected or
melancholy; and her self-command is remarkable. She avoids company; and she
does not appear restless or dissatisfied as result of Edward’s failure to visit
her.
Few months
later; Elinor receives a big shock when she learns that the young man, with
whom she had been in love all this time, is committed to marry another girl,
namely Lucy Steel. This disclosure has come to Elinor from Lucy Steel herself.
She also included that the engagement between them to had taken place four
years ago. This stunning disclosure certainly upset and even grieves Elinor;
but she is able to withstand even this emotional shock which could have
overwhelmed and prostrated and other girl. Elinor becomes disappointed and gloomy,
but she does not lose her interest in life and, in fact, continues to take a
keen interest in all those activities in which she had previously felt
interested.
Elinor’s
Sisterly Solicitude about Marianne’s Welfare:
As we have
already noted Elinor is devoted to her whole family, and not only to her
mother. In Marianne’s troubles cause no end of distress to her. Willoughby’s
growing friendship with Marianne upsets Elinor a good deal because Elinor does
not the real nature of this friendship. Very soon her worry becomes true when
Willoughby’s abrupt departure for London happens, this disturbs the whole
Dashwood family but Elinor more particularly. And in London Willoughby’s
unaccountable indifference to Marianne creates more pitiable. Now, Elinor, who is feeling much distressed
by her sister’s predicament, tries her condition become almost critical,
Elinor’s grief is intense. Indeed, next only to Elinor feels all the time
worried, distressed, or tormented by Marianne’s misfortunes. Her solicitude and
anxiety about Marianne occupy Elinor’s thoughts even more than her own
emotional setback. This trait of Elinor’s character is certainly admirable.
Elinor:
not a Money- Minded Woman:
One other aspect
of Elinor’s character is also noteworthy. She is not a money- minded person. In
this respect she offers a sharp contrast to Mrs. Fenny Dashwood who is obsessed
with money and who would go to any length to save every penny in orders to add
to the prosperity of her family. Elinor’s husband would be having very moderate
income; and she herself does not have any fortune. She and Edward would be
living at Delaford parsonage a most frugal kind of life; but Elinor has no
regrets about it. Nor does she feel jealous of Marianne who has become
prosperous and affluent through her marriage with Colonel Brandon. This is
another admirable trait of her character.
Some other
excellent qualities of Elinor:
Furthermore,
Elinor is not a garrulous woman. Nor does she believes in ideal gossip or in
spreading rumors as Mrs. Jennings is in habit of doing. Withal Elinor is
neither too talkative nor a match- maker of any kind. She is a dignified,
highly, respectable, well- mannered, considerate, civil, and decent type of
woman who would bring credit to any company, and who would certainly bring much
credit to her husband, the person of Delaford.
The
character and personality of Marianne Dashwood:
1.
AN
Embodiment of Sensibility:
Marianne’s abilities were in many respects quit equal to Elinor’s. She
was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows and her joys
could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting; she was
everything but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother was
strikingly great. Marianne is evidently meant to embody ‘’ Sensibility ‘’ or a
tendency to feel too much. A person of this kind feels too happy when there is
an occasion for happiness, and too sad when there is an occasion for sadness.
2.
Her
assessment of the character of Edward:
Marianne has a
talent for music. She can play on piano and can sing well. While Elinor is good
at drawing. Marianne is equally good at music. It is therefore natural for
Marianne to react unfavorably to Edward Ferrars who has no ear for music.
Marianne’s assessment of the character of the Edward Ferrars is widely,
different from that of Elinor. According to Marianne Edward is a very amiable
but that there is something lacking in him. Edward’s figure she says, is not
striking; it has none 0f that grace which she would expect in the man who has
been able to win Elinor’s heart.
3.
A
woman of feelings and sentiments:
It is evident,
then, Marianne is absolutely different from Elinor in her judgement of men.
However, Marianne does not speak to Elinor candidly about Edward because she
would not like to hurt her sister. We
may also note that, while Elinor had bidden good bye to Norland Park with a
feeling of perfect composure, Marianne had shed many tears at leaving a place
where she had lived for a long time.
4.
The
quick development of friendship between Marianne and Willoughby:
The physical
appearance of Marianne certainly does her much credit. She is more handsome
than Elinor, and her figure is more striking. She has a lovely face; her
complexion is uncommonly brilliant; her features are all good; her smile is
sweet and attractive; and in her eyes, there is life, a spirit, and eagerness
which delight everybody who sees her. It is therefore natural for Willoughby to
feel attract by her. After having carried the injured Marianne to her house,
Willoughby becomes a daily visitor at Barton Cottage; and friendship now begins
between him and Marianne. The physical attraction between the two is
strengthened by the fact that Willoughby seems to admire the same writers who
are Marianne’s favorites. They also find that their enjoyment of dancing and
music is mutual, that it arises from general conformity of judgement in
everything which relates to both those arts. Their tests are found to be
strikingly similar. The same books, and the same passages in those books, are
liked both. As for Marianne herself, she begins to see bright vision of her
future with Willoughby.
5.
Marianne’s
distress at Willoughby’s sudden departure for London and her Illness.
Marianne’s
distress is acute when Willoughby one day suddenly announce to her and other
members of Dashwood family that he is leaving for London unexpectedly at the
behest of his guardian, Mrs. Smith. Marianne, with her strong sensibility now
begins to experience such intense misery that her condition become pitiable.
She spends sleepless nights, and she weeps for the whole day after Willoughby
has left; and in this context the author says: ‘’ her sensibility was potent
enough.’’ Moreover, she soon learns that Willoughby got married to a rich
heiress (Miss. Grey); and the cup of her misery is now full. We can imagine
what she must have felt on this occasion because of her acute and profound
sensibility. Soon afterwards Marianne falls ill. The illness is attributed to a
chill but the psychology basis for this illness cannot be ignored.
6.
A
great change in her; and her marriage:
When Marianne
recovers, Elinor tells her of Willoughby’s visit. Marianne come to assess what
has passed with sense rather than emotion, and sees that she could never have
been happy with Willoughby’s immoral and expensive nature. She comes to value
Elinor’s conduct in a similar situation and resolve to model herself after
Elinor’s courage and good sense. Marianne is now changed person. She has
already expressed her sense of remorse to Elinor; and she already acknowledge
her debt to her sister who had never ceased to attend upon her, to look after
her, and to do everything in her power to console and comfort her despite the
setback to her power to console and comfort her despite the setback to her own
emotional well-being and the setback to her own love-affair. Marianne now makes
up her mind to devote herself wholly to her family- her mother and her two
sister- and to think of nothing else. However event takes a different turn. In
due course she begins to like man, namely Colonel Brandon. Few years after
Elinor’s wedlock with Edward, Marianne marries Colonel Brandon, having
gradually fallen deeply in love with him.
7.
Her
second palace in the novel….
Marianne is
certainly a likeable person, though we, on our part, do not feel as attracted
by her as we are by Elinor. There is a basic weakness in Marianne’s character.
Elinor may be suffering from a deficiency of feeling; but Marianne’s excessive
capacity for feeling is by no means a sign of any moral or intellectual
superiority. Excessive feeling in person is undoubtedly a weakness. To moan or
to grow when overtaken by a disappointment or a in frustration of a hope; to
spent sleepless night and feel miserable in the face of hurdles and
obstruction- these are by no mean to be regarded as virtues in human being.
Some critics regard Marianne as the center of the novel and as the true heroine
of the novel; but we find it impossible to agree with this view. A heroine she
may be; but, as a heroine she occupies a second place, a place next to Elinor
whose strength of character and whose capacity to withstand misfortune entitle
her to our respect and admiration.
8.
Social
deficiencies and lapses:
In certain
other respect too we find Marianne not up to the mark. She is often brusque
where she should be civil and courteous. She is often indifferent where she
should show some degree or friendship. She is often unsociable and inclined to
shun company. Many times, what we actually find is that Marianne avoids Mrs.
Jennings has devoutly and sincerely attended upon Marianna’s critic’s illness.
On several occasions we find
Marianne leaving the room just when some visitors have arrived. She is often visible
indifferent to Sir John Middleton and, of course, to her step- brother John
Dashwood to whom Elinor is always polite.
Conclusion:
In short,
Marianne is a sentimental kind of a girl and, therefore, entirely different
from Elinor who can exercise full control over her feelings. And it is this
basic difference between two sisters which explains the title of the novel, and
which also explains the different reactions of the two sisters on various
occasions, and in dealing with various persons in the course of the story.
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