Abstract This paper provides a character sketch of Elinor Dashwood in relation to her silence in the novel "Sense and Sensibility". The writer closely examines how her silence leads to opportunities for observation, how silence in others speaks to her and how her silence leads to the confessions of others.
From the Paper "For Elinor, silence provides time to observe the actions and words of others. In the midst of dinner parties, balls, and drawing-rooms, Elinor?'s silence moves through the clutter of mundane conversation and wild gossip with the powerful grace of a closed mouth and open eyes and ears. Elinor overhears a conversation between Marianne and Willoughby in which Marianne is declining a horse offered to her by Willoughby earlier in the novel. After Marianne?'s declination, Elinor overhears Willoughby say to Marianne, ?"But, Marianne, the horse is still yours. . .when you leave Barton to form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall receive you"? (55)?x . Elinor observes not only the words that Willoughby says to her sister, but also that ??. . .in the whole of the sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her sister by her Christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so decided. . .as marked a perfect agreement between the two,?? and at that moment, Elinor ??. . .doubted not of their being engaged to one another?? (56). Though the reader will later find this interpretation of Elinor?'s observation to be false in that Marianne and Willoughby are not engaged, this passage shows how closely Elinor listens to and observes others. Furthermore, it is important to note that Elinor never voices this observation of or hypothesis about Marianne and Willoughby to anyone, she keeps silent about it, aware that her notions are based only on words, and therefore need more to support them than a simple conversation. This also shows how Elinor avoids and is aware of the dangers of gossip, where as we will see later on, she is a listener, never a passer-on. She not only heard the words exchanged between the two, she noted the tone in which the words were said, how formal or casually the words were given, and whether these words were meant for another to hear."
Abstract This paper provides an in-depth critique of Elinor Dashwood, one of the two sisters in Jane Austen's novel "Sense and Sensibility". The author investigates Elinor's decisions and relationships -- including her marriage -- through the lens of her defining character traits: self-control and a sense of propriety.
From the Paper "The character of Elinor teaches one much about human nature. For one thing, Elinor demonstrates, by force of her good example, that a person should take into account the various societal obligations and expectations placed upon himself or herself. Secondly, she just as pointedly shows how those obligations can be manipulated to suit one's own desires, even when those desire conflict with the obligations. Elinor's force of will is admirable. This will is never broken in Sense and Sensibility. One of the societal expectations for Marianne and Elinor is, as nineteenth century women, to get married. Here again, Elinor's will is rewarded. Indeed, Marianne is characterized as "born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions" (Austen 388). Elinor, for her part, has no false opinions that she must become aware of in order to be happy. Her self-command does ultimately aid in her happiness, however. She successfully manages to endure news of Edward's engagements without becoming dangerously ill, as is the case with Marianne, although she does recover (Armstrong argues that Elinor almost does become ill; the severity is completely different from the severity of Marianne's illness and the comparison is inappropriate (94)). Elinor's endurance eventually is rewarded when she and Edward are given permission to wed."
Abstract This paper examines this story, which is about the lives, loves, and dreams of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The plot of the story centers on the possibility that both sisters may have to put up with the banality of country life, which is full of gossip and superficiality, rather than being loved by the men of their dreams.
From the Paper "The distinction between "sense" and "sensibility" is one of the main themes of this novel, and is best seen in the psychological contrast between the novel's two main characters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Elinor, the older sister, epitomizes the word sense, as she is reserved, socially responsible and concerned with the well-being of others. Her younger sister, Marianne, epitomizes the word sensibility, as she is ruled by emotion, spontaneity, impulsiveness, and devotion. According to Austen, men "came to look at Marianne and talk to Elinor (p. 142).? "
Tags:dashwood, elinor, marianne, victorian, country
Abstract "Sense and Sensibility", Jane Austen's classic novel has been filmed more than once. Most recently, Emma Thompson adapted the novel; she wrote the screenplay for the most recent filming, which is titled, as is the book, "Sense and Sensibility". The paper shows that the book and movie are not identical and that there are several important changes made by Thompson and director Ang Lee, particularly involving the two main characters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The paper shows that, although in general the film follows the novel, Thompson and Lee alter the characters slightly. In particular, in the movie version, Elinor is made to be both more humorous and more emotional than in the novel.
From the Paper "The greatest difference between the character of Elinor in the book and in the film is in the amount of emotion she displays. In the novel, Elinor is almost always in complete control of her emotions. Her self-control is enormous. It is not that she is emotionless. In fact, Austen explicitly writes that Elinor's "feelings were strong;" it is just that she has learned to control them (7). In the film, this self-control is less obvious. First, Elinor broods more over Edward's absence in the film than in the novel. In the novel, we learn about Marianne's obsession with the fact that Willoughby has not visited the Dashwood sisters in London, but we know less about Elinor's feelings when Edward has to leave Norland for London. This longing for Edward is more pronounced in the film."
Abstract This paper analyzes the role of women in society, and the intense race for a proper marriage in "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen. The author specifically uses the character of Lucy Steele as an example of the desperate measures taken by young women who must secure a good economic future for themselves. The paper pays close attention to the legal and economic roles of women under old English Law.
From the Paper "While the character traits of Miss Steele seemingly leave much to be desired in the area of respectability by today's standards, her actions can be clearly understood when the setting and time is examined during which Sense and Sensibility was written. In England during the early 1800s, the economic future of a young woman depended solely upon her entering into a marriage with a man of means. Life for women in the 1800s was completely dictated by male rule, and if a young woman was not successful in "winning" a husband for herself, her future was bleak, indeed."
Abstract An examination of a minor theme in this classical novel. The writer points out that the major themes of class division, social values, the joy and pain of love, and the overriding importance of money are often addressed while the minor theme of isolation is often dismissed. The theme of isolation is directed at the character of Elinor and how she deals with these emotions.
From the Paper "The isolation that is suffered by Elinor is clearly not physical as, throughout the novel, she is surrounded by family and friends, and enjoys the romantic attention of men. Elinor's isolation is purely emotional, and is caused by her natural ability to keep her feelings under control, and by a desire to conform to the social values of that era, which required that women, even those who were intelligent or talented, should remain in the background. Austen informs the reader of Elinor's reserved and private personality very early in the book and, in chapter one she describes her character as, ? affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them.? "
Abstract The topics of letter-writing and the impact of the city of London are not as frequently covered as other subjects in Jane Austen's novels. This paper examines the effect that secret letters and the sisters' trip to town have in moving the plot forward and the growth of their character development.
From the Paper "The impact of London scenes and hidden letters is strongest in Sense and Sensibility, but Austen also uses hints of these devices in other works. It was originally an epistolary work: the fact that Austen chose to retain some of these letters when rewriting a draft originally composed entirely of letters shows the significance of the remaining few. Another epistolary novel, Lady Susan, foreshadows the connection between London and secrets as "most of Lady Susan's sixteen letters go to her friend Mars Johnson in London. In these, she tells her friend everything that she hides from the Vernons" (Bloom 51). Emma also shows the importance of secrecy to the plot: it's like "a great detective story, and it has claims to be the first of that genre . . . the novel certainly has at its heart a secret" (Lane 127)."
Abstract Jane Austen's novel "Sense and Sensibility" brings about many important issues. The cultural movements in the eighteenth century, classicism and romanticism are represented. The paper shows how the book questions whether it is better to take a sensible view toward life. The paper analyzes the novel by questioning whether true love always prevails or whether love can be compromised and ignored for things such as the love for money. In the real world and in Austen's novel true love rarely, if ever, wins the emotional battle.
From the Paper "The instance of Willoughby walking out on Marianne has nothing to do with love but all for the love of money. He might truly love her, but when he finds out he has a child, his mother banishes him from his estate and his future inheritance. Afraid of being poor, he takes off to London to marry a wealthy suitor, not caring one bit for Marianne's emotions. He won't even respond to her desperate letters she wrote while in London. How he feels about Marianne is finalized when she sees him at Lady Middleton's party and he does not even acknowledge her presence. Instead, he unabashedly talks to the woman he is with, right in view of Marianne (pg 131)."
Abstract The paper examines Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility", as an outlet for her frustrations with her social strata. The paper argues that Austen manipulates her characters to craft biting social commentary. The paper demonstrates how the majority of her characters serve to expose what Austen sees as follies of the upper class. The paper also discusses how Austen succeeds in inviting the reader to experience her own dissatisfaction with her place in society. The paper explains that Austen achieved this goal by creating a ying and yang of herself in the characters of Marianne and Elinor. As two halves of herself, these characters' thoughts and actions teach us that while Austen longed to act with sense, like Marianne, her personality was closer to that of Elinor.
From the Paper "Life was really no picnic in terms of freedom for a woman growing up in the 18th century. If a woman wanted to exercise her views, it was made extremely difficult within the context of the societal boundaries set up in that particular time period. Jane Austen was a woman that had many opinions, but as a woman in the lower echelons of the upper class, she found herself restricted. Consequently, much of Sense and Sensibility, serves as a cathartic release for the author. As her first published novel, it grants the author the opportunity to make light of and expose the folly of the English aristocracy, and reveals Austen's larger views of society when examined outside the context of the story."
