Book 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.
The Essay on Sense And Sensibility Elinor Edward Marianne
A Report on Sense and Sensibility Summary: Sense and Sensibility is a story about the Dashwood family, who loses everything when Mr. Dashwood falls suddenly ill and dies unexpectedly. Mr. Dashwood is forced, by law, to leave his fortune and vast estate to his son, Mr. John Dashwood, from his first marriage. These circumstances leave Mr. Dashwood's current wife, and three daughters (Elinor, ...
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!
The Essay on Sense And Sensibility Love Marianne Elinor
Title "I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly." (Austen 68) As Elinor declares in Jane Austin's novel Sense and Sensibility, it is true; actions do speak louder than words. What someone does means a lot more than what someone says. Someone can tell you that they love you, but if they never show you than how will you know if they truly mean it. Love is meant for people ...
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 trip is now pointless, for she came all the way there just so that she might meet him again. As you know by now, Marianne who represents sensibility, never hides her feeling. She again wept for days and days without eating or talking with anyone. Her immediate resolution was followed by Elinor’s climax. It began when Elinor met Lucy (who is Edward’s fiancee).
The Essay on Spiral Staircase Mother Felt Day
A Whole New Perspective She walked toward the light. She felt a slight tug on the leash and realized that she had to stop. She guessed that the light was red and that was the reason the dog came to a halt. However she could feel the breeze of people passing by her and was curious as to why the dog stopped walking. Suddenly the dog pulled and they continued on their everyday route. Past the bakery, ...
Elinor was more than shocked to face the shocking truth. However, she still kept her promise of keeping it a secret. Lucy and Edward had been engaged for more than four years, and they were supposed to be married very soon. This thought bothered Elinor so much. She began to doubt the credibility of Edward. “Had Edward been intentionally deceiving her? Had he feigned a regard for her which he did not feel? Was his engagement to Lucy an engagement of the heart? NO, whatever it might once have be, she could not believe it such at present. His affection was all her own. She could not be deceived in that. Her mother, sisters, Fanny, all had been conscious of his regard for her at Norland; it was not an illusion of her own vanity. Her certainly loved her. How much could it not tempt her to forgive! He had been blamable, highly blamable, in remaining at Norland after he first felt her influence over him to be more than it ought to be.” (pg. 127) From that little passage, it is explicit that Elinor is confused with soberness. From later passages, we can infer that Elinor has suffered as much pain as Marianne and, the only difference is that she carried on with composure and never showed her feelings. She practically went through the whole situation without arousing anyone’s suspicion. The first climax fell when Elinor finally tells Marianne the pain she has been going through. Marianne felt guilty and embarrassed because, Elinor, besides, going through her own pain, she has also suffered along with Marianne’s pain. Furthermore, in Marianne’s view, Elinor has been suffering FOR her. Marianne, regretted her own behavior and felt extremely shameful. Fortunately, they got over their sadness fairly soon. The climax occured when Elinor found out Edward had always loved her and not Lucy. It is also during that time that Marianne and the Colonel developed a mutual relationship. Soon, both couples were married.
5.) I don’t like Jane Austen’s book that much. There was not much suspense in it and the happy ending is just too mundane. Despite the negative aspects, I think it is a very well written book. I learned that our life is pre-destined. There really isn’t much we can do to change the path of our life. As in Marianne’s life, she married the man whom she thought was too old. I also learned that when things do not turn out the way we expected, or when things all the sudden turn down-side, we should react with calmness and composure and not just cry and burst out with our immediate feelings. Patience is the keyword. With patience it is much easier to deal with painful situations. Most of the time, it turns out pretty well if you can think optimistically’. J
The Review on Patriarchy, Conformity and Individuality as Expressed in the Bell Jar and Edible Woman book report 3625
Patriarchy, Conformity and Individuality as Expressed in The Bell Jar and Edible Woman There has always been some amount of difficulty being a woman in our society, whether it be in the present day or fifty years ago. There are many roles that women are expected to play and many circumstances they have to face if they "fail" to live out these certain roles. Our world is filled with conformity, ...
6.) Yes, I am glad I read this book because it is one of the well-known classics. I see no harm only benefits in reading a book. Sense and Sensibility has given me a better understanding of the women and lifestyle during that time-period. Most of the women back then are pretty much like Elinor and Marianne. Education for them wasn’t viewed as highly as now. It seems their parents just want to marry them off to some rich and upper class man so that they may lead a luxurious life without bothering their parents anymore. Also, women back then are a lot more artistic than women now. Most of them play the piano “really” well; if not, they have some sort of other artistic talents. Personally, I’m glad I am born late in this century. I do not know how I could survive if I lived back then!!
