Sense and Sensibility

 Synopsis

"The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!" 

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on he sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby, she ignore her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behavior leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. 

Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closes to her. Through their parallel experience of love-- and its threatened loss-- the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love. 

Loved

• Elinor. Elinor, representing the "sense" in the family, is always pragmatic, sensitive to the needs of others, and thoughtful of social rules and expectations. Contrasted by Marianne's impulses and dramatics, Elinor's character is highlighted as being selfless, gracious, and sensible. Readers feel a sadness for Elinor as she quietly suffers her disappointments while ministering to Marianne and bearing the painful confidence of ill-meaning friends. Elinor is the hero of this story because she essentially holds her family together by reminding them of the reality of social rules and by showing them a noble and gracious way to handle disappointment.

• Edward. Edward is one of the most awkward human beings from the Regency period, and I love him for it! Compared to broody Mr. Darcy, mysterious Captain Wentworth, and always witty Mr. Tilney, Mr. Edward Ferrars is not witty, broody, or mysterious. He is uncomfortable in social situations, lacks eloquence, and mumbles to himself when he doesn't know what to say. This is refreshing in a way though, and his awkwardness is endearing, especially when paired with his gentle manners and fiercely loyal and noble character. We come to respect him so much throughout the story as he gives up his fortune to marry a girl he does not love just because he said he would. He and Elinor are the perfect match for each other :)

• Colonel Brandon. To be honest, I began the story trying not to picture Severus Snape in this role, since Alan Rickman plays him in the film adaptation. However, as the story progressed, I realized Alan Rickman might actually be perfect for this role, and I'm not even mad about it. He and Snape are also martyrs in their own right, but that's a different conversation ;) Like Elinor, Colonel Brandon is ever selfless, patient, and quiet in his sufferings. He is unassuming, kind and ready to serve and give at any moment. His long-suffering wait for Marianne to come around to him makes us love him even more :)

• The writing. Jane Austen's writing is just magic. Her wit combined with an astute understanding of human nature and its quirkiness gives her writing a charm that has engrossed readers for generations. Her words are so carefully constructed to sometimes give multiple meanings, provide satire, and help lead readers to conclusions without spoon-feeding what she is trying to say. Her writing is like drinking cold water on a hot day- refreshing, fulfilling, and satisfying.

Didn't Love

• I loved this story- wouldn't change anything about it :)

Content

• Language: 
• No language.

• Sexual content: 
• References to a character's past, where he seduced a younger girl and she ended up pregnant.

• Violence:
• None.

Overall Thoughts

Jane Austen just never fails. Every story she writes just fills a corner of you that you didn't realize you needed filled, and this story is no different. Sense and Sensibility provides a fun and thought-provoking contrast between two sisters who both have passions and dreams, but who manifest them and their disappointments so differently. Each sister's story is wonderful in its own way, each with laughable and painful moments to which we can relate. This is a story with its heart on its sleeve, full of charm, the pains of growing up, and what it means to find the balance between sense and sensibility.