Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility Short Essay
Introduction:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen tells the story of the Dashwood family, who face problems after the death of Mr. Dashwood. His wife and daughters struggle with money and love, but they learn to be strong and hopeful.
The Dashwoods’ Problems:
After Mr. Dashwood’s death, his wife and daughters Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret lose most of their inheritance. They move from Norland to Barton Cottage with the help of a relative, Sir John Middleton.
Love and Heartbreak:
Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, but he has been secretly engaged to Lucy Steele for four years. Later, Lucy marries Robert for wealth. Marianne falls for Willoughby, but he abandons her, leaving her devastated.
Challenges and Discoveries:
Colonel Brandon shares his painful past and reveals that Willoughby seduced and abandoned Eliza. Later, Willoughby admits that he is marrying Miss Grey for money and regrets his actions.
Conclusion:
In the end, both sisters find true love. Edward proposes to Elinor, and they marry. Marianne, moved by Colonel Brandon’s genuine devotion, loves him deeply and marries him with a full heart. The sisters overcome their troubles and live happily.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights 👇
Sense and Sensibility in Detail
About the Author:
Jane Austen was an English novelist. She became famous for using social commentary, realism, wit, and irony.
Notable Works:
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1816)
Northanger Abbey (1817)
Persuasion (1817)
About the Novel:
Sense and Sensibility is the first novel by the English author Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously: By A Lady appears on the title page where the author's name might have been.
Adaptations:
2000: A Tamil adaptation titled Kandukondain Kandukondain, directed by Rajiv Menon
2014: Kumkum Bhagya, an Indian Hindi soap opera on Zee TV, was "loosely based" on the novel.
Sense and Sensibility Characters:
The Dashwood Family
✨ Henry Dashwood - Owner of Norland Park after his uncle; father of Elinor, Marianne, Margaret and John
✨ John Dashwood - Henry Dashwood's son from his first marriage; half-brother of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret; inherits Norland on behalf of his son.
✨Fanny Dashwood - Wife of John Dashwood; sister of Edward Ferrars and Robert Ferrars.
✨Mrs. Dashwood - Henry Dashwood's second wife; mother of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret.
✨Elinor Dashwood - Eldest daughter of Henry and Mrs. Dashwood; rational and self-controlled; later marries Edward Ferrars.
✨Marianne Dashwood - Second daughter of Henry and Mrs. Dashwood; emotional and sensitive; later marries Colonel Brandon.
✨Margaret Dashwood - Youngest daughter
The Ferrars Family
✨Edward Ferrars - Brother of Fanny Dashwood and Robert Ferrars; secretly engaged to Lucy Steele for years but later married Elinor Dashwood.
✨Robert Ferrars - Younger brother of Edward Ferrars and Fanny Dashwood; eventually marries Lucy Steele.
✨Mrs. Ferrars - Mother of Edward, Robert, and Fanny; strict and controlling about wealth and status.
Other Important Characters:
✨Sir John Middleton - Relative of Mrs. Dashwood; offers Barton Cottage to her
✨Lady Middleton - Wife of Sir John Middleton
✨Mrs. Jennings - Mother of Lady Middleton; kind, rich, loves gossip and matchmaking.
✨Lucy Steele - Relative of Mrs. Jennings; secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars for four years; later marries Robert Ferrars.
✨Anne Steele - Sister of Lucy Steele
✨Colonel Brandon - Friend of Sir John; 35-year-old bachelor; falls in love with Marianne and later marries her.
✨Eliza (elder) - Woman Colonel Brandon loved his youth; but was married against her will to Brandon's brother; seduced by numerous men; later divorced and died poor.
✨Eliza (younger) - Illegitimate daughter of elder Eliza; raised by Colonel Brandon; seduced and abandoned by Willoughby, left pregnant.
✨John Willoughby - Charming young man; initially in love with Marianne but abandons her to marry Miss Grey for money.
✨Miss Grey - Wealthy young woman; marries Willoughby.
Sense and Sensibility represent The two sisters.
Elinor Dashwood represents “Sense.”
As the older Dashwood sister, she is rational, calm, and guided by duty. She relies on reason and self-control in every situation, always considering what is best for her family. Elinor keeps her emotions private and prioritizes what is right over what she might personally desire, showing maturity and strength in difficult circumstances.
Marianne Dashwood represents “Sensibility.”
She is emotional, impulsive, and deeply romantic, wearing her heart on her sleeve. Marianne is open about her feelings, never hesitating to express joy, sorrow, or passion. Unlike Elinor, she acts on impulse rather than reason, allowing her emotions to guide her decisions and shape her outlook on life.
Sense and Sensibility Detailed Summary
The Dashwood Family and Their Situation:
Henry Dashwood lived at Norland Park in Sussex, England, which belonged to his rich, single uncle who invited him to stay there. Henry Dashwood had three daughters with his current wife, Mrs. Dashwood: Elinor, Marianne and Margaret.
He also had one son, John Dashwood, from his first marriage. When Henry Dashwood's uncle died, he left his property to John and John's young son. Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters would not inherit much money.
Henry Dashwood passed away only a year later, and on his deathbed asked John to look out for and help his half-sisters. John decided to give his three sisters 1,000 pounds each, but his wife, Fanny Dashwood, persuaded him not to. She wanted the money saved for their own son.
Staying at Norland:
After Henry Dashwood's death, Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters stayed at Norland for several months. Mrs. Dashwood disliked her daughter-in-law, Fanny Dashwood. Elinor, the eldest daughter, grew close to Edward Ferrars. Both Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne believed Elinor and Edward might marry.
Moving to Barton Cottage
A relative, Sir John Middleton, invited Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters to live at a cottage on his estate, Barton Park. She accepted. At Barton, they often visited Sir John Middleton and his wife, Lady Middleton. They often attend dinners and balls.
They also met Mrs. Jennings, who was kind but gossipy and always eager to predict romances. One evening at Barton Park, Mrs. Jennings asks Elinor if she had any man whom she was fond of. Margaret lets slip that Elinor is taken by someone whose name began with an F.
Another frequent visitor was Colonel Brandon, a 35-year-old bachelor and friend of Sir John Middleton. He admired Marianne, but Marianne laughed at the idea of marrying a man so old and whom she thought had little taste.
Marianne Meets Willoughby:
One day, while walking in the rain, Marianne fell and twists her ankle and was carried home by a gentleman named John Willoughby. Willoughby soon became a regular visitor. He and Marianne shared the same tastes in art, music, and literature.
Margaret, the youngest daughter, saw Marianne give Willoughby a lock of her hair, which suggested engagement. But suddenly, Willoughby announced he had to go to London on business. Marianne was heartbroken, while Elinor wondered if they were ever truly engaged.
Edward Ferrars' Visit
Soon after, Edward Ferrars visited Barton. He appeared uneasy and unhappy. Marianne noticed he wore a ring with a lock of hair. Edward said it was his sister Fanny's, but the sisters thought it looked like Elinor's. Elinor imagines that he had secretly gotten it from her somehow. Edward stayed a week but left without proposing to Elinor, leaving her disappointed.
The Steele Sisters and Lucy's Secret
Later, two young relatives of Mrs. Jennings arrived: Anne Steele and Lucy Steele. Elinor and Marianne disliked them, as they only talked about boyfriends and romance. During a walk, Lucy Steele confided in Elinor that she had been secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars for four years. She feared his mother, Mrs. Ferrars, would disapprove because Lucy was poor.
Lucy even showed Elinor a letter and said she had given Edward a lock of her hair for his ring. Lucy says that she and Edward are in love, but likely will have to wait until Mrs. Ferrars died to marry. Elinor was shocked but could not doubt her truth.
The Trip to London
In January, Mrs. Jennings invited Elinor and Marianne to London. Elinor did not want to go, knowing Edward would be there, but Marianne hoped to see Willoughby. Elinor and Marianne went to London. In London, Marianne wrote to Willoughby but received no reply.
At a party, she finally saw Willoughby but he ignored her. Shortly after, she received a letter. In the letter Willoughby disavows any romantic attachment to her and tells her that he is engaged to someone else. Marianne was devastated. Elinor tried to comfort her, but Marianne refused to hide her grief.
Colonel Brandon's Story
News of Willoughby's engagement to a wealthy Miss Grey spreads. Colonel Brandon visits Elinor one day after hearing the sad news about Willoughby. He wants to share something that might help Marianne understand Willoughby better. To do this, he tells the story of a woman named Eliza, whom he had loved long ago.
Brandon and Eliza were deeply in love, but she was married against her will to Brandon's brother. They once tried to run away together, but were caught. Brandon then went abroad to join the army. While he was away, Eliza was taken advantage of by several men and eventually divorced Brandon's brother.
When Brandon returned, he found Eliza living in poverty, sick with consumption, and near death. She also had an illegitimate daughter, also called Eliza. Brandon promised to look after the girl, and he raised her as his responsibility.
But the younger Eliza disappeared after a trip to Bath. Later, Brandon got a letter saying that Willoughby had seduced her, left her pregnant, and abandoned her. Elinor was shocked but thankful for his honesty. She tells Marianne the news, but it doesn't make her feel any better.
Social Events in London
While in London, the Dashwoods met many people: Charlotte Palmer and her husband, The Steele sisters, John Dashwood and his wife Fanny Dashwood, Mrs. Ferrars. At a dinner, Mrs. Ferrars was rude to Elinor but very kind to Lucy Steele, pleasing Lucy. Mrs. Ferrars has arranged for Edward to marry a wealthy woman named Miss Morton.
Soon after, news spread that Lucy and Edward's secret engagement was discovered. Mrs. Ferrars disinherited Edward, but Edward refused to break off the engagement. Lucy wrote to Elinor, saying that she and Edward still planned to marry
Before leaving London, Elinor meets with John and Fanny, and learns that Robert Ferrars is now going to marry Miss Morton instead of Edward. Robert has received all the inheritance that was formerly going to go to Edward.
After two months in London, Elinor and Marianne visited the Palmers at Cleveland. At Cleveland, Marianne became seriously ill. Fearing she might die, Elinor sent Colonel Brandon to fetch Mrs. Dashwood.
Willoughby's confession:
Willoughby suddenly appeared. He confessed to Elinor that: At first, he did not intend to marry Marianne, but he grew to love her. His aunt, Mrs. Smith, disinherited him after discovering his affair with Eliza's daughter. Without money, he felt forced to marry Miss Grey for wealth. The cruel letter Marianne received was actually written by Miss Grey, not him. Elinor pitied him and partly forgave him.
Recovery and Reflections:
Mrs. Dashwood and Colonel Brandon soon arrived. Marianne recovered and admitted she regretted her past behavior. She promised to live with more sense and self-control. Elinor told Marianne about Willoughby's confession. Marianne listened calmly.
Edward and Elinor's Marriage:
Soon after, news came that Lucy had married "Mr. Ferrars." Elinor thought it was Edward, but it was actually Robert Ferrars. Edward was now free. He proposed to Elinor, and she joyfully accepted.
Later, Mrs. Ferrars forgave Edward, returned some inheritance to him, and approved of the marriage. Elinor and Edward settled at Delaford, where the Dashwoods often visited.
Marianne and Colonel Brandon's Marriage:
Meanwhile, Marianne gradually grew fond of Colonel Brandon and married him. She learned to balance her emotions with reason.
Happy Ending:
Both sisters, Elinor and Marianne, enjoyed happy marriages and a close bond with each other. They also remained very affectionate toward their mother, Mrs. Dashwood, and their youngest sister, Margaret.
Themes:
👉 Sense vs. Sensibility
👉 Love and Marriage
👉 Wealth and Inheritance
👉 Social Class and Status
👉 Gender Roles and Expectations
👉 Family Bonds and Duty
👉 Self-Control vs. Passion
👉 Reputation and Gossip
👉 Deception and Secrecy
👉 Suffering and Personal Growth
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights 👇
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