Plot and themes in Sense and Sensibility

➤ Question no 18: Write an essay on plot and themes in Sense and Sensibility.

Plot of the novel:-

Introduction:-

'Sense and Sensibility' written by Jane Austen. It is a type of romance and satire. The novel is set in southwest England, London and Sussex. At the beginning of the novel we see the death of Mr. Henry Dashwood. Through his second wife he has three daughters Elinor, Marianne and Margaret.

Initial situation

As per their English law, women could not inherit property, and so Mr. Henry Dashwood's son from his first marriage, and the will goes to him. John is fairly good-natured, but easily manipulated by his greedy wife Fanny. John Dashwood provide them enough money to servive, but his selfish wife doesn't like it and she changes the John's mind.

Elinor and love

Elinor was about to 19 and she described as strength of her family. She represents the sense. Edward Ferrars, Fanny's brother, comes to stay and is attracted to Elinor but,  Fanny disapproves of the relationship between Elinor and Edward. 

Barton Cottage

The Dashwoods move to Barton Cottage. Cottage was offered  by Mrs Dashwood's cousin, Sir John Middleton. Barton Cottage is described as 'comfortable and compact,' but it lacks decor and is much smaller than Norland. Sir John and his mother, Mrs. Jennings, a gregarious woman, kindly welcome the Dashwoods, but there are adjustments to be made.

Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby

Colonel Brandon, a friend of John Middleton's, is a grave man who is between 35 and 40 years of age. He falls in love with Marianne, who views him as old and boring. One day, Marianne and Margaret go on a walk, and Marianne falls and twists her ankle badly. At that moment, a young man, John Willoughby, is out hunting and comes to her rescue. He picks her up and brings her home, and Marianne sees in him the romantic hero she has been longing for.

One day, Colonel Brandon leaves mysteriously, and everyone wonders where he has gone, although Marianne hardly cares. In the meantime, Mrs. Dashwood and the girls expect a proposal from Willoughby at any time. However, instead of proposing to Marianne, Willoughby unexpectedly announces that he is going to London, where he will be away for some time. At that time Marianne's heart is broken.

Suspense

Both Marianne and Elinor are hopeless – Willoughby gets married, and Edward's marriage seems like a sure thing. Marianne sympathizes with her sister, but still can't pull herself out of her slump. When they're at Cleveland, Marianne falls ill as a result of her long, melancholy walks in the rain – her life is in danger. Elinor is terrified and essentially alone.

Revealment

Marianne recovers and the family returns to Barton Cottage. Eventually, Elinor tells Marianne about Willoughby's repentant visit. Marianne is now sorry that the family has suffered on her behalf.

One day, a servant tells them that Edward Ferrars is married. Elinor tries to put him out of her mind; however, he arrives at Barton Cottage and explains that Lucy did not marry him; instead, she eloped with his brother, Robert.

Themes:-

➣ Money/Inheritance

At the beginning of the novel we see that there is such kind of law. Dashwood sisters wasn't get the money or property of let Mr Dashwood. Dashwood women are in critical situation.

Money also dictates the eligibility of Elinor and Marianne, but it wasn't happen because the inhabitants goes to John Dashwood.

➣ Gender

There are very definite gender limitations involved in the society Austen describes. Women can not have the property. There are gender differences shows through the inheritance of the property.

Women can not expected to stay in the home, marry, and be polite and good company, as Fanny throws the Dashwood sisters out of the house and she has also problem with the relationship between Elinor and Edward.

Men can decide whether or not to pursue a career if they have enough money, and have more latitude within society in regards to their behavior and life choices.

➣Expectations vs. reality

This is an especially important theme with regard to Marianne and her mother, whose romantic characters lead them to expect greater drama or trauma than actually appears. 

Marianne was failed in her expectations she was in love with John Willoughby,  but the reality was different.

reality always tends to subvert expectations, whether in life or in art, as accidents and unexpected twists and turns happen to everyone.

➣ Marriage

For Marianne and Elinor, marriage is not a choice, but a necessity; and their need to marry expediently and well is a pressing concern in the novel, as they look for suitors.

Marianne marries with Colonel Brandon who was at the age of 35.

So, some times necessity is more important than our choice or expectations.

➣Discretion

Of the utmost importance in polite society, where it is not to one's advantage to let people know all that you think and feel. Marianne's lack of discretion leads to a great deal of gossip and a very public snubbing by Willoughby.

lack of discretion in many others indicates poor manners and a lack of courtesy.

➣ Self-sacrifice and selfishness

Elinor especially is a model of self-sacrifice, deciding to go to London for her sister's happiness.

Marianne is the opposite, caring only for herself and her feelings; she needs Elinor's help and goodwill to get by.

➣Hypocrisy

In the novel we can see the vast number of  hypocrite people, John and Fanny, Lady Middleton, the Steele girls, Mrs Ferrars and Robert, among others, tend toward hypocritical displays of self-serving flattery, vanity, and professing opinions they do not believe in for self-gain or to get ahead with others. 

Unfortunately, none of these characters is taught any better in the course of the novel, as hypocrisy is an unavoidable part of human nature, and almost a part of polite society as well.

➣Moderation

Marianne must learn moderation of her emotions if she is to become independent of Elinor and become an adult, she does come to improve herself and become a much better, more caring person toward others.

➣ Judgment

In interactions with other people, judgment is always at work; a person must determine who a person really is and what they want, in order to avoid those who could potentially be hurtful. 

These judgments can be flighty and unjust, as Marianne's appraisals of most of her acquaintance are, or blinded by kindness, as Mrs Jennings judgment of Lucy Steele is.

Conclusion

Everything ends happily. Edward is reconciled to his mother and marries Elinor. He takes orders and is given the living at Delaford, Colonel Brandon's estate. Eventually Marianne agrees to marry the colonel, and the two couples live happily, close in distance and in friendship. 

Work cited

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility

https://www.shmoop.com/sense-and-sensibility/summary.html

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/s/sense-and-sensibility/critical-essays/plot-and-theme-in-sense-and-sensibility