Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility

A detailed Summary of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen's characters always undergo an event that morally changes their being. In Sense and Sensibility this moral change is obvious in Elinor and Marianne. The development of these adolescents into mature, reasonable adults is a gradual transformation seen in Sense and Sensibility. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy begin Pride and Prejudice as arrogant and biased adults and end the story as liberal minded individuals.

In Sense and Sensibility the family has been forced to move from the plush lap of luxury into a more modest setting. Mr. Dashwood has just passed away. Since this was a patrilineal society, the eldest son, John Dashwood, inherits all of Mr. Dashwood's estate. John planed to live at Norland with his wife, Fanny Dashwood. Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters needed to relocate. This is a significant adjustment for everyone involved. In addition to the move to Barton Cottage, the family is also experiencing a decline in their income and thus must live a more middle class existence.

Marianne was Mrs. Dashwood's middle daughter. "She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent.

Marianne was full of emotions and thoughts that she would not conceal. Her personality was the extreme opposite of Elinor's The moral development in Marianne has its roots in Willoughby, a young gentleman that rescues her from a fall on a mountainside near their new home. It was a very romantic scene when Willoughby, "took her up in his arms without further delay, and carried her down the hill" (Austen, p21). Marianne was excited at the whole situation especially since "his manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the theme of general admiration" (Austen, p21). Willoughby was now a fixture in the Dashwood's life, he called on them regularly. The relationship between Willoughby and Marianne developed rapidly just like a passionate adolescent infatuation. "When he was present, she had no eyes for anyone else. Everything he did was right" (Austen, p26).

Upon Elizabeth first seeing Mr. Darcy she had decided his character and he was, "the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again" (Austen, p183). She had not yet even spoken to him. She had been biased from the beginning because of his refined manner. He was not the most social creature and Elizabeth viewed that as a major flaw in character. Her prejudice towards him possibly came from her jealousy of his wealth; she only saw rudeness and conceit in Mr. Darcy.

When Marianne arrives in London her anticipation in seeing Willoughby again is great. She almost immediately sends a note to Willoughby. "Her spirits still continued very high, but there was a flutter in them which prevented their giving much pleasure to her sister" (Austen, p74). Marianne was behaving like a self centered, selfish teenager. Instead of being a gracious guest in Mrs. Jennings home, she was "anxiously listening to the sound of every carriage (Austen, p74) and not giving any attention to the socially acceptable behavior that was expected of her. Colonel Brandon is a character that stands on the peripheral of the story while Willoughby breaks the heart of his ward and Marianne. Colonel Brandon had a very high regard for Marianne, but Marianne had no interest in an old man.

A short time later Willoughby visits at Barton Cottage to tell the Dashwood's that "I am unable to keep my engagement with you" (Austen, p36). He is being sent off to London on business for Mrs. Smith, his aunt. He had "no idea of returning into Devonshire immediately" (Austen, p36). This behavior by Willoughby is seen as a most unfortunate event. The Dashwood's are very surprised at Willoughby's quick departure and Marianne is crushed.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have a heated discussion. Elizabeth will under no circumstances marry and tells him, "I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry" (Austen, p268). This opinion of Mr. Darcy has been born from hearsay and gossip. If she were not so against him because of his outward behavior and appearance she may have been able to discount the rumors about Mr. Darcy as unreliable. She refused to decide for herself what kind of man Darcy was; she allowed the attitude of her peers become her own. This is a problem with all adolescents, peer pressure affects every part of their lives and Elizabeth was not mature enough to think for herself.

Edward looses his fortune once his mother discovers his engagement to Lucy. Since she is of sub-par education and class, the engagement enrages Mrs. Ferrera. The engagement is called off and Lucy becomes interested in Robert, Edward's younger brother. She seduces him and they are soon married. Elinor is unaware of this event and is very melancholy. Edward visits her and tells her, " perhaps you do not know-you may not have heard that my brother is lately married to-to the youngest-to Miss Lucy Steele" (Austen, pg 165). Once Elinor processes this information s

Some common words found in the essay are:
Elizabeth Darcy, Barton Cottage, Edward Elinor, Colonel Brandon, Willoughby Austen, Marianne Dashwood, Longbourn Elizabeth's, Elizabeth Bennet, Lucy Edward, Dashwood Dashwood, austen pg, colonel brandon, sense sensibility, austen p275, pride prejudice, elizabeth darcy, fanny dashwood dashwood, austen p36, relationship willoughby, austen p74, fanny dashwood, austen pg 5, lower class people, austen p275 elizabeth,

Approximate Word count = 2793
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels