Review: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The death of their father puts two sisters’ futures in doubt, but good things might come to those who wait. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is the first published novel of her literary career, though initially anonymously, but has been a favorite with readers for over two centuries.

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are the two eldest daughters of Henry Dashwood’s second marriage whose lives and futures are diminished when he passes, and their elder half-brother John takes over the family estate then is persuaded by his greedy wife to not help his sisters and stepmother financially. The Dashwood’s sister-in-law Fanny does not like Elinor due to the relationship between her and her brother Edward Ferrars believing Elinor is after Edward’s future inheritance. The sister’s mother looks for a different place to live when a distant cousin, Sir John Middleton offers a modest cottage for them to reside, which is happily accepted. Once established, Sir John begins inviting his cousins to his house to interact with his various friends that include 35-year-old bachelor Colonel Brandon and the young bachelor Mr. Willoughby as well as his family, his wife Lady Middleton and talkative mother-in-law Mrs. Jennings. Marianne falls for Mr. Willoughby and believes they are nearly engaged while perceiving Colonel Brandon coolly, while Elinor navigates hopeful matches incubated by Mrs. Jennings before a visit by Edward in which he very. Weeks on, Sir John brings his other distant cousins of Mrs. Jennings, Anne and Lucy Steele, to his home for a visit. During which Lucy and Elinor become friendly when Lucy lets her know she is engaged to an Edward Ferrars that Elinor presumes to not be her Edward, but evidence proves the reverse. Mrs. Jennings convinces Elinor and Marianne to accompany her to London whereon arrival Marianne writes several letters to Willoughby, which go unanswered until after meeting him and his fiancé at a dance that results in a letter from Willoughby that curtly cuts off all communication with her while including everything she sent and gave him. Brandon arrives soon after and relates to Elinor that Willoughby seduced, impregnated, then abandoned Brandon’s young ward, Miss Eliza Williams resulting in Willoughby’s aunt disinheriting him thus leading to his engagement to another woman, so Marianne knows of Willoughby’s true character. The Steele sisters come to London through an invitation of Mrs. Jennings, but upon meeting John and Fanny Dashwood they are invited to their London house. Anne betrays Lucy’s secret engagement to Edward to Fanny resulting in them being cast out of the house while Edward is ordered by his wealthy mother to break off the engagement, but he believes it dishonorable and is disinherited. Admiring Edward’s conduct, Brandon offers him the clergyman’s income for the Delaford parsonage so he can marry Lucy after he takes orders. Mrs. Jennings takes the Dashwood sisters to her second daughter’s home where a still distraught Marianne takes a walk in the rain and becomes dangerously ill so much so it’s believed her life is in danger and a visiting Brandon volunteers to bring Mrs. Dashwood to Marianne. Willoughby arrives, revealing to Elinor he genuinely loved Marianne and is miserable which elicits Elinor’s pity because his choice made him unhappy but is disgusted by how he talks of Miss Williams and his own wife. Marianne recovers from his illness and is told of Willoughby’s visit which results in Marianne realizing she would never by happy with Willoughby’s immoral, erratic, and inconsiderate ways. She values Elinor's more moderated conduct with Edward and resolves to model herself after her courage and good sense. Edward later arrives and reveals that, after his disinheritance, Lucy jilted him in favor of his now wealthy younger brother, Robert. Elinor is overjoyed. Edward and Elinor marry, and later Marianne marries Colonel Brandon, having gradually come to love him. The two couples live as neighbors, with both sisters and husbands in harmony with each other.

Overall, my first Austen novel was a good read as I found the main characters readable and the secondary characters full of interesting quirks and backstories though Lucy Steele’s manipulative and scheming that slowly comes out throughout her appearances. If there is a good starting point when reading Austen, it appears her first published novel is perfect.