The Merits and Happiness of Elinor and Marianne

"Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication which strong family affection would naturally dictate;-- and among the merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands. " (Volume 3, Chapter 14)

Thus ends Sense and Sensibility. So much happens within the pages of that novel, from the opening sentence, "The Dashwood family had long been settled in Sussex," to that final line. The sisters fight, become closer friends, gain and loose love interests, get married, move homes (twice), and live in London. That is a lot to happen to young women with such delicate sensibilities. The novel is adeptly named.

I think that I now have a much deeper understanding of her style, and her ability to make you laugh, and then recall the gravity of the situation. In Sense and Sensibility I felt a wide range of emotions, and even though I knew the story well before I started reading it again, I still found myself cheering for their individual victories, and grieving for their tribulations. Even though it was not new, it was meaningful, and I felt drawn in.

I find that I like the relationship between Elinor and Edward more when viewed in light of his past entanglements. He and Lucy were dysfunctional, and she was attracted to him for reasons other than love. Look at how easily she switched to being engaged to his younger brother. Similarly, the potential engagement between him and Miss Morton was based of status and money. His relationship with Elinor is based on an understanding of love and friendship, rather than being for pomp and ceremony. Elinor is the only one of his 'women', if you will, that loves him unconditionally, with no strings attached.

I also like the fact that Austen emphasised her belief that love can come over time, and is not always an instantaneous reaction. This is demonstrated in the growing love between Marianne and Colonel Brandon by the end. I like the fact that Marianne waits for a while before jumping into a relationship with Brandon. She says that she does have feelings, and is in no doubt of them, but knows that it will grow stronger with time, and because it is true, can wait until she is ready to be married. Good thing too, because she is 17.

I have started Pride and Prejudice, and an introduction to the novel will come shortly. The night that I finished S&S, I read the first chapter or so, but I put it aside. I found that they had very different styles, and it was a little shell shocking to transition between the two of them so quickly. Sense and Sensibility is not as deliberately humorous as Pride and Prejudice, and the ending of S&S had a sense of joyful solemnity that had disappeared by the first few lines of Pride and Prejudice. I have put it aside until I have wrapped things up with her first novel .

Adieu to Sense and Sensibility. I hope that I can read you again soon.