Laughter with Cause

"He expressed great pleasure in meeting Elinor, told her that he had just been going to call in Berkeley-street, and assuring her that Fanny would be very glad to see her, invited her to come in. They walked up stairs into the drawing room. - Nobody was there." (Volume III, Chapter 5)


I am always amazed at Jane Auten's ability to great strong and moral characters in her novels, such as Jane Bennet, Anne Elliot, and Henry Tillney. More amazing to me, though, is her ability to conjure up the ridiculous and diverse personalities to contrast the Anne Elliot's in her novels. By this I mean the hypochondriacs and the depressives that grace the pages of her works. Such people are abundant in Sense and Sensibility, and I figured that I had to write at least one post about the ridiculous people, to highlight and honour Miss Austen's creative genius.

First up is Mrs. Jennings. This kind hearted women with a penchant for setting others ill at ease does serve a great purpose throught the novel. She helps to move the plot along. She does this by inviting the Dashwoods to London, taking them to Allenham, and introducing them to the people in the neighborhood. These all serve to expose Elinor and Marianne to a pleathura of disasters and oppertunities. She is the bearer of all important gossip both in the city and the country, and her wealth propels her into circles that are abundant in scandal. At one point she says, "I never heard any harm of her; indeed I hardly ever heard her mentioned; except that Mrs. Taylor did say this morning, that one day Miss Walker hinted to her, that she believed Mr. and Mrs. Ellison would not be sorry to have Miss Grey married, for she and Mrs. Ellison could never agree." (Volume II, Chapter 8).


Mrs. Jennings is also a mother, who has passed on her gifts of self-amusement and frivolity to her children. Charlotte Palmer is her daughter and the wife of the budding politician, Mr. Palmer. Their estate is Cleveland. Mr. Palmer is one of the solemn, depressive characters, without a fatherly bone of his body. At parties, he avoids his own wife and mother in law. I cannot say that I necessarily blame him. Most of the allure of the Jennings family comes in their money, rather than their personable natures. Look at this scene here: "After an hour or two spent in what her mother called comfortable chat, or in other words, in a variety of inquiry concerning all their acquaintance on Mrs. Jennings's side, and in laughter without cause on Mrs. Palmer's, it was proposed by the latter that they should all accompany her to some shops where she had business that morning." (Volume III, Chapter 4). What a dynamic duo, and perhaps not in a good way. However, I would be remiss if I did not talk about the other Miss Jennings, now married to Mrs. Dashwoods' cousin, Sir John Middleton. Now there is an odd couple! She is only happy to participate in conversation if she can talk about her children, or her past accomplishments. If one were to attempt conversation with her on a subject other than the two I have just mentioned, they would fail miserably. Her husband on the other hand, conspires relentlessly with Mrs. Jennings to make everyone else miserable through teasing. Really, when you think about it, the Miss Jenningses married the wrong men. Mrs. Palmer and Sir Middleton might be better suited for each other. Actually, when I think about Lady Middleton and Mr. Palmer together, that might not work; Mr. Palmer hates children, and Lady Middleton loves them. That would make for an interesting marriage.


Next up is Robert Ferrars, the amiable Edward's younger brother. The first time that the reader is introduced to the younger Ferrars brother, he spends copious amounts of time in a shop, picking out a toothpick case. "All that could be done was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise the quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it is probable that Elinor was not without hopes of exciting his politeness to a quicker dispatch... He was giving order for a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, and ornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debating for a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, were finally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies.... At last the affair was decided. The ivory, the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and bestowing another glance on the Dashwoods... walked off with an happy air of real conceit and affected indifference." (Volume II, Chapter 11)


Later, when Robert discovers that Edward will become a curate, he laughs. He finds the fact that Edward will be working for a living, and marrying "John Smith and Mary Brown,"(Volume III, Chapter 5) in his parish, perfectly hilarious. Come to think of it, many people in Austen's novels, are prejudiced against other classes. Perhaps it is an indication of which characters you are meant to pity and like, because only the heroes and heroines are able to see beyond title status. It is an interesting tactic, and gives me something to think about. Let me know if you can think of an exception to this rule.


These are just a few of the characters that have caused me to giggle. There are many more. I have not even talked of the Miss Steeles, or Fanny Dashwood, or Mrs. Ferrars and her pomp. I guess you will just have to read the book to find out what they are like!


Good news, only eight chapters left until the end of the book. I think that I will actually be able to do this.