Literature Analysis

Sense and Sensibility
By Jane Austen

1. The book starts off with an outline of the Dashwood family. Mr. Henry Dashwood is the husband of Mrs. Dashwood and the father of John, Elinor, Marianne, and Margret. His son John Dashwood is from a former wife of his. Mr. Henry Dashwood was getting older, so he started to write his will. He knew he had to leave everything to his son, but he wanted to leave something for his wife and daughters. Before he died he asked his son to give each of his sisters three hundred pounds. After the death of his father, Mr. John Dashwood was going to keep his promise to his father, until his wife commented on it. Mrs. John Dashwood convinced her husband to give his sisters fifty pounds a year apiece instead. Since Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters no longer owned their estate Norland, they had to buy a new home. Mrs. Dashwood bought Barton cottage in Barton Park. The Dashwoods were constantly being asked to parties by Sir John Middleton. At these parties they met a lot of people, such as Sir John Middleton's wife Lady Middleton and her mother Mrs. Jennings. One day while Marianne and Margret were walking it started to rain, so they decide to run back to the cottage. While they ran down the hill Marianne fell and twisted her ankle. A Dashing gentleman came and picked her up and carried her in his arms to the cottage. His name was Willoughby. After that Marianne and Willoughby started to fall in love. Elinor felt bad for Colonel Brandon who had fallen in love with Marianne first. But soon Willoughby had to leave to London and this made Marianne sad for weeks. Elinor had met these sisters named Lucy Steele and Anne Steele. Lucy once confessed to Elinor her secret engagement to Mr. Edward Ferras. Elinor was shocked, this was the man she was in love with. Elinor told nobody of what she knew and tried to forget about it. Later in the story Elinor and Marianne went to London with Mrs. Jennings. Marianne tried so hard to get a hold of Willoughby. But instead she received a note from him stating he was to get married and that he didn't love her anymore. Marianne was sad for months. Soon later in London came the announcement of Lucy and Edwards marriage. Elinor was hurt but not like her sister. Later on, her sister got really sick and almost died, but she survived. Colonel Brandon helped out a lot with Marianne's recover and also went for Mrs. Dashwood and Margret so they could see Marianne. Elinor one day got a visit from Willoughby. He explained to her how he loves Marianne and that he was really sorry for breaking her heart. He said he had to marry a woman with money because he had nothing. Elinor told him that Marianne forgave him already and that she will forgive him to. When Mrs. Dashwood arrived she couldn't wait to tell Elinor of how Colonel Brandon confessed his love for Marianne to her. Elinor did not want to tell anyone of Willoughby's coming to the house so she kept it a secret for now. Mrs. Dashwood wishes to marry Marianne off to Colonel Brandon.

2.Themes:
Love: is a big theme in this book. Throughout the book you can see how Marianne falls for Willoughby and how Elinor loves Edward.
Money: In this book money is everything. Like how Mr. John Dashwood wanted to give less money to his sisters. Also how Willoughby had to marry a woman with money because he had nothing. Having money is all that matters throughout this book.
Gossip: Mrs. Jennings is a perfect example because she always spreads new about everyone. Telling everyone else's business to the whole world is important in this book. When someone has juicy news they have to tell everyone, and that is what Mrs. Jennings does throughout the book.

3. Tone:
The tone of the author is very detail. Throughout the book she describes of what is going on in the book like happiness, sadness, love, and anger.
Examples:
"For God's sake tell me, is she out of danger, or is she not?"
"Mr. Willoughby, I advise you at present to return to Combe."
"Colonel Brandon loves Marianne; he has told me so himself."

4. "As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you." pg. 32
This quote foreshadowing because Willoughby in the end turns out not to be a kind fellow because he broke Marianne's heart.

"Pray, are you personally acquainted with your sister in-laws mother, Mrs. Ferras?" pg.91
This quote is an example of character motivation. When Lucy told Elinor this, Elinor quickly told her no because she thought is was odd why she asked her that question.

She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. pg.5
The author is using direct characterization to describe Marianne.

Margret, the other sister, was a good humored, well disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having much sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.pg.6
The author is using character foil. She describes how different Margret is compared to her sisters.

"In deed to say the truth I am convinced with in myself, that your father had no idea of giving them any money at all."pg.9
The author is using dramatic irony. Mrs. John Dashwood thinks that Mr. Henry Dashwood didn't intend on leaving his daughters money, but us readers know that he did.