Sense And Sensibility review (Spoiler-free)

July 07, 2020

Sense and Sensibility is a novel by one of my favourite authors, Jane Austen. It was published in 1811 and it displays an unhurried pleasant time full of formality. A time in which love is romanticized, succeeding to position and wealth. The best thing about this book is that it'll make the reader stay till the end. This book doesn't have expected romance, I was oblivious who would really end up with whom till it was actually revealed.

The book commences with Mr. Henry Dashwood, who has a son (John Dashwood) from his first wife and three daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) from his second wife. Mr. Dashwood dies, leaving his intact estate to his first wife’s son and his second wife along with her three daughters, were left penniless and homeless. In Norland, Elinor becomes attached to Edward Ferras, who is the brother-in-law of her half-brother, John Dashwood. Pretty soon after the death of Mr. Dashwood, A kind and generous relative offered Mrs Dashwood and her daughters a small cottage to live in. Elinor gets upset after getting separated from Edward.

In Barton Park, Marianna loses her head over John Willoughby, who saves her after she sprains her ankle running down the hills in the rain. Affection between Willoughby and Marianna is implicit. One day, Willoughby abruptly states that he needs to depart for London on business, leaving Marianna in the throes of love.

Many new characters arrive in the book and to not stretch this review, I’ll simply talk about the ones who shaped something in the story, one being Lucy Steele, who arrives as a guest.

Lucy curry favours Elinor and informs her that she(Lucy) has been secretly engaged to Mr. Ferras for quite a long time. Elinor thought Lucy is engaged to Robert, younger brother of Edward but Lucy is referring to Edward which turns out to be a great shock for Elinor.

Later in the book, Elinor and Marianna travel to London. Colonel Brandon, a bachelor acquaintance from Barton Park informs Elinor that Willoughby and Marianne's engagement is a hot topic among people. Marianne is eager to meet her dear Willoughby at the party but Willoughby inhumanly rebuffs her, sending her a letter rejecting his feelings for her.

Colonel Brandon, who couldn't wait for too long tells Elinor of Willoughby's history of carelessness and debauchery. News confirmed Willoughby getting engaged to the wealthy heiress, Miss Grey.

On the way home from London, Dashwood sisters visit family friends in Cleveland. Lovesick Marianne catches a severe cold while taking long walks in the rain and falls critically ill. Colonel Brandon takes responsibility for bringing Mrs Dashwood to Marianne. Meanwhile, Willoughby comes to visit after hearing of Marianne’s sickness, endeavouring to explain himself. Elinor sequentially shares his story with Marianne, who admits that Willoughby isn't the one.

When the Dashwoods return to Barton, they get to know from their attendant that Lucy Steele and Mr. Ferrars are engaged but they are unsurprised as it's par for the course.

In the end, Elinor and Marianne both get married but the question is with whom. Read the book and find yourself as this review is spoiler-free. SORRY!

I reread this book before writing review because I started comparing it with Pride and Prejudice which in itself is a wonderful and most admired novel of Austen but as comparison is the thief of joy, I had to read Sense and Sensibility again to write an unbiased review. The second time, it gave me the satisfaction that was lost previously and I’m glad I read it again. This book is so splendidly written, It's not just about rejection, acceptance or failed romance. The story definitely has a lot more than it serves.

Some beautiful quotes from the book:

“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”
“Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience- or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.”
“I will be calm. I will be mistress of myself.”
“To wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect”
“If I could but know his heart, everything would become easy.”
“I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way.”
“Do not let the behaviour of others destroy your inner peace.”
“I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is and always will be...yours.”