Name: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane. Austen
ISBN: 9780199535576

Sense and Sensibility

Jane. Austen

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Author Description

In her first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen presents us with the subtle portraits of two contrasting but equally compelling heroines. For sensible Elinor Dashwood and her impetuous younger sister Marianne the prospect of marrying the men they love appears remote. In a world ruled by money and self-interest, the Dashwood sisters have neither fortune nor connections. Concerned for others and for social proprieties, Elinor is ill-equipped to compete with self-centered fortune-hunters like Lucy Steele, while Marianne's unswerving belief in the truth of her own feelings makes her more dangerously susceptible to the designs of unscrupulous men. Through her heroines' parallel experiences of love, loss, and hope, Jane Austen offers a powerful analysis of the ways in which women's lives were shaped by the claustrophobic society in which they had to survive. This revised edition contains new notes, appendices, chronology, and bibliography.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

The sudden loss of their family home and fortune forces the Dashwood sisters to navigate the rigid social hierarchies of 19th-century England while seeking security and affection. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood represent two distinct approaches to life: the former relies on prudence and emotional restraint, while the latter embraces romantic idealism and impulsive expression. As they move to a modest cottage in Devonshire, they encounter a series of social obstacles, including predatory suitors and the restrictive expectations of the landed gentry. The narrative utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective to contrast the sisters' internal moral development against the external pressures of a society driven by financial status and reputation.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Exploration of the tension between rational judgment and emotional spontaneity
Satirical portrayal of 19th-century social manners and class expectations
Use of irony to critique the mercenary nature of marriage markets
Character-driven narrative focusing on the psychological growth of the protagonists
Detailed examination of the economic vulnerability of women in the Regency era
Contrast between rural domesticity and the artifice of high society
Epistolary elements through the inclusion of letters that drive plot developments
Focus on the moral education of the heroines through personal disappointment

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers frequently highlight the sharp contrast between Elinor's stoicism and Marianne's vulnerability as the primary engine of the narrative. Discussion often centers on Austen's ability to balance biting social commentary with a genuine exploration of human fallibility. Critics often point to the meticulous pacing, which allows the reader to observe the slow maturation of the sisters as they encounter the realities of their social standing. The novel is widely regarded for its precise prose and its enduring relevance in examining the intersection of personal integrity and societal obligation.

Page Count:
384

Publication Date:
2008-01-01

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199535574

ISBN-13:
9780199535576

Romance

Historical

Sisters fiction

Social Satire

Young women

Domestic fiction

classic