Book Review: Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility
The Jane Austen Cycle: Sense and Sensibility
It has scarcely been three days since my last Austen entry, and here I am again thinking and writing about the works of Jane Austen. The more I read, the more I admire the genius of Austen. I have read Sense and Sensibility before (oh, a good five years ago I believe), but it did not leave me with the same impression I received from this latest reading.
My former complain of this novel is Austen's control of plot - Austen did not need such an expansive plot to convey what she wants to convey. This I still maintain - is not a most mature work. The problem is this: one of the chief relationships - that of Elinor and Edward - is already decided at the beginning of the novel; it goes through suspense, but hardly development. On the other hand, the other relationship - that of Marianne and Willoughby - basically terminated half way through the novel. The plot structure is a bit awkward if we look at it from this point of view. One can argue that the absence and space is needed for Austen to fully explore the difference between the "sense" of Elinor and the "sensibility" of Marianne. Granted. But unlike the plot of Emma, in which Emma's journey of self-discovery could not have been otherwise, Sense and Sensibility can.
But two things I must quickly praise: firstly, Austen wrote a novel about money as much as it is about the "sense" and "sensibility" of Elinor and Marianne. The novel opens with Mr. Dashwood not willing to help the Dashwood sisters with their living, and it ends with Edward Ferrars secured with a good living. Through out the entire novel, references to money are made constantly. Hence it can be seen that Austen is highly conscious of the materiality of her society, and she is highly critical of it.
The other thing I must mention here is Austen's wit. The ironies of Sense and Sensibility, for some reason, I find it to be especially sharp. I won't comment on them, but I'll quote three selections for my readers to judge for themselves.
The first one is from the second page of the novel, describing John Dashwood, Elinor's brother: "He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold-hearted, and rather selfish, is to be ill-disposed."
The second one is from nearing the end of the novel, when Edward Ferrars and Elinor are to be married: "One question after this only remained undecided between them...they only wanted something [that is to say, some money] to live upon. Edward had two thousand pounds, and Elinor one,... and they were neither of them quite enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a year would supply them with the comforts of life."
The last one is from the very last paragraph of the novel: "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."
It has scarcely been three days since my last Austen entry, and here I am again thinking and writing about the works of Jane Austen. The more I read, the more I admire the genius of Austen. I have read Sense and Sensibility before (oh, a good five years ago I believe), but it did not leave me with the same impression I received from this latest reading.
My former complain of this novel is Austen's control of plot - Austen did not need such an expansive plot to convey what she wants to convey. This I still maintain - is not a most mature work. The problem is this: one of the chief relationships - that of Elinor and Edward - is already decided at the beginning of the novel; it goes through suspense, but hardly development. On the other hand, the other relationship - that of Marianne and Willoughby - basically terminated half way through the novel. The plot structure is a bit awkward if we look at it from this point of view. One can argue that the absence and space is needed for Austen to fully explore the difference between the "sense" of Elinor and the "sensibility" of Marianne. Granted. But unlike the plot of Emma, in which Emma's journey of self-discovery could not have been otherwise, Sense and Sensibility can.
But two things I must quickly praise: firstly, Austen wrote a novel about money as much as it is about the "sense" and "sensibility" of Elinor and Marianne. The novel opens with Mr. Dashwood not willing to help the Dashwood sisters with their living, and it ends with Edward Ferrars secured with a good living. Through out the entire novel, references to money are made constantly. Hence it can be seen that Austen is highly conscious of the materiality of her society, and she is highly critical of it.
The other thing I must mention here is Austen's wit. The ironies of Sense and Sensibility, for some reason, I find it to be especially sharp. I won't comment on them, but I'll quote three selections for my readers to judge for themselves.
The first one is from the second page of the novel, describing John Dashwood, Elinor's brother: "He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold-hearted, and rather selfish, is to be ill-disposed."
The second one is from nearing the end of the novel, when Edward Ferrars and Elinor are to be married: "One question after this only remained undecided between them...they only wanted something [that is to say, some money] to live upon. Edward had two thousand pounds, and Elinor one,... and they were neither of them quite enough in love to think that three hundred and fifty pounds a year would supply them with the comforts of life."
The last one is from the very last paragraph of the novel: "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."
posted by Tristan at 8:19 p.m.
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