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Sense
and Sensibility:
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The Major Themes
Dichotomy:
Can be defined as the division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions. In this novel the dichotomy is between Elinor and Marianne. Elinor is seen as the one with "Sense" as she is the mature, reserved, cautious, practical and considerate sister. She is not open with her feelings and does not show emotion even when she is in real pain and handles her pain with style and grace. Marianne on the other hand is thought to have "Sensibility" and is known for being a romantic, being impulsive, compulsive, ornately passionate, and emotional. When Marianne has a broken heart she mourns, and is in misery for days and makes sure that everyone around her knows and feels her pain.
Many critics have wondered why Jane Austen set up the dichotomy between the two sisters like this. Since our class has been talking all semester about how society has specific norms and categories that women must fall into we discussed that Elinor is typical of a normal women of the time as she suppresses her emotions but she has a quality of independence that hints at a further depth of character than is expected. Marianne goes against the social norm by stating her opinions but she is still conscious of what is expected of a woman of her standing. Another reason why Jane might have set up the dichotomy like this is to successfully prove her point in the end of the story that there is a specific balance that must be reached between both Elinor and Marianne. Each sister is on one specific end of the spectrum and until they can change and balance their feelings they cannot have true love and happiness in marriage.
Issue of Marriage between the two sisters:
Another difference between the two sisters is their approach to marriage. Marianne believed that you could love only one person fully in your lifetime and when Willoughby married Sophia Grey, Marianne believes that she will never love again. Elinor, however, is much more practical in her emotions and believes that you can love more than one person in a lifetime. Besides the differences in their views on marriage, there is a difference in their prospective pursuers. Willoughby is the attractive romantic type which offsets Edward Ferrars who is more reserved and represents the typical hierarchy of the time. Edward is thought to be boring and uninteresting by Marianne although the practical Elinor is attracted to his character.
The Economy of Marriage:
In this time period marriage was not based on love as much as it was based on the wealth of the two people involved. A middle-class woman would have difficulty marrying above her social standing due to the lack of a proper dowry. In Sense and Sensibility the sisters did not have enough money to have complete choice of who they married. A marriage between Willoughby and Marianne could never have practically happened within the proper social constructrs because Marianne would not have raised his social standing or have a monetary contribution to the marriage. Through the numerous examples of marriage, this novel strongly expressed the motivations to marry during this time period.
The Importance of Sisterhood and Family:
Throughout the novel Austen portrays her feelings on the importance of family, especially sisterhood. The two sisters are extremely close throughout the entire book even though their opinions on love and men differ greatly. Their sisterhood is what holds them together and helps them remain strong through the struggles of love. Their sisterhood and friendship is so deep that even when they are married, they continue to live together and near their mother, reflecting a unique female community. Jane felt very strongly about the development of female communities and the important, positive repercussions these have in life. Through this novel she shows the commitment between these two women and their love for each other.