An Introduction to Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility follows the lives of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, as they face the perils of finding love. In the novel, Elinor seems to be the embodiment of sense with her rationality and thoughtfulness, while her sister, Marianne, seems to symbolize sensibility. Marianne is incredibly emotional and wildly romantic. Although the novel seems to closely attach the sisters to these personifications, it is shown at the beginning of the novel that Elinor and Marianne do represent sense and sensibility, together, not only one.

During the Romantic Era, the concepts of sense and sensibility were prevalent in writings of this time. Sense, exemplified by the character of Elinor, was characterized as being rational in thought, calm, and considerate. Sensibility, seen in the reactions of Marianne, was the opposite—being irrational in judgment, living solely in the moment, and being sensitive to nature. Looking at the works of Mary Wollstonecraft, an early female Romantic writer of the period, she attaches other meanings to sense and sensibility. For Wollstonecraft, the concept of sense is regularly employing the five senses in actions and reactions, while sensibility is thinking through thoughts, having insight and understanding. In her Letters Written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, Wollstonecraft separates the two definitions of sense by either using the word senses, relating to the five senses, or common sense. Furthermore, Wollstonecraft does the same with sensibility. When she refers to a person’s sensitive state, she uses sensibility and when she discusses a person’s insight on a topic, she calls someone sensible. Considering these definitions of sense and sensibility, not only are Elinor sens...

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...ire the beauties of nature through sights, sounds, and smells. Elinor possesses keen insight and has feelings, though she does keep them firmly controlled. Elinor carefully absorbs what is around her, processing them to make sure she understands. When Lucy Steele tells Elinor that she is engaged to Edward Ferrars, Elinor feels great pain at these words while also realizing the reason Lucy would tell Elinor this, that Lucy wants Elinor to know that Edward belongs to her. Both sisters face many trials and tribulations throughout the novel, but, from the start, with their sound senses and sensibilities, they are able to overcome these and find happy endings.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2004.

Wollstonecraft, Mary. Letters Written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. New York: Oxford

University Press, 2009.