Jane Austen's novel "Sense and Sensibility": summary, reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

What is the mystery, the secret of the success of Jane Austen's novels, who created such magnificent works as "Like Pride and Prejudice", "Sense and Sensibility", "Emma", "Mansfield Park", "Reason" and many other? Why have they relentlessly attracted new fans for over two centuries?

Uncharted Jane

Jane Austen is an English writer born back in 1775. At the time of her life in England, there were cardinal changes in society, the way of life of many people. The departure from stiff habits on the one hand and the desire to leave the noble traditions on the other were intertwined in the characters and destinies of people in a miraculous way. All these absurdities in a person became the basis of the author's novels. Sense and Sensibility is a rather early work. Jane wrote it only at the age of 20, but the world saw the work only in 1811. Youth did not become an obstacle for Jane to a systematic, and most importantly, successful study of human souls.

Raised in an educated priestly familyof free morals, Jane grew up as an incredibly interesting girl. And although many contemporaries (especially those who were ridiculed by the sharp-tongued Jane Austen) considered her to be somewhat arrogant, unlike other young ladies, those who knew her well enough - family members, friends - spoke of her as kind and a fair, caring and noble woman.

Jane's family has always been supportive. A great inspiration and admirer of her work was her father, who supported her daughter in everything. Reading a lot of historical works, melancholic poems, Jane nevertheless did not become sad and dry from this. Never finding family happiness, she gave all her love and care to her brothers, sister and their children.

The Austin family was very friendly, after the death of her father, her older brother Henry helped Jane in many ways, was engaged in the publication of novels.

Jane Austen died in 1817. She was only 42 years old, the cause of death was the disease. According to the recollections of relatives, Jane suffered from pain, but until the last she tried to remain good-natured and not burden her loved ones with her condition.

What is timeless

Many interpretations, various variations in cinema, theatrical productions, but the basis is the same - this is the work of Jane Austen. Her most popular work is Pride and Prejudice, but Sense and Sensibility also has many fans. It was filmed twice - in 1995 and 2008. Each version is interesting in its own way and deserves attention.viewer.

What is the secret of the success of the works of this author? There are practically no dynamics in her novels, there are no action-packed twists, detective mysteries and fantastic stories. But each work embodies the writer's love for England and its best traditions.

Sane reason, nobility, generosity and devotion, purity of soul - these are the traits that Jane respected in people. On the contrary, vices, the desire for personal gain, vulgarity, hypocrisy, envy ridiculed and considered unworthy character traits.

Colorful characters, incredible, detailed description of the beauties of England, sincerity - all this is inherent in the creations of Jane Austen. "Sense and Sensibility" is one of those novels in which the author shows the transformation of human character and way of thinking. It is generally inherent in her to create images with polar, maximalist thinking. The development of the character, his thoughts occur throughout the work, and as a result, the climax comes, always positive and happy.

Perhaps this explains the popularity of Jane Austen novels at all times, because virtue never goes out of style.

Feeling and Sensibility: Characters

Jane Austen does not use a huge number of characters in her works. Reading her work, you get to know each character so closely, as if you know him as a good friend. You begin to empathize with every sad and joyful event, feel every look, sigh and subtle hint of the author.

This is the magic of Jane Austen's works. Sense and Sensibility is a novel starring the sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The sisters, being in such a close relationship, being very close and good friends, are very different. Elinor is the height of prudence and prudence. Marianne is a young, impetuous, amorous, incredibly passionate and quick-tempered person. She believes that only people like her are capable of love, that life should be like a flame - bright and burning.

The girls, the main characters of the novel "Sense and Sensibility", have a sister and an older brother, the son of their father from his first marriage. He is married to Mrs. Fanny Dashwood, a very disagreeable, envious, and wicked person. After the death of the father of the heroines, this couple will become the owners of the property of the deceased.

Brothers Edward and Robert Ferrars are Fanny's siblings. And it was with Edward, the prudent young man, that Eleanor was destined to fall in love. Robert is a handsome young rake, and in life he is only concerned with entertainment and his own well-being.

Marianna had two admirers throughout the story. The first - Mr. Willoughby - a witty handsome man, a sensitive and romantic nature in appearance, turned out to be an empty seeker of easy money. On the contrary, Colonel Brandon (a friend of a relative of the Dashwood sisters and their mother, Sir John Middleton, who gave shelter to the main characters after the death of their father), was a serious, thoughtful man, sincerely sympathetic to Marianne. He was associated with Willoughbya conflict that exposed the essence of the young rake.

In addition, the Still sisters were important characters in the novel, the eldest of them, Miss Lucy, was once betrothed to Edward, Eleanor's lover.

The intricacies of fate

These are the main characters in the novel "Sense and Sensibility". The summary of the novel should begin with the fact that the father of the Dashwood sisters has died. Their brother and wife inherited the entire fortune, and, not heeding the dying request of the deceased, left them with a third, younger, sister and mother without a livelihood. The women found shelter with a relative, Sir Middleton. By that time, Eleanor had already met Edward Ferrars, but his sister deprived the girl of hopes for happiness, citing her brother's imminent wedding to another.

Upon arrival at their new home, the young ladies meet Willoughby, who charms Marianne but ends up leaving and marries an heiress to a great fortune, breaking the heart of Miss Dashwood, who is in love with him.

Marianna is in despair, she gives herself over to emotions and soon becomes seriously ill. Meanwhile, Elinor's feelings remain a mystery to everyone. At the same time, the girls had a chance to meet the Still sisters. Lucy is trying to gain confidence, to please, she is eager to find out what connects Eleanor and Edward.

When a young man's mother learns of her son's engagement to Miss Still, she disinherits him. Edward does not renounce his word given many years ago and plans to marry the unloved Lucy. This person, realizing that suchthe party will not bring her well-being, directs all her spells on her younger brother Robert, and soon they get married.

After some misunderstandings, their resolution, comes the happy reunion of the hearts of Edward and Eleanor, as well as Marianne and Colonel Brandon.

What is the book silent about and what does it say so eloquently?

The times when Jane Austen lived and worked are special in the history of England. The habit of people to live pragmatically, to look for the grain of rationality in everything, has always been inherent in the British. This is to some extent a national trait. Jane Austen was a reasonable woman, and she endowed many of her heroes with the same qualities, this did not bypass the main characters of the novel "Sense and Sensibility".

The author tried to convey to the reader that, in addition to fortitude, awareness of a sense of duty and honor, it is equally important to look for ways to show love and friendship. No matter how well-intentioned in hiding your own feelings, it is impossible to hide them all your life so as not to hurt others.

What are they saying about the book now, how was it rated in the past?

One of Jane Austen's first published novels was Sense and Sensibility. Reviews of the book by the author's contemporaries were pretty good. And although the first edition was published at the Austin family's own expense, the second was published at the expense of the printing house.

Jane Austen's books quickly found their readership. The wit and mind of the writer, the talent to describe interestingly quite everyday events with such a feeling and understanding of the subtleties, not onlyordinary people, but also recognized classics of literature.

Today many also like this and many other works of Jane Austen. Lovers of romance as a genre in literature appreciate the writer's talent.