Sense and sensibility elinor and marianne
Just like its title, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen cleverly uses the characters Elinor and Marianne to represent sense and sensibility respectively. This extract particularly shows a scene in which their differences and juxtaposition can be clearly noted with Marianne’s sensibility and Elinor’s sense. The tone and manner in which the two characters have in their conversations illustrate Jane Austen’s brilliant style of contrasting the two sisters, and at the same time, sense and sensibility. ... Upon noting Willoughby, Elinor manages to remain composed. She is even seen as to have “caught hold of her [Marianne]” (lines 9-10) when Marianne, being the emotional and passionate person she is characterised as, was seen as to have “moved towards him [Willoughby] instantly. ... Upon noticing Willoughby’s obvious pretence towards them, Elinor was “unable to say a word” (line 25), while “the feelings of her sister [Marianne] were instantly expressed.” The extract ends with Willoughby leaving, and this leaves Marianne utterly depressed and she insists that Elinor goes to him (line 45). Elinor on the other hand, told her that “No, my dearest Marianne, you must wait… Wait only until tomorrow” (lines 50-51).