Sense and Sensibility
... for her sister and enjoys provoking her into giving up her secret thoughts and feelings about Edward. “‘I do not attempt to deny,’ Elinor said, ‘that I think very highly of him—that I greatly esteem, that I like him’”(17). This quote is important because it tells you how Elinor truly feels about Edward. The power of deceit also plays a major role in the journey to happiness for Elinor and Marianne. Once the Dashwood family is settled into their new cottage they meet friends and relatives of Mrs. Jennings. Elinor is very surprised when she meets Lucy and is taken into her confidences. Lucy tells Elinor that she is engaged to a man named Edward Farrars. “‘Edwards love for me,’ said Lucy, ‘has been pretty well put to the test by our long, very long absence since we were first engaged, and it has stood the trial so well that I should be unpardonable to doubt it now’”(127). This quote is very significant because if Lucy is engaged to Edward then Edward has deceived Elinor. Elinor is very upset but doesn’t reveal her feelings for Edward. “In a firm though cautious tone, Elinor thus began. ‘I should not be undeserving of the confidence you have honored me with if I felt no desire for its continuance or no further curiosity on its subject. I will not apologize, therefore, for bringing it forward again’”(126). This quote is important because it shows you how Elinor holds in her feelings and doesn’t share them with others, and it also shows you Elinor will keep her word because she is a very honest person. As time goes on Mrs. Jennings invites the Dashwood sisters to London. Marianne and Elinor both anxiously expect to meet up with Willoughby and Edward. When Willoughby realizes that his family is no longer going to support him and he needs to marry into money he tells Marianne his feelings for her were nothing more than fun and games. “‘My esteem for your whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than I felt or meant to express, I shall reproach my self for not having been more guarded in my professions of that esteem. That I should ever have meant more, you will allow to be impossible when you understand that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere’”(159). This quote is important because it shows how Willoughby deceives Marianne by denying that he loves her. Later in the book, everyone is going to Mrs. Jennings party. Edward is unable to attend the event but his younger brother, Robert is to be there. Lucy is quickly drawn to Robert. She asks of Edwards’s whereabouts. When Robert informs her, Lucy is secretly pleased to find Edward is not going to attend the party. She spends the night dancing with Robert. The power of truth plays one of the most important roles in Marianne and Elinor’s journey to happiness. In the end of the book, Elinor becomes aware that Lucy has left Edward to marry Robert. This situation leaves Edward available to marry Elinor. “‘A letter of proper submission!’ repeated he; ‘would they have me beg my mother’s pardon for Robert’s ingratitude to her and breach of honor to me? I can make no submission. I am grown neither humble nor penitent by what has passed. I am grown very happy, but that would not interest. I know of no submission that is proper for me to make’”(329). This quote is important because it shows that Edward is willing to not go back to his famil...