Jackline Fahmy
Arts of New York
September 28th, 2016
In Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, it is evident to say that the title of the book directly represents the two characters, Elinor and Marianne. Though the two sisters share some qualities, it is clear that the older daughter, Elinor possesses a strength of understanding and a coolness of judgment by virtue of which she, is capable of being her mother’s counselor. However, Marianne’s abilities are, in many respects, are opposite of Elinor. Though she is sensible and clever, she is too eager in everything, causing the way she chooses to live have no moderation. This can be exemplified in Volume 1 Chapter 12, when Marianne’s beloved friend offers her a horse as a gift. Marianne is gleaming with excitement, while Elinor is trying to talk some sense to her. Elinor reminds her sister how inconvenient and expensive the horse would be to maintain, especially the burden it would be on her mother considering their lack of money. She also tells Marianne that she doubts the propriety of receiving such a generous gift from a man she has known so briefly. Marianne insists that it does not necessarily take a long time for people to get to know each other well, however she finally admits that owning the horse in a new household would be too difficult to manage. Here we see the different perspectives between the two sisters, but we also witness their common connection in the sense of their thinking. The entire contrast between the sisters of Elinor and Marianne is summed up by saying that, while Elinor embodies sense, Marianne embodies sensibility.