Topic > An Introduction to Sense and Sensibility - 1315

Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility follows the lives of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, as they face the dangers of finding love. In the novel, Elinor seems to be the embodiment of common sense with her rationality and thoughtfulness, while her sister Marianne seems to symbolize sensitivity. Marianne is incredibly emotional and wildly romantic. Although the novel seems to connect the sisters closely to these personifications, early in the novel it is shown that Elinor and Marianne represent sense and sensibility, together, not just one. During the Romantic era, the concepts of sense and sensibility were prevalent in the writings of this time. Sense, exemplified by Elinor's character, was characterized as rational in thought, calm and thoughtful. Sensitivity, seen in Marianne's reactions, was the opposite: being irrational in judgment, living solely in the moment, and being sensitive to nature. Observing the works of Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the first romantic writers of the period, she attributes other meanings to sense and sensitivity. For Wollstonecraft, the concept of sense regularly employs the five senses in actions and reactions, while sensitivity means thinking through thoughts, having intuition and understanding. In his Letters written in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, Wollstonecraft separates the two definitions of sense by using the word senses, relating to the five senses, or common sense. Furthermore, Wollstonecraft does the same with sensitivity. When referring to a person's sensitive state, he uses sensitivity, and when discussing a person's intuition on a topic, he calls someone sensible. Considering these definitions of sense and sensitivity, Elinor is not only sensitive... at the center of the card ......rathers the beauties of nature through sights, sounds and smells. Elinor has keen intuition and has feelings, although she keeps them firmly under control. Elinor carefully absorbs her surroundings, processing it to ensure she understands. When Lucy Steele tells Elinor that she is engaged to Edward Ferrars, Elinor feels great pain at these words while also realizing why Lucy would tell Elinor, that Lucy wants Elinor to know that Edward belongs to her. Both sisters face many trials and tribulations throughout the novel, but, right from the beginning, with their healthy senses and sensibilities, they are able to overcome them and find a happy ending. Works Cited Austen, Jane. Reason and sensitivity. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2004. Wollstonecraft, Mary. Letters written in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.