Essay, Research Paper: Sense And Sensibility

Michael Zeller Mr. Lipka




Analyzing Criteria From Jane Austen's, Sense And Sensibility



In the novel, Sense and Sensibility, there are two sets of criteria which will be analyzed in this paper. I will refer to these two sets of criteria by placing them into the historical context in which the novel was written. One piece of criterion from this novel refers to the notion of the dominant eighteenth century Neo Classicist, versus the Romantic. These two perspectives differ on the topic of love in numerous ways. Another piece of criterion from this novel that will be viewed, is that of the anti-social Romantic, versus the socially aware Neo Classicist.
The Neo Classical perspective on love is simple. Throughout their lives, they matured knowing that they would be marrying their mate in search of the highest social position. They were fully aware of all of the obstacles that they would face throughout their journey towards marriage. They were in constant search of the highest social status that they may reach, and would not merely marry someone for love. In their hearts, they did not place much importance upon finding their soul mate that would love them unconditionally. All they wanted was to find someone who had a lot of money and respect. Unfortunately, the Neo-Classicist paid entirely too much attention upon social standings in their communities and did not realize what they might be giving up along the way, such as true love. On the other hand, the Romantics spent more time contemplating the notion of love. However, this idea also had it's disadvantages. They were blinded by the idea of venturing out in search of finding their soul mate, and they were unaware of all of the obstacles that they may have encountered. Romantics were quick thinking and very optimistic and did not look into their futures to see if their relationships would be healthy and advantageous. Love was the only thing on their minds. Due to this reason, the Romantics were the emerging group back in the 1800's, because more and more people started to marry for true love and not social status.

An example of Neo Classicist love from the novel is Elinor and Edward. Both Elinor and Edward were falling in love with each other. Elinor was raised to marry in her own social class. Unfortunately they had lost everything when her father died and her brother inherited it all. Now Elinor's mother can approve of this relationship because Elinor is not highly ranked in society anymore. "Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address. He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing…. Fortunately he had a younger brother who was more promising" (Austen 13). An example of Romantic love from the novel is Marianne and Willoughby. Marianne does not care about social status. She does not care about money or any material items. She is just looking for true love, and she is blind to anything else but true love. "Marianne, herself had seen less of his person than the rest, for the confusion which crimsoned over her face, on his lifting her up, had robbed her of the power of regarding him after their entering the house…. Her imagination was busy, her reflections were pleasant, and the pain of a sprained ankle was disregarded" (Austen 38).

These examples illustrate how Mrs. Dashwood is settling with Edward because now she doesn't expect Elinor to end up with a rich and distinguished gentleman. The neoclassic worries about social status and wealth and doesn't stop to think about love. On the other hand the Romantic example illustrates that the Romantic is not even aware of social status and only cares about true love. Marianne could only see a handsome man that saved her and in her mind he was her dream man. She didn't care that if they were married that he would lose all of his money. She chose not to look past the surface and discover who Willoughby really was and that is why she had been so hurt by him throughout the novel.

The antisocial Romantic versus the socially aware neoclassic was another piece of criterion viewed in this novel. Elinor was the socially aware neoclassic. She always acted appropriately and was the older and more mature in the family. If she was feeling sad she could control her feeling so that no one could know how upset or hurt she was. This was the complete opposite of Marianne. Marianne was the antisocial Romantic. When she was upset everyone knew about it. She doesn't control her emotions and if she is upset she will just cry or play very depressing music.

Elinor was in love with Edward. When she was having a conversation with Lucy about him, Lucy told her that they were engaged. This was the worst news that Elinor could have ever heard. Being the socially aware neoclassic that she was she was able to contain her feelings and not express her sorrow. "She was silent. Elinor's security sunk; but her self command did not sink with it" (Austen 111). Marianne on the other hand was in love with Willoughby, when she received a letter from him with her lock of hair in it she was devistated. "leave me, leave me, if I distress you; leave me, hate me, forget me; but do torture me so. Oh! How easy for those who have no sorrow of their own to talk of exertion! Happy happy Elinor, you cannot have an idea of what I suffer" (Austen 156).
These examples show both sides of the criterion. First it shows how Elinor was able to contain her feelings even under terrible circumstances. Elinor was devistated when Lucy had told her that she was engaged to Edward, but she held her feelings inside and nobody knew that she was upset.








This shows how Mrs. Dashwood is settling with Edward because now she doesn't expect Elinor to end up with a rich and distinguished gentleman. This shows how Marianne looked at Willoughby as her knight in shining armor and not the sleaze ball that he really was. They viewed the Romantic's ideas as positive guidelines to follow. Unfortunately the Romantics were searching for love in all of the wrong places. This group of people desired for love to be a perfect, beautiful thing that was extremely easy to find. However, they were completely disappointed when they realized that this wish would never become a possibility. The Romantics remained around for quite some time, however, they unfortunately ended up disintegrating, just as the hippies had done in the twentieth century. People became more aware that their dreams would never become a reality and found that they needed to move on.