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Sense and Sensibility

2009-12-15T20:08:28Z

Bennet:

Novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1811. It is the author´s first novel to be published.

== Content ==

The story is about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who couldn´t be more different – Elinor, the older, more reserved sister, and Marianne, with her seventeen years two years younger than Elinor and hopelessly romantic and emotional. When their father dies, the inheritance doesn´t go to his second wife Mrs Dashwood and their three daughters, but to his son John from his first marriage, and the four women are left without money and have to leave the estate to John and his wife Fanny. Before leaving the estate, Elinor gets to meet Edward Ferrars, Fanny´s brother, whom she immediately is attracted to, but as he´s being reserved about his intentions and as Fanny talks about him having to marry a rich woman, Elinor doesn´t dare to act on her feelings.
After moving into a small cottage in Barton Park, the Dashwoods are welcomed by Sir John Middleton, who offered them the cottage, and while dining with them they meet Colonel Brandon, an old friend of Sir John. Colonel Brandon seems to be attracted to Marianne immediately, who, on the other hand, finds him too old and serious. She rather falls in love with a young man called Willoughby, and everyone expects them to marry. Then one day, Willoughby leaves Marianne and the village without real explanation, breaking her heart in the progress. Elinor gets her heart broken as well when hearing from Lucy Steele that she and Edward Ferrars have been secretly engaged for some time. While Marianne suffers to everyone´s notice, Elinor keeps her misery to herself.
When the two sisters spend the winter in London, Marianne seeks to get into contact with Willoughby by sending him letters, which all remain unanswered. When she meets him on a ball one evening, he rejects her coldly and we get to know that he got engaged to some wealthy lady in the meantime. Marianne is devastated once again, while in Elinor´s case new circumstances arise. Lucy Steele, meeting Edward´s mother and being welcomed warmly, seeks the opportunity to tell her about the secret engagement to her son, with the result of being thrown out rather harshly. Mrs Ferrars threatens Edward to disinherit him if he doesn´t end the engagement, but Edward, being true to his word, refuses to end it although he doesn´t love Lucy. His mother disinherits him and gives the inheritance to his brother Robert. Elinor and Marianne, hearing of the marriage of Mr Ferrars and Lucy Steele, believe Edward to be the groom, and learn only later that it was Edward´s brother Robert who married Lucy. Lucy, not wanting to marry the now-poor Edward, broke the engagement and took his brother. Marianne and Elinor, not knowing this, start their journey back home. While having a stop, Marianne, still feeling miserable because of Willoughby, acts rather unreasonably and becomes dangerously ill. Colonel Brandon rides off to bring their mother there, and thankfully Marianne survives. Back at home, Edward makes his appearance and Elinor (and also the others) has to see that it´s not him who married Lucy and that he has been in love with her for some time. Edward proposes to her and they marry. Marianne, who seems to have learned from her nearly death experience, settles to marry Colonel Brandon, a man she, although she found him too old at first, has learned to love after some time.

== About the Novel ==

The theme of the novel is the contrast between sense and sensibility, portrayed by the two sisters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor, the thoughtful and restrained sister, stands for sense, while Marianne, being impulsive, emotional and self-centred, stands for sensibility. Both have to learn, during the course of the book, that tending too much to one side (especially concerning the emotional part) causes a lot of problems. The story is also about what was accepted in society those times, as being too passionate in public – as Marianne does – was not always approved of. While we today find Marianne´s emotionality comprehensible, back then feelings had to be acted out moderately. Another important topic is money, how it can restrain your life and how it influences and often manipulates marriage wishes. While Edward keeps to his promise of marrying Lucy, although he doesn´t love her anymore and will lose his whole inheritance, he is true to his word, only to find Lucy abandoning him the minute he´s penniless and eloping with the now-rich brother. The similar thing happens with Willoughby, who, although he loves Marianne, leaves her to marry a wealthy lady as he fears to be left penniless (as we find out from Colonel Brandon, Willoughby fell in disgrace when he seduced a fifteen year-old girl, Brandon´s ward, and left her when she got pregnant, that being reason he got disinherited by his patroness). Both sisters end up in happy marriages, while Elinor, the restrained one, marries her first love, Marianne, the emotional one, settles with the rational love.

== Sources ==

Austen, Jane. ''Sense and Sensibility''. London: Penguin Books, 1994.

Bush, Douglas. ''Jane Austen''. London: Macmillan, 1975.

Lidell, Robert. ''The Novels of Jane Austen''. London: Longmans, 1969.

Williams, Michael. ''Jane Austen: Six Novels and Their Methods''. New York: St. Martin´s Press, 1986.

Sense and Sensibility

2009-12-15T20:06:31Z

Bennet:

Novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1811. It is the author´s first novel to be published.

== Content ==

----

The story is about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who couldn´t be more different – Elinor, the older, more reserved sister, and Marianne, with her seventeen years two years younger than Elinor and hopelessly romantic and emotional. When their father dies, the inheritance doesn´t go to his second wife Mrs Dashwood and their three daughters, but to his son John from his first marriage, and the four women are left without money and have to leave the estate to John and his wife Fanny. Before leaving the estate, Elinor gets to meet Edward Ferrars, Fanny´s brother, whom she immediately is attracted to, but as he´s being reserved about his intentions and as Fanny talks about him having to marry a rich woman, Elinor doesn´t dare to act on her feelings.
After moving into a small cottage in Barton Park, the Dashwoods are welcomed by Sir John Middleton, who offered them the cottage, and while dining with them they meet Colonel Brandon, an old friend of Sir John. Colonel Brandon seems to be attracted to Marianne immediately, who, on the other hand, finds him too old and serious. She rather falls in love with a young man called Willoughby, and everyone expects them to marry. Then one day, Willoughby leaves Marianne and the village without real explanation, breaking her heart in the progress. Elinor gets her heart broken as well when hearing from Lucy Steele that she and Edward Ferrars have been secretly engaged for some time. While Marianne suffers to everyone´s notice, Elinor keeps her misery to herself.
When the two sisters spend the winter in London, Marianne seeks to get into contact with Willoughby by sending him letters, which all remain unanswered. When she meets him on a ball one evening, he rejects her coldly and we get to know that he got engaged to some wealthy lady in the meantime. Marianne is devastated once again, while in Elinor´s case new circumstances arise. Lucy Steele, meeting Edward´s mother and being welcomed warmly, seeks the opportunity to tell her about the secret engagement to her son, with the result of being thrown out rather harshly. Mrs Ferrars threatens Edward to disinherit him if he doesn´t end the engagement, but Edward, being true to his word, refuses to end it although he doesn´t love Lucy. His mother disinherits him and gives the inheritance to his brother Robert. Elinor and Marianne, hearing of the marriage of Mr Ferrars and Lucy Steele, believe Edward to be the groom, and learn only later that it was Edward´s brother Robert who married Lucy. Lucy, not wanting to marry the now-poor Edward, broke the engagement and took his brother. Marianne and Elinor, not knowing this, start their journey back home. While having a stop, Marianne, still feeling miserable because of Willoughby, acts rather unreasonably and becomes dangerously ill. Colonel Brandon rides off to bring their mother there, and thankfully Marianne survives. Back at home, Edward makes his appearance and Elinor (and also the others) has to see that it´s not him who married Lucy and that he has been in love with her for some time. Edward proposes to her and they marry. Marianne, who seems to have learned from her nearly death experience, settles to marry Colonel Brandon, a man she, although she found him too old at first, has learned to love after some time.

'''About the Novel'''
----

The theme of the novel is the contrast between sense and sensibility, portrayed by the two sisters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor, the thoughtful and restrained sister, stands for sense, while Marianne, being impulsive, emotional and self-centred, stands for sensibility. Both have to learn, during the course of the book, that tending too much to one side (especially concerning the emotional part) causes a lot of problems. The story is also about what was accepted in society those times, as being too passionate in public – as Marianne does – was not always approved of. While we today find Marianne´s emotionality comprehensible, back then feelings had to be acted out moderately. Another important topic is money, how it can restrain your life and how it influences and often manipulates marriage wishes. While Edward keeps to his promise of marrying Lucy, although he doesn´t love her anymore and will lose his whole inheritance, he is true to his word, only to find Lucy abandoning him the minute he´s penniless and eloping with the now-rich brother. The similar thing happens with Willoughby, who, although he loves Marianne, leaves her to marry a wealthy lady as he fears to be left penniless (as we find out from Colonel Brandon, Willoughby fell in disgrace when he seduced a fifteen year-old girl, Brandon´s ward, and left her when she got pregnant, that being reason he got disinherited by his patroness). Both sisters end up in happy marriages, while Elinor, the restrained one, marries her first love, Marianne, the emotional one, settles with the rational love.

'''Sources'''
----

Austen, Jane. ''Sense and Sensibility''. London: Penguin Books, 1994.

Bush, Douglas. ''Jane Austen''. London: Macmillan, 1975.

Lidell, Robert. ''The Novels of Jane Austen''. London: Longmans, 1969.

Williams, Michael. ''Jane Austen: Six Novels and Their Methods''. New York: St. Martin´s Press, 1986.

Sense and Sensibility

2009-12-15T20:02:37Z

Bennet: Created page with 'Novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1811. It is the author´s first novel to be published. ---- The story is about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who coul…'

Novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1811. It is the author´s first novel to be published.

----

The story is about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who couldn´t be more different – Elinor, the older, more reserved sister, and Marianne, with her seventeen years two years younger than Elinor and hopelessly romantic and emotional. When their father dies, the inheritance doesn´t go to his second wife Mrs Dashwood and their three daughters, but to his son John from his first marriage, and the four women are left without money and have to leave the estate to John and his wife Fanny. Before leaving the estate, Elinor gets to meet Edward Ferrars, Fanny´s brother, whom she immediately is attracted to, but as he´s being reserved about his intentions and as Fanny talks about him having to marry a rich woman, Elinor doesn´t dare to act on her feelings.
After moving into a small cottage in Barton Park, the Dashwoods are welcomed by Sir John Middleton, who offered them the cottage, and while dining with them they meet Colonel Brandon, an old friend of Sir John. Colonel Brandon seems to be attracted to Marianne immediately, who, on the other hand, finds him too old and serious. She rather falls in love with a young man called Willoughby, and everyone expects them to marry. Then one day, Willoughby leaves Marianne and the village without real explanation, breaking her heart in the progress. Elinor gets her heart broken as well when hearing from Lucy Steele that she and Edward Ferrars have been secretly engaged for some time. While Marianne suffers to everyone´s notice, Elinor keeps her misery to herself.
When the two sisters spend the winter in London, Marianne seeks to get into contact with Willoughby by sending him letters, which all remain unanswered. When she meets him on a ball one evening, he rejects her coldly and we get to know that he got engaged to some wealthy lady in the meantime. Marianne is devastated once again, while in Elinor´s case new circumstances arise. Lucy Steele, meeting Edward´s mother and being welcomed warmly, seeks the opportunity to tell her about the secret engagement to her son, with the result of being thrown out rather harshly. Mrs Ferrars threatens Edward to disinherit him if he doesn´t end the engagement, but Edward, being true to his word, refuses to end it although he doesn´t love Lucy. His mother disinherits him and gives the inheritance to his brother Robert. Elinor and Marianne, hearing of the marriage of Mr Ferrars and Lucy Steele, believe Edward to be the groom, and learn only later that it was Edward´s brother Robert who married Lucy. Lucy, not wanting to marry the now-poor Edward, broke the engagement and took his brother. Marianne and Elinor, not knowing this, start their journey back home. While having a stop, Marianne, still feeling miserable because of Willoughby, acts rather unreasonably and becomes dangerously ill. Colonel Brandon rides off to bring their mother there, and thankfully Marianne survives. Back at home, Edward makes his appearance and Elinor (and also the others) has to see that it´s not him who married Lucy and that he has been in love with her for some time. Edward proposes to her and they marry. Marianne, who seems to have learned from her nearly death experience, settles to marry Colonel Brandon, a man she, although she found him too old at first, has learned to love after some time.

----

The theme of the novel is the contrast between sense and sensibility, portrayed by the two sisters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor, the thoughtful and restrained sister, stands for sense, while Marianne, being impulsive, emotional and self-centred, stands for sensibility. Both have to learn, during the course of the book, that tending too much to one side (especially concerning the emotional part) causes a lot of problems. The story is also about what was accepted in society those times, as being too passionate in public – as Marianne does – was not always approved of. While we today find Marianne´s emotionality comprehensible, back then feelings had to be acted out moderately. Another important topic is money, how it can restrain your life and how it influences and often manipulates marriage wishes. While Edward keeps to his promise of marrying Lucy, although he doesn´t love her anymore and will lose his whole inheritance, he is true to his word, only to find Lucy abandoning him the minute he´s penniless and eloping with the now-rich brother. The similar thing happens with Willoughby, who, although he loves Marianne, leaves her to marry a wealthy lady as he fears to be left penniless (as we find out from Colonel Brandon, Willoughby fell in disgrace when he seduced a fifteen year-old girl, Brandon´s ward, and left her when she got pregnant, that being reason he got disinherited by his patroness). Both sisters end up in happy marriages, while Elinor, the restrained one, marries her first love, Marianne, the emotional one, settles with the rational love.

----

Literature

Austen, Jane. ''Sense and Sensibility''. London: Penguin Books, 1994.

Bush, Douglas. ''Jane Austen''. London: Macmillan, 1975.

Lidell, Robert. ''The Novels of Jane Austen''. London: Longmans, 1969.

Williams, Michael. ''Jane Austen: Six Novels and Their Methods''. New York: St. Martin´s Press, 1986.

Pride and Prejudice

2009-11-23T14:01:16Z

Bennet: Created page with '== Pride and Prejudice == Novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1813, said to be “the one most widely read and most often reread” (Bush 91) of Austen´s novels. …'

== Pride and Prejudice ==

Novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1813, said to be “the one most widely read and most often reread” (Bush 91) of Austen´s novels.

== Content ==

In the centre of the story is Elizabeth Bennet, a (especially for that time) strong and independent-minded young woman and one of the five daughters of Mr and Mrs Bennet. She – like her sisters – is in the unfortunate position to find herself poor and homeless if her father dies without them being married. Her mother is therefore keen to find husbands for their daughters as soon as possible, unfortunately making it rather worse than easier for her elder daughters Elizabeth and Jane when constantly making a fool of herself in public and embarrassing them. When two rich gentlemen arrive in the neighbourhood, Mrs Bennet sees the chance to marry her eldest daughter Jane. Mr Bingley, one of the gentlemen, and Jane seem to like each other from the start, whereas Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, the other gentlemen, who is rather snobbish and arrogant, are wary of each other, and although there´s some spark between them, they just think the worst of each other.
Elizabeth soon receives a proposal by her cousin, Mr Collins, who spends a visit at her father´s house and whom she absolutely dislikes. She rejects it to the dismay of her mother, only to find out that one of her best friends, Charlotte Lucas, accepts his proposal some time later, being afraid of dying an old maid and being left penniless after her parents´ death. Elizabeth is horrified that Charlotte marries without affection and is even more shattered when Bingley and Darcy leave, leaving Jane back in tears.
When visiting her friend Charlotte and her new husband, she and the couple are invited to meet Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a snobby rich lady and Mr Darcy´s aunt. He is also there to visit his aunt and, having been impolite and cold to Elizabeth before, surprisingly proposes to her one afternoon. She turns it down angrily and accuses him of having separated her sister and Bingley, and also other things, which Darcy takes up to tell her the truth about in a letter later. This letter changes Elizabeth´s perspective on things and she must see that she not only accused Darcy of wrong things, but by doing it she destroyed the tiny chance there was to marry him.
Some time later she travels with her aunt and uncle though the country and visits Darcy´s estate on their way. The two meet and seem to have come to an understanding, when a letter arrives saying Elizabeth´s youngest sister has fled with a young man, Mr Wickham. Elizabeth is horrified, knowing that such a situation would bring shame on the whole family, ruin them and destroy the other daughter´s chances to marry. Mr Darcy, with the help of Elizabeth´s uncle, tracks them down and puts some effort and a lot of money in it to marry them secretly.
Elizabeth is now absolutely sure that every chance to be with Darcy is destroyed concerning how humiliating the majority of her family acted, but one day she observes, much to her surprise, Mr Bingley proposing to her sister Jane. She also receives an unexpected proposal herself by Mr Darcy in the end. Both had to overcome their pride and also their prejudices to see the good in the other person and to admit their love to each other.

== About the Story ==

Jane Austen´s novel is a great portray of how the situation was like for women in the 18th century. Being born in a certain class meant to be born with certain standards, in the upper classes privileges and, of course, restrictions concerning the marriage market. Elizabeth, is the “daughter of a gentleman, [but] a gentleman far below Darcy in station and income” (Bush 91), so there´s some class distinction between the two (as between Bingley and Jane) from the beginning.
Behaviour and manners play also an important role. So some of Elizabeth´s family, that is the youngest sisters, her mother and sometimes even her father, behave in public in a way that doesn´t apply to certain rules, which Mr Darcy dislikes immediately, and extends it to the whole family although Elizabeth, Jane and also their aunt and uncle are well-educated people and fullfill these rules. Later Darcy has to see that people of his own class, like his aunt, for example, don´t apply to these manners and rules either, whereas he has to realize that the family of a person doesn´t say much about the person´s individual being.
Marriage above class restrictions and out of love is in the centre of this novel, which is a new thing in the 18th century. But other things, typical for this time, can be seen as well, for example the shame an elopement could bring upon a family or that staying unmarried, like Charlotte Lucas, could mean a disaster at that time.

== Sources ==

Austen, Jane. ''Pride and Prejudice''. London: Penguin Books, 1994.

Bush, Douglas. ''Jane Austen''. London: Macmillan, 1975.

Liddell, Robert. ''The Novels of Jane Austen''. London: Longmans, 1969.

Jane Austen

2009-11-04T09:40:57Z

Bennet: Created page with ''''Jane Austen''' Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English novelist, best known for her works ''Pride and Prejudice'', ''Emma'' and ''Mansfield Park'', who became one of the most…'

'''Jane Austen'''

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English novelist, best known for her works ''Pride and Prejudice'', ''Emma'' and ''Mansfield Park'', who became one of the most famous English writers of all times.

Jane Austen was born December 16th, 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire. She was born into a big family with five older brothers, one older sister and one younger brother. Her father was the rector of Steventon. Jane Austen was fascinated by books very early as her father had a big library and her family read a lot, and started writing when she was about 15. During the 1790s, she wrote her first versions of ''Sense and Sensibility'' (at that time called ''Elinor and Marianne''), ''Pride and Prejudice'' (then called ''First Impressions'') and ''Northanger Abbey'' (then called ''Susan''). But only in the years between 1809 and 1816 she started revising them and published her first novel, ''Sense and Sensibility'', in 1811. During that time she started composing other novels, like ''Mansfield Park'', ''Emma'' and ''Persuasion'', and managed to publish some of them (''Pride and Prejudice'' 1813, ''Mansfield Park'' 1814, ''Emma'' 1816). In 1816 Jane Austen got ill and died on July 18th, 1817. Her novels ''Northanger Abbey'' and ''Persuasion'' were published posthumously. Jane Austen stayed, like her sister Cassandra, unmarried.

http://www.janeaustensociety.org.uk/

http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janeinfo.html