Jane Austen

1. Rachel Knighton Honors English 12 Pd. 4 Jane Austen http://www.janeaustenfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/jane-austen_in_blue_dress_e5no.jpg

2. Author Biography Jane Austen was an English novelist born on December 16, 1775. She was the seventh of eight children and grew up in the Parsonage House of Steventon, Hampshire. Austen was a witness to much political unrest and change in her environment. Her father, Reverend George Austen, was an intelligent clergyman. Her mother, Cassandra Leigh came from a long line of clergymen. The Austens led a comfortable life even though they were not very wealthy. Most of Jane and her sister’s education occurred at home. They put on theatrical performances in their barn at home. Jane loved reading from a young age and was an avid writer by age twelve. She was greatly encouraged by her family.

3. Author Bio (Cont’d) Austen was briefly engaged in 1802, but never married. Writing and family were her true loves. After he father retired in 1801, the family moved to Bath. Jane used the events she experienced in her new city to inspire some of her books. She was not used to life outside of her country setting and found the new area exciting.

4. Author Bio (Cont’d) Following the death of her father, Jane, her sister, and mother moved to Southampton in 1805. After spending a few years there, they women moved to Chewton Cottage in Hampshire. This is where Jane spent the rest of her life. This estate was the site of many of Austen’s publications; however they were published anonymously, so she was not a well known author.

5. Author Bio (Cont’d) The last years of Austen’s life were spent relaxing and writing. Her last work was entitled Sanditon, but it was never finished. Jane fell ill in 1817 and was taken to Winchester for care where it is believed she died from Addison’s disease on June 18, 1817. She is buried at Winchester Cathedral.

6. Books by Jane Austen • Northanger Abbey • Jane Austen's first major novel was written in 1798-99, when she was in her early twenties. It is a comic love story set in Bath about a young reader who must learn how to separate fantasy from reality. Miss Austen sold the novel (then entitled Susan) to a publisher in 1803, and the work was advertised but never published. She bought it back many years later, and her brother Henry Austen published the novel as Northanger Abbey after her death in 1817.

7. Books by Jane Austen • Sense and Sensibility • Sense and Sensibility was the first of Jane Austen's novels to be published. She began to write it sometime around 1797, and she worked on it for many years before its publication in 1811. The title page said that it was written "By a Lady", and only her immediate family knew that Jane Austen was the author. Impetuous Marianne Dashwood tumbles into a fairytale romance that goes sour, and her practical older sister Elinor copes with the family's financial problems while hiding her own frustrated romantic hopes. The book was a success, and it even earned a profit!

8. Books by Jane Austen • Pride and Prejudice • Pride and Prejudice was first written in the late 1700's, then rewritten in 1811-1812 and finally published in early 1813. It is probably the most-read of all of Jane Austen's novels and is a popular favorite among many. Originally entitled First Impressions, the novel deals with the misjudgments that often occur at the beginning of an acquaintance and how those misjudgments can change as individuals learn more about each other.

9. Books By Jane Austen • Mansfield Park • Mansfield Park was written between February, 1811 and the summer of 1813. It was the third novel Jane Austen had published and it first appeared on May 4, 1814. During her lifetime, it was attributed only to "The author of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice", and the author's identity was unknown beyond her family and friends. It is Jane Austen's most complex novel and deals with many different themes, from the education of children, to the differences between appearances and reality. The version of the novel housed here at Austen.com is slightly annotated.Lovers' Vows: This is the play that the Bertrams wish to enact in the first volume of Mansfield Park. In addition to the text of the play, a synopsis is provided here, as well as a short analysis explaining some of the objections to the play within the novel and a cast list.

10. Books by Jane Austen • Emma • Emma was written in 1814-1815, and while Jane Austen was writing it, it was suggested to her by a member of the Prince Regents' household that she dedicate it to His Royal Highness. Austen took the suggestion as it was intended--as a command--and Emma was thus dedicated, but the dedication itself is rather slyly worded. Emma deals with a young woman's maturation into adulthood and the trouble she gets herself into along the way. The version of the novel housed here at Austen.com is slightly annotated.

11. Books by Jane Austen • Persuasion • Persuasion was written in 1815-1816, while Jane Austen was suffering from her fatal illness. She was still working on some revisions at the time of her death in 1817. The novel was published posthumously by her brother, Henry Austen. Persuasion is a novel of second chances, expectations of society, and the constancy of love. You can also read the preface which Henry wrote telling the world of his sister's authorship, life, and untimely death.

12. Literary Devices for Northanger Abbey Characterization: noun • portrayal; description: the actor's characterization of a politician. • the act of characterizing. • the creation and convincing representation of fictitious characters. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/characterization?s=t)

13. Characterization • Characterization is a ubiquitous literary device in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. She uses this device to help the reader picture the character in their mind while they are progressing through the story. An example of this is found in the beginning of the story as a direct physical characterization of Catherine Morland, the main character. “She had a thin awkward figure, a sallow skin without colour, dark lank hair, and strong features” (Northanger Abbey 7). • In addition to imagery, Austen uses characterization to develop her characters emotionally. She illustrates their dispositions through conversation and direct characterization. An example of this is found in an explanation of Catherine’s outer emotional appearance. “That her heart was affectionate, her disposition cheerful and open, without conceit or affectation of any kind – her manners just removed from the awkwardness and shyness of a girl” (Northanger Abbey 12).

14. Characterization • “He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and , if not quite handsome, was very near it” (Northanger Abbey 19). This quote characterizing Henry Tilney is describing Catherine Morland’s judgment of him upon their initial encounter. This shows the vibrant traits that stood out to Catherine and first attracted her to the dashing gentleman. Her ambition for much of the plot is to establish a relationship with Henry and be in his presence as much as she can. If she had not noticed his outstanding traits the story would have been very different and she may have continued to, uninterestedly engage in spending time with Isabella Thorpe’s brother, John.

15. Literary Devices for Northanger Abbey • Conlfict: noun • a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife. • controversy; quarrel: conflicts between parties. • discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles: a conflict of ideas. • a striking together; collision. • incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another: a conflict in the schedule. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conflict?s=t)

16. Conflict • One conflict in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey is unveiled when Catherine’s acquaintances invite her to go on a carriage ride with them. Both males and females will be joining the ride. Catherine talks to Mr. Allen about her next days plans and tells him that she has been invited, but will not be attending because she has already made plans with Miss Tilney. Mr. Allen is glad at hearing this, because he and his wife both see it as improper for boys and girls to be riding together through public areas. Catherine then feels a conflict within herself, because she has previously engaged in these rides. “Dear Madam, then why did not you tell me so before? I am sure if I had known it to be improper, I would not have gone with Mr. Thorpe at all; but I always hoped you would tell me, if you thought I was doing wrong” (Northanger Abbey 97). Catherine is at war with her emotions, feeling that she has done wrong and disappointed Mr. and Mrs. Allen.

17. Conflict • In chapter XIII a conflict erupts between Catherine and her best friend, Isabella. John, James, and Isabella want to go on a carriage ride and invite Catherine to come along. However, she has already made plans to walk with the Tilney’s. She is stubborn in her decision to keep plans with the Tilney’s and Isabella gets upset at her refusal to join them. She feels that Catherine is taking herself out of their group and expresses her distress by saying, “I cannot help being jealous, Catherine, when I see myself slighted for strangers!” (Northanger Abbey 91). Isabella’s thoughts become reality as Catherine begins to spend more time with the Tilney’s. • The main conflict of the story lies within Catherine. She is introduced to Henry Tilney at the beginning of the novel. She finds him very attractive and spends her time in Bath trying to spend as much time as she can with him. At the end of her time in Bath, Henry’s sister, Eleanor and General Tilney invite her to come back to their home, Northanger Abbey, to spend a few weeks. She is delighted to go. A few weeks after she is at the Abbey, General Tilney mysteriously asks her to leave. This separates her from Henry and she is devastated, but the conflict is resolved a short time later when they are reunited and get married.

18. Literary Devices for Northanger Abbey • Atmosphere/Mood: noun • a state or quality of feeling at a particular time: What's the boss' mood today? • a distinctive emotional quality or character: The mood of the music was almost funereal. • a prevailing emotional tone or general attitude: the country's mood. • a frame of mind disposed or receptive, as to some activity or thing: I'm not in the mood to see a movie. • a state of sullenness, gloom, or bad temper. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mood?s=t)

19. Atmosphere/Mood • “…and Catherine felt herself in high luck” (Northanger Abbey 19). This quote is a description of how Catherine believes the rest of the ballroom perceives her. She feels eloquent and untouchable in the grasp of Henry and she feels that this mood is dispersing through the room as people see her with the young Tilney. • Austen creates a romantic mood when she describes Catherine’s thought of Henry Tilney, “…she found him as agreeable as she had already given him credit for being. He talked with fluency and spirit – and there was an archness and pleasantry in his manner which interested, though it was hardly understood by her” (Northanger Abbey 19). Catherine is enthralled by Henry’s simplistic charm.

20. Atmosphere/Mood • When Catherine barges into the Tilney’s home after the discrepancy between herself and John the atmosphere in the room is described in an inexplicable manner, “Whatever might have been felt before her arrival, her eager declarations immediately made every look and sentence as friendly as she could desire” (Northanger Abbey 95). This quote makes the reader think of what good or bad happenings may have just occurred in the Tilney home that Catherine interrupted.

21. Literary Devices for Northanger Abbey • Theme: noun • a subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; topic: The need for world peace was the theme of the meeting. • a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art. • a short, informal essay, especially a school composition. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/theme?s=t)

22. Theme • One theme that occurs in Austen’s Northanger Abbey is that of lies and deceit. Catherine faces much of this throughout the novel involving her acquaintances of John Thorpe and also with the Tilneys. One particular instance is when Catherine believes that she has scheduled a walk with Miss TIlney. However, when she goes to meet her the servant says that she is not in. As Catherine leaves and looks back, she sees Eleanor walking out of her home with her father. Catherine feels upset at this and is not happy that Eleanor ignored her.

23. Theme • A second theme in the novel is society and class. An example of this can be found when General Tilney unexpectedly tells Catherine to leave Northanger Abbey. She is confused of his reasoning until Henry comes to her home and explains the General’s thoughts. He had been told that she was not from good financial means. He did not want someone like this living in his home and asked her to leave. “It was not till the late explanation at Northanger that they had the smallest idea of the false calculations which had hurried him on. That they were false” (Northanger Abbey 230). The confusion of Catherine’s position in society led the General to kick her out of the Abbey. Class was very important in this time period and the General would not have an unworthy person living in his home.

24. Theme • A third prevalent theme in the story is youth. The main characters of this novel are all adolescents. Throughout the storyline they grow and learn how to make mature decisions instead of the ignorant ones they had been making before. An example of this can be found in Catherine, who for one instance would go on carriage rides with just John and herself in the carriage. This was seen as unacceptable to Mr. Allen, but upon inquiry Catherine learned of his disapproval and no longer took part in these adventures.

25. Literary Devices for Northanger Abbey • Point-of-View: noun • a specified or stated manner of consideration or appraisal; standpoint: from the point of view of a doctor. • an opinion, attitude, or judgment: He refuses to change his point of view in the matter. • the position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator's outlook from which the events are depicted and by the attitude toward the characters. • (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/point+of+view?s=t

26. Point-of-View • The point of view in Northanger Abbey varies by using the narrator. There are some instances where the narrator talks directly to the reader. “But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her” (Northanger Abbey 11). A second view is a normal one where events are simply described. “Catherine followed her orders and turned away” (Northanger Abbey 57). The final view in the novel is free indirect discourse. Catherine’s thoughts and feelings are explained even though the story is being looked at from the view of third person.

27. Literary Devices for Sense and Sensibility • Characterization: noun • portrayal; description: the actor's characterization of a politician. • the act of characterizing. • the creation and convincing representation of fictitious characters. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/characterization?s=t)

28. Characterization • Austen uses characterization in her book Sense and Sensibility to portray the characters’ personalities such as exemplified in this quote, “Mrs. Jennings, Lady Middleton’s mother, was a good-humoured, merry ,fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar” (Sense and Sensibility 29). • Along with describing the characters’ personalities, Austen uses this device to describe the relationships between her characters. “His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the theme of general admiration; and the laugh which his gallantry raised against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior attractions” (Sense and Sensibility 36). This quote explains to the reader the ways in which Marianne is attracted to WIlloughby.

29. Characterization • This device is also used as a way of simply telling the reader about a character as seen in this quote, “Willoughby was a young man of good abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners” (Sense and Sensibility 41). This statement tells the reader some quick values that lie within Willoughby’s character.

30. Literary Devices for Sense and Sensibility • Conflict:noun • a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife. • controversy; quarrel: conflicts between parties. • discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles: a conflict of ideas. • a striking together; collision. • incompatibility or interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another: a conflict in the schedule. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conflict?s=t)

31. Conflict • Willoughby and Marianne team up against Elinor, telling her that Colonel Brandon is not a suitable husband for a girl as young as Marianne. Elinor sticks up for him saying that he is a respectable man. She calls the two of them out on their ignorance by saying, “If their praise is censure, your censure may be praise, for they are not more undiscerning, than you are prejudiced and unjust” (Sense and Sensibility 43). • “If they were one day to be your own, Marianne, you would not be justified in what you have done” (Sense and Sensibility 58). This quote supports Elinor’s argument with Marianne that she should not have gone into Mrs. Smith’s home while she was not there. Elinor is upset, because even though the estate may someday belong to Marianne through her marriage to Willoughby, she did not have the right to enter it without Mrs. Smith being there. Marianne, of course, tries to defend herself by saying that it may be hers someday and that gives her the right to be there.

32. Conflict • In chapter XIII Colonel Brandon receives a mysterious letter that calls him to town. Everyone wants to know what the letter was about and why his leave must be so urgent, but he will not tell. Everyone begins to create ideas of what the letter was about and make assumptions on if it was real or if it was written by himself to create a situation that would cause him to have to leave the area. This situation creates a conflict between the inhabitants of the Barton cottage.

33. Literary Devices for Sense and Sensibility • Atmosphere/Mood:noun • a state or quality of feeling at a particular time: What's the boss' mood today? • a distinctive emotional quality or character: The mood of the music was almost funereal. • a prevailing emotional tone or general attitude: the country's mood. • a frame of mind disposed or receptive, as to some activity or thing: I'm not in the mood to see a movie. • a state of sullenness, gloom, or bad temper. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mood?s=t)

34. Atmosphere/Mood • “When he was present she had no eyes for any one else. Every thing he did was right. Every thing he said was clever” (Sense and Sensibility 45). This quote describes the all-consuming power that Wiloughby had on Marianne’s attention. He literally took her breath away and when they were together she could see no one else but him. • When Lucy tells Elinor that she and Edward have been engaged for four years Elinor is caught quite off guard. She is not sure of what to say to Lucy and the conversation acquires a feeling of awkwardness from Elinor’s perspective.

35. Atmosphere/Mood • “Marianne felt for her most sincerely; but she did more harm than good to the cause, by turning very red, and saying in an angry manner to Margaret, -- “Remember that whatever your conjectures may be, you have no right to repeat them.”” (Sense and Sensibility 51). The situation this quote is describing is the one in which Margaret reveals the sure possibility that Marianne has feelings for a young gentleman. This causes a terrible, embarrassing atmosphere for Marianne and she becomes very upset with Margaret.

36. Literary Devices for Sense and Sensibility • Theme:noun • a subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; topic: The need for world //peace// was the theme of the meeting. • a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art. • a short, informal essay, especially a school composition. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/theme?s=t)

37. Theme • One theme in the story is the relationship between money and inheritance. The widow, Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters are left with nothing after the passing of her husband. “He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew” (Sense and Sensibility 4). Due to the society of the times, the women could not work and were left without a home. The lack of financial means, also decides the marital fate of the two single daughters of the family. They need to marry a wealthy man in order to live soundly, but it would be hard to attract one without having their own small fortune.

38. Theme • A second theme is marriage. The two oldest daughters of Mrs. Dashwood are nothing less than eligible to be married. The oldest daughter, Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars. It seems that they will be married before long, but her acquaintance, Lucy lets her in on a secret. She has been engaged to Edward for a long time. “"Four years you have been engaged," said she, with a firm voice” (Sense and Sensibility 108). Love has also crossed Marianne’s path. She had caught the attention of Willoughby. Through their time spent together she had grown strong feelings for him, but in a letter to her he expresses that he had never loved her and did not mean to give her the intention that he did. She was absolutely crushed by this. She was sure that they were to be wed also.

39. Theme • A third theme is secrecy. There are a few trap doors in this novel that lead to emotional turmoil. One example is found in Willoughby’s sudden pulling away from Marianne and the Dashwoods. He hid that he did not love Marianne from her and the family until it was too late and Marianne had grown very much attracted to him. Another example is the secret engagement of Lucy and Edward. No one was supposed to know that they were engaged, but Lucy told Elinor and she was crushed, because she had fallen for him.

40. Literary Devices for Sense and Sensibility • Diction:noun • style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words: good diction. • the accent, inflection, intonation, and speech-sound quality manifested by an individual speaker, usually judged in terms of prevailing standards of acceptability; enunciation. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diction)

41. Diction • The use of the word “propriety” is a careful choice by Austen, because it describes Mr. John Dashwood’s societal appearance, “but he was, in general, well respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of his ordinary duties”(Sense and Sensibilty 5). His familial correlation shows an opposite behavior, because his wife takes away from his propriety. “But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself; more narrow-minded and selfish” (Sense and Sensibility 5). • The diction in the description of Elinor’s feelings towards the exposition of Lucy’s engagement to Edward is very strong. Austen’s choice of words gives the reader a vivid picture of how devastated Elinor is upon discovering this news. “She was mortified, shocked, confounded” (Sense and Sensibility 111).

42. Diction • Austen shows a drastic change in diction within the character of Willoughby. This occurs in his return letter to Marianne in which he expresses that he never did love her and hopes that she did not get the impression that he did. She is crushed and insulted by the letter. Willoughby’s diction towards her thus far has always been comforting and joyful; however this exchange shows a change to an insulting, unyielding diction.

43. Summary: Northanger Abbey Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey is divided up into two books. Book I begins with Catherine Morland accepting an invitation from the Morlands’ family friends the Allens to spend a few weeks of vacation in the resort town of Bath. Catherine is very excited, because she does not often get to go out. It is just her luck that she is introduced to a young gentleman, Henry Tilney. She is very attracted to the intellectual, well-mannered boy. After their meeting however, they do not have another encounter for a while. After a short time of being there the Allens encounter their friends the Thorpes. Catherine becomes very good friends with their daughter, Isabella, who is well versed in the current happenings of all the balls, fashion, and gossip in Bath. The girls’ brothers, John Thorpe and James Morland come to town. Isabella begins to fall in love with James after the foursome spends some time together by going on carriage rides. Catherine is always stuck trying to converse with John, but her thoughts are preoccupied with thinking of Henry Tilney. John becomes under the impression that Catherine is attracted to him, but the truth is quite on the contrary.

44. Summary: Northanger Abbey As Isabella and James spend more and more time together, Catherine begins to separate from the group. She becomes friends with Henry’s sister Eleanor Tilney, who is aware that Catherine has feelings for Henry, but keeps her observation to herself. The girls plan to go for a walk with Henry, but inclement weather puts a damper on their adventure. John, James, and Isabella strongly urge Catherine to go for a carriage ride with them instead and she reluctantly complies. On their ride Catherine spots Henry and Eleanor making their way to her home to pick her up for their walk. Catherine feels awful that she broke their plans and asks John to stop the carriage and take her to them, but he denies her request. This makes her very angry. After the rest of the ride, Catherine barges into the Tilney’s home, passed the servants and into the room where General Tilney and his two children are relaxing. She urgently apologizes for missing their walk and they plan a new time. The General invites her to stay for dinner, but she cannot, because the Allens expect her home, so she takes a rain check.

45. Summary: Northanger Abbey Following the incident of Catherine being pressured into the carriage ride, John, James, and Isabella try to make her come with them again. Catherine stands her ground this time and is faithful to her previous plans with the Tilneys. As she walks with Henry and Eleanor, they get better acquainted and find they have similar taste in literature and the trio becomes much closer. Upon Catherine’s return home, she is informed that James and Isabella are engaged to be married. Also, John is taking his leave from Bath and meets with Catherine to tell her goodbye. He is left with the false impression that Catherine is in love with him. In Book II, the arrival of Henry Tilney’s brother, Captain Frederick Tilney, captures Isabella’s attention. The two begin to form a relationship. James is of course unaware of this connection, but due to his mediocre income, Isabella’s attention is much happier spent on the Captain.

46. Summary: Northanger Abbey Eleanor and Catherine’s friendship has grown very strong during their time in Bath and this leads to the Tilneys inviting Catherine to come spend a few weeks at their home, Northanger Abbey. She graciously accepts. A small time later, they are on the road to the Abbey. Catherine expresses her thoughts on what the Abbey will be like and the adventures she might have there. Henry humors her and pulls at her vivid imagination by telling her what her time might be like there, adding ideas of hidden passages and secrets. One night Catherine explores into the late Mrs. TIlney’s room. She begins to suspect that the General had some sort of role in her death. Henry catches her, scolds her, and demands that his father would never do such a thing as end his mother’s life.Isabella and Captain Tilney’s suspected relationship causes John to end his engagement to Isabella. Catherine finds this out when she receives a letter from her brother, James. The letter also states that Isabella and the Captain are now engaged. However, this turns out to be false, because she receives a letter from Isabella, herself stating that the Captain has broken her heart and left her. Catherine is upset by her friend’s ridiculously unworthy behavior and does not write her back.

47. Summary: Northanger Abbey After a few weeks pass, General TIlney orders Catherine to leave Northanger Abbey. She does not understand his reasoning for this, but respects his wishes and returns to her home, where she lives in an uneasy manner. She misses Henry dearly and wishes they could speak. Henry does come to her home and surprise her by asking her hand in marriage. She is absolutely thrilled! He goes on to explain that she was asked to leave, because of a misunderstanding with his father about her family’s financial standing. Although they must still gain permission from the General to get married, they are happy they can be together again. After Eleanor Tilney marries a rich man, the General is in a good mood and consents to his son’s marriage to Catherine. The book ends with the couple happily married.

48. Review This book was a good read. It started off slow and was definitely confusing at times. However, as the story developed it got more and more interesting. The more you got to know the characters the more intriguing it became. The plot had a few twists and turns with the characters' relationships. It was surprising when Henry returned to Catherine's home after she was asked to leave the Abbey. I thought they were done for good. I am glad that it had a happy ending for them. There were a lot of conversations between the characterst that were all over the place. I had trouble keeping up with their changing topics and opinions. Overall the plot was a good one. As Catherine lived through the plot, I felt like I was learning and growing with her. It was a good story that let me in as one of its players. I would recommend this book to someone who can see past the plot and pay attention at the boring explantory parts.

49. Summary: Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility is broken up into three volumes. The first volume begins with the tragic death of Mr. John Dashwood. His passing has left his son, who is to his first wife, with all of his possessions. Mr. Dashwood’s second wife and three daughters are left with little income and nowhere to live. John will not help them out so, the foursome is invited to live at Barton Park with their relatives, the Middletons. The oldest of the three daughters, Elinor is upset by their sporadic move, because she has recently gotten involved with Edward Ferrars. She does not want to leave her new crush. Marianne has a few discussions with her mother on the fact that she does not feel that Edward has good enough interests in the arts to be with Elinor. She accepts that he is a man of good status, but she feels that he needs to have more interest in literature and the arts to be a proper fit for her sister. Also, Marianne is upset about Elinor’s feelings for Edward not being strong enough. She feels that Elinor should be absolutely committed to the gentleman at this point, but Elinor is not sure Edward feels the same way she does and is scared to attach herself any farther.

50. Summary: Sense and Sensibility At Barton Park Marianne and Elinor meet Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby. Upon their meeting, Willoughby is attracted to Marianne and begins to court her. However, their courtship does not last long, because Willoughby suddenly has to leave for business. Two friends of the Middletons arrive at Barton Park, Lucy and Anne Steele. Lucy befriends Elinor and tells her that she is engaged to a Mr. Ferrars for four years now. Elinor believes it to be Edward’s younger brother, Robert, but then she is informed that it Edward that has her heart. Elinor is flabbergasted. Volume II begins with Marianne and Elinor going to London with Mrs. Jennings. It is rumored that Marianne and Willoughby are to be engaged, but Marianne receives a letter from him stating that he never had feelings for her and did not mean to lead her on. Marianne is crushed and the family decides that Willoughby was not a proper fit for her anyway.