Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen | Literary Analysis

The division and contrast of the term sense and the term sensibility in the book title is a common viewpoint that Jane Austen’s classic can be seen. The separation is an obvious symbol contrasting the book’s two main female siblings, Elinor and then Marianne. According to the deeper meaning metaphors, Elinor embodies traits of “sense” including reason, control, common sense, social awareness, and a well-rounded appreciation of caring for others. In direct contrast, Marianne, the younger one, depicts persona of “sensibility” which include high sentiment, whimsical, impulsiveness, and ecstatic tunnel-vision passion. Whereas Elinor hides her longing for Edward a young man in the area, Marianne frankly and unapologetically proclaims her love for John, another male suitor. Their different approaches towards the gentlemen they desire, and what they do to convey that love, echo their conflicting personalities and life values.


However, the novel cannot be examined singularly as a straightforward literary analysis of the metaphors of contrast. Elinor, though representing sense, does not lack vigor, and Marianne, though representing sensibility, is not always irrational and stubborn. Marianne is a seventeen-year-old girl who is naïve, spontaneous, and full of romantic dreaming. She tends to take everything to the extreme and is the ultimate drama queen.She personifies sensibility and becomes emotionally disturbed by life during those troubled times. The novel portrays that Marianne largely inherits this trait from her mother who is represented in a similar way as Marianne. She is thin-skinned, poignant, theatrical, and daydreams all day long about romance.


Marianne very much represents the heart of the novel but Elinor represents the mind….


Although Jane Austen like to poke fun at the positive notion of susceptibility in the novel she doesn’t fight for the release of emotional responsiveness altogether but more about the formation of equilibrium between being a rational person and being a silly overly-passionate person. An example would be Fanny Dashwood’s cruel eruption of hurt near the conclusion of the book which uncovers that not enough feeling or being impassive towards love is as precarious and damaging as excessively loving a girl.


The ending illustrates a nice metaphor as well. The two women, Elinor and then Marianne become happy with the outcome, but only because first by taking wisdom from each other. The dichotomy turns into convergence. Together they discovered how to experience and put across their emotions wholeheartedly while also holding onto their poise and

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