Sense and sensibility quotes
Chapter 1-5: the dashwoods have to leave Norland, makes john promise to give them money, he is
manipulated into not doing so. Edward visits Norland and he and Elinor flirt – M expresses her
disappointment with him and dislikes E’s stoicism/prudence as she is sensible. They them move to a
cottage owned by Mrs Dashwood’s cousin.
Chapter 1/2:
The dashwoods father dies and they are forced to move house away from Norland as their brother
and his wife have inherited it. He debates how much to give to them – his wife wants to give them
nothing.
About the situation:
'The family of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex' - Quickly we are introduced to the
family central to the novel as well as the importance of Sussex.
‘he left them a thousand pounds a-piece' - The girls only received 1,000 pounds each from the
man's death.
About Mrs and Mr Dashwood:
'Mr John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family'- John Dashwood has less
sensibility than the rest of the family, however he still promises to do what he can to, ‘make them
comfortable.'
'Had he married a more amiable woman, he might have been made still more respectable than
he was' - Importance of marriage and reputation - classist values.
'Mrs John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself - more narrow-minded and selfish' -
Reader not told John Dashwood's wife's name, showing sexism. Her character is immediately
portrayed as unlikeable to the reader.
'The prospect of four thousand a year warmed his heart and made him feel capable of generosity
- he could spare so considerable a sum with little convenience' - John Dashwood desperately
wants to provide financial support to the women, comedic tone, he has been manipulated by his
wife.
'He finally resolved that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more
for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife
pointed out.'
Sensibility through Marianne and her mother:
‘She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything. Her sorrows, her joys, could have no
moderation' - Similarities between the two sisters. Marianne different in some ways e.g. more
sensibility, less able to control her emotions.
'Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but by Mrs Dashwood it was
valued and cherished' - Marianne and her mother both similar and bonded over excess of
sensibility.
‘Can the soul really be satisfied with such polite affections.
,‘To love is to burn, to be on fire’. – metaphor representing her excess of emotion.
‘Romantic sensibilities’ – of Marianne.
'They gave themselves up wholly to sorrow' 'agony of grief' 'encouraged each other' - Marianne
and their mother both extremely indulgent in their own emotions, in this case grief from Mr
Dashwood's death.
Sense represented in Elinor:
‘I think him everything amiable and worthy’
‘I greatly esteem him’ – when asked if she loves Edward
Chapter 3
They move out of Norland,
About leaving – Elinor’s sense;
'Suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgement rejected several houses
as too large for their income, which her mother would have approved' - Elinor's sense and
intelligence, responsible, thinking ahead
Edward and critique of him:
‘A growing attachment between her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs John Dashwood, a
gentlemanlike and pleasing young man' - Beginning of intimacy between Edward Ferras and
Elinor
'He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them please. His behavior
gave every indication of an open affectionate heart' 'His understanding was good, and his
education had given it solid improvement.' - Description of Edward's personality - wealthy, well
educated
'It has none of that grace which I should expect in the man who could seriously attach my sister'
'I am afraid he has no real taste' - Marianne's sensibility, obsession with taste
Chapter 4:
'I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste' - Elinor defending Edward's taste,
showing admiration for him.
'Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor!' - Elinor controlling and holding back her emotions,
Marianne frustrated.
Chapter 5
, 'Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so much beloved' - Nostalgia
and sadness leaving Norland.
‘Oh! Happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot'
Marianne feels heart broken
Context:
- Inheritance and leaving out girls
- Importance of wealth – dependence of women – thus marriage
Chapter 6
Chapter 6-10: journey to Barton Cottage, introduced to all of the neighbours, Brandon is critisised
by Marianne, Mrs Jennings gossips about M and B. Marianne falls and W saves her. Elinor is more
cautious while M is in love w him.
'Her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had
all the elegance which her husband's wanted' - She is an attractive, elegant, desirable woman,
marriage plot and pleasing men.
'But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth' 'she was
reserved, cold and had nothing to say for herself' - A cold, blunt personality compared to her
husband – female critique.
Chapter 7
The Middleton’s
'However dissimilar in temper and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in
that total want of talent and taste which confined their employments.’ - Mr and Mrs Middleton
are both contrasting in character, however they both enjoy inviting others round, being
surrounded by talent and company.
'Sir John was a sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she humoured her
children' - Difference in gender roles - important.
'The Miss Dashwood’s were young, pretty and unaffected. To be unaffected was all that a pretty
girl could want to make her mind as captivating as her person' - He appreciates the genuineness
of the girls and their appearances.
Mrs Jennings
'A good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and
rather vulgar. She was always full of jokes and laughter' - Mrs Jennings is introduced - a likeable,
energetic old woman, Lady Middleton's mother
‘Hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex' 'Marianne was vexed at it for her
sister's sake’ - Mrs Jennings is obsessed with gossip surrounding marriage and love. Elinor isn't
Chapter 1-5: the dashwoods have to leave Norland, makes john promise to give them money, he is
manipulated into not doing so. Edward visits Norland and he and Elinor flirt – M expresses her
disappointment with him and dislikes E’s stoicism/prudence as she is sensible. They them move to a
cottage owned by Mrs Dashwood’s cousin.
Chapter 1/2:
The dashwoods father dies and they are forced to move house away from Norland as their brother
and his wife have inherited it. He debates how much to give to them – his wife wants to give them
nothing.
About the situation:
'The family of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex' - Quickly we are introduced to the
family central to the novel as well as the importance of Sussex.
‘he left them a thousand pounds a-piece' - The girls only received 1,000 pounds each from the
man's death.
About Mrs and Mr Dashwood:
'Mr John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family'- John Dashwood has less
sensibility than the rest of the family, however he still promises to do what he can to, ‘make them
comfortable.'
'Had he married a more amiable woman, he might have been made still more respectable than
he was' - Importance of marriage and reputation - classist values.
'Mrs John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself - more narrow-minded and selfish' -
Reader not told John Dashwood's wife's name, showing sexism. Her character is immediately
portrayed as unlikeable to the reader.
'The prospect of four thousand a year warmed his heart and made him feel capable of generosity
- he could spare so considerable a sum with little convenience' - John Dashwood desperately
wants to provide financial support to the women, comedic tone, he has been manipulated by his
wife.
'He finally resolved that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more
for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife
pointed out.'
Sensibility through Marianne and her mother:
‘She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything. Her sorrows, her joys, could have no
moderation' - Similarities between the two sisters. Marianne different in some ways e.g. more
sensibility, less able to control her emotions.
'Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but by Mrs Dashwood it was
valued and cherished' - Marianne and her mother both similar and bonded over excess of
sensibility.
‘Can the soul really be satisfied with such polite affections.
,‘To love is to burn, to be on fire’. – metaphor representing her excess of emotion.
‘Romantic sensibilities’ – of Marianne.
'They gave themselves up wholly to sorrow' 'agony of grief' 'encouraged each other' - Marianne
and their mother both extremely indulgent in their own emotions, in this case grief from Mr
Dashwood's death.
Sense represented in Elinor:
‘I think him everything amiable and worthy’
‘I greatly esteem him’ – when asked if she loves Edward
Chapter 3
They move out of Norland,
About leaving – Elinor’s sense;
'Suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier judgement rejected several houses
as too large for their income, which her mother would have approved' - Elinor's sense and
intelligence, responsible, thinking ahead
Edward and critique of him:
‘A growing attachment between her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs John Dashwood, a
gentlemanlike and pleasing young man' - Beginning of intimacy between Edward Ferras and
Elinor
'He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them please. His behavior
gave every indication of an open affectionate heart' 'His understanding was good, and his
education had given it solid improvement.' - Description of Edward's personality - wealthy, well
educated
'It has none of that grace which I should expect in the man who could seriously attach my sister'
'I am afraid he has no real taste' - Marianne's sensibility, obsession with taste
Chapter 4:
'I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste' - Elinor defending Edward's taste,
showing admiration for him.
'Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor!' - Elinor controlling and holding back her emotions,
Marianne frustrated.
Chapter 5
, 'Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so much beloved' - Nostalgia
and sadness leaving Norland.
‘Oh! Happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot'
Marianne feels heart broken
Context:
- Inheritance and leaving out girls
- Importance of wealth – dependence of women – thus marriage
Chapter 6
Chapter 6-10: journey to Barton Cottage, introduced to all of the neighbours, Brandon is critisised
by Marianne, Mrs Jennings gossips about M and B. Marianne falls and W saves her. Elinor is more
cautious while M is in love w him.
'Her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had
all the elegance which her husband's wanted' - She is an attractive, elegant, desirable woman,
marriage plot and pleasing men.
'But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth' 'she was
reserved, cold and had nothing to say for herself' - A cold, blunt personality compared to her
husband – female critique.
Chapter 7
The Middleton’s
'However dissimilar in temper and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in
that total want of talent and taste which confined their employments.’ - Mr and Mrs Middleton
are both contrasting in character, however they both enjoy inviting others round, being
surrounded by talent and company.
'Sir John was a sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother. He hunted and shot, and she humoured her
children' - Difference in gender roles - important.
'The Miss Dashwood’s were young, pretty and unaffected. To be unaffected was all that a pretty
girl could want to make her mind as captivating as her person' - He appreciates the genuineness
of the girls and their appearances.
Mrs Jennings
'A good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and
rather vulgar. She was always full of jokes and laughter' - Mrs Jennings is introduced - a likeable,
energetic old woman, Lady Middleton's mother
‘Hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex' 'Marianne was vexed at it for her
sister's sake’ - Mrs Jennings is obsessed with gossip surrounding marriage and love. Elinor isn't
