A review by courtneynreed
Sense and Sensibility, by Linda M. Jennings, Jane Austen
4.0
Jane Austen always had a particular talent for crafting full-novel dualities, with Sense and Sensibility being written in beautiful parallel between two sisters - Austen's favorite medium for her stories.
Elinor and Marianne - Sense and Sensibility, respectively, are painted throughout the text as two ends of a spectrum. Elinor is very reserved and in-control of her emotions, at least in her outward sense. She is a guide to her widowed mother, and carries the responsibility of her family's favor and success in very high dignity and diligence. Marianne, on the other end of the duality, is expressive and does not mask her emotions. Described as the slightly more handsome of the two, Marianne is younger and less aware of her outward shows of feeling. She listens well to her heart, and acts quickly on her emotions.
While neither lives right or wrong, and both are very highly esteemed by all who meet and know them, Austen makes it very clear of their difference. While they disagree with each other's view, they care for each other dearly. Austen then proceeds to unite them over the parallel course of their relationships, and the sisters pick up each others traits as they adapt to the chaos of their lovers' seduction, deceit, and heartbreak.
Always a beautiful look at the unbreakable love between sisters, and never without male drama, Austen shows us that things never really change over the course of history. Men and women will never cease to misunderstand each other, men may always continue to misunderstand their own feelings, and sisters will always defend each other, regardless of differences.
Elinor and Marianne - Sense and Sensibility, respectively, are painted throughout the text as two ends of a spectrum. Elinor is very reserved and in-control of her emotions, at least in her outward sense. She is a guide to her widowed mother, and carries the responsibility of her family's favor and success in very high dignity and diligence. Marianne, on the other end of the duality, is expressive and does not mask her emotions. Described as the slightly more handsome of the two, Marianne is younger and less aware of her outward shows of feeling. She listens well to her heart, and acts quickly on her emotions.
While neither lives right or wrong, and both are very highly esteemed by all who meet and know them, Austen makes it very clear of their difference. While they disagree with each other's view, they care for each other dearly. Austen then proceeds to unite them over the parallel course of their relationships, and the sisters pick up each others traits as they adapt to the chaos of their lovers' seduction, deceit, and heartbreak.
Always a beautiful look at the unbreakable love between sisters, and never without male drama, Austen shows us that things never really change over the course of history. Men and women will never cease to misunderstand each other, men may always continue to misunderstand their own feelings, and sisters will always defend each other, regardless of differences.