Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility is a novel written by Jane Austen. It's about two sisters, young women finding, losing, and finding the love of their lives. Written in 1811, this novel was her first published. In those times money, especially inheritance, was at the forefront of every decision, including how you treated someone and who you married. In one instance, Mr. Dashwood doesn't know how to treat Colonel Brandon, (I call him The Colonel), until he knows just how much The Colonel is worth. With this in mind, the girls (Elinor the eldest, and Marianne) having very little money and virtually no inheritance, therefore, have little prospects for marriage. This is the theme of the book: Money, marriage, heartache, and love despite it all. Review anyone?

Review: I had the advantage (or disadvantage, whichever way you want to see it) of seeing the movie first. Don't get me wrong, the movie was excellent as well as the book. The casting was perfect, especially Kate Winslet as Marianne. I really abhor Hugh Grant as Edward, but I abhor Hugh Grant as anything so that's really neither here nor there. At any rate, the ending was thus ruined for me. The only real pleasure I got from the book was in getting the story, the dialogue, and feeling of the story from Jane Austen herself instead of the movie maker. You never really do get the full picture of a book when it's been turned into a movie, until you've read the book. And also I'de seen the movie like two years ago so I remembered how the story ended, but not the details on how it unraveled itself, so I was always anticipating that last conversation between Elinor and Edward. I'm entering into theory territory so I'll end with this: I loved this book, read it, it's a great love story. I promise though that I will not like all books I read. Bad reviews will be coming up. Janette Oke... watch your back! spoilers ahead ...

Theory: My favorite character in this book is, hands down, Marianne. She's sensitive, passionate, modest, smart, and indignant. I definitely identify with her more then Elinor, who is more of the quiet strength variety. I know that I like Marianne's character the most because of the growth in her character. When she feels something, she feels it "to the utmost", but she will move on her opinion when she's wrong. Growth. This is truly evident in the fact that she does end up marrying the Colonel. Who is less flagrant with his emotions then Marianne's first love Wiloughby. At first The Colonel's phlegmatic disposition is off putting to her, and she saw it as a lack of character.
"Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was perfectly able to reflect. I considered the past: I saw in my own behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of kindness to others. I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings, and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me to the grave. " ...... "I did not know my danger till the danger was removed; but with such feelings as these reflections gave me, I wonder at my recovery,--wonder that the very eagerness of my desire to live, to have time for atonement to my God, and to you all, did not kill me at once. Had I died,-- in what peculiar misery should I have left you, my nurse, my friend, my sister!--You, who had seen all the fretful selfishness of my latter days; who had known all the murmurings of my heart!--" Quote from Marianne after realizing just how stupid she acted over the loss of Wiloughby. Speaking of him. I know too many just like him.
"Her thoughts were silently fixed on the irreparable injury which too early an independence and its consequent habits of idleness, dissipation, and luxury, had made in the mind, the character, the happiness, of a man who, to every advantage of person and talents, united a disposition naturally open and honest, and a feeling, affectionate temper. The world had made him extravagant and vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish. Vanity, while seeking its own guilty triumph at the expense of another, had involved him in a real attachment, which extravagance, or at least its offspring, necessity, had required to be sacrificed. Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment." - Elinor speaking of Wiloughby. Ugh.. what a jerk! And I know so many guys who are just like him. But what really irks me is that they really start to feel sorry for the guy, as if spending beyond your means and being completely self centered were some kind of debilitating disease that can cause you to use people without fear of consequence. Like he is some kind of victim of his own stupid behavior. Do I sound bitter? I might be, I know so many men just like him, not one of whom is my husband (thank God) but having to see so many of his friends and certain people, who shall not be named, acting just like Wiloughby, it really bugs the crap out of me!
On a lighter note, I love this quote because it's true:
"--for though a very few hours spent in
the hard labor of incessant talking will despatch more
subjects than can really be in common between any two
rational creatures, yet with lovers it is different.
Between THEM no subject is finished, no communication
is even made, till it has been made at least twenty
times over." This is of Elinor speaking with Edward after their engagement. It was good to finally be able to picture them being outwardly affectionate with one another.

Maybe I have my mommy-dar on a little too much right now, but, um, I find it a little weird that Sir John was always rounding up young people to party with. a case of emotional immaturity maybe? Maybe his wife wasn't sufficient enough entertainment? Whatever it is, it's creepy.

And is it only me or doesn't it seem like the Miss Steeles did a whole lot of staying at other people's houses? Slackers.

I think maybe the moral of the story here is that most women prefer the handsome young vivacious man, instead of the steady, mature, stable man. Even though the stable would definitely love them better. So here's to all the ladies who chose the boring stable guy!!