Sense and Sensibility is a novel written by Jane Austen that depicts the story of the Dashwood sister’s journey to finding love. Throughout the story, both Elinor and Marianne Dashwood run into men whom they both love, however, events end up happening that affect their relationship. Despite that, they both end up marrying men who they are in love with. Through both Elinor and Marianne’s relationships, Austen is able to prove to the reader how many societal expectations and manners were perceived. Austen is also able to convey how many women acted in order to both survive and move up the social classes in order to gain more money. Many characters in Sense and Sensibility act upon their greed or love in order to gain their desired result, most notably Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood. Even though there are many of those who react to greed and their human natures. Both Elinor and Marianne show the ways that the social status of someone could impact their life and the result of their marriage.
Sense and Sensibility contains many examples of the rigid social hierarchy during the Regency era. This is evident throughout the entire story that there are three major social classes, rich, middle, and poor. These strict social classes prevented those from the lower classes from marrying into higher classes. Despite that, many people from different classes marry those in higher classes. A character that successfully succeeded in marrying into a higher social class is Lucy Steele. Although she comes from a family that is not rich nor from a high-ranking social class, she and her sister successfully entered high society. Lucy did this by taking advantage of those in high class and pretending that she herself came from a family that was well off. However, she lacked the education that many of those who grew up in well-off families had, and this led her to have a sense of shrewdness that was obvious in those that she talked to. Although she wasn’t from a well-off family, she still managed to marry Robert Ferras, a man that is from a wealthy family who had lots of inheritance money. Mrs. Ferras, Robert’s mother, on the other hand, dislikes those who are in a lower class than her. This is evident when Mrs. Ferras disowned Edward over his marrying Lucy.
One of the central themes in "Sense and Sensibility" is using marriage as a tool for social climbers. The characters go through the hardships of courtship and matrimony, where marriage is not only a matter of love but also a means of securing financial stability and social status. The novel shows various methods and chances for securing a marriage, highlighting the position of women who are often dependent on men for their economic well-being in a society where women had a limited amount of freedom and were expected to fulfill traditional roles. One example of this is Elinor, despite all of the information that was revealed to her, like him being engaged to Lucy, she still decided to marry him. Elinor's unwavering dedication and commitment to Edward ultimately contribute to the resolution of their relationship, as Edward's own integrity and affection for Elinor lead him to break off his engagement with Lucy and seek happiness with Elinor.
In Sense and Sensibility, it highlights many of the challenges women faced and the opportunities that they had. Austen's novel shows the limited roles and expectations of women, as seen through the Dashwood sisters' navigation of their societal and personal lives. While Elinor represents prudence and the traditional female virtues expected in the 18th and early 19th centuries, Marianne represents the challenge against restrictive norms through her sensibilities and emotional openness. One example of this is the financial dependence that females have on males. Women typically relied on fathers, husbands, or male relatives for financial support, and their inheritance rights were often limited. Marianne and Elinor Dashwood's situation proves this dependence, as they face economic challenges and uncertainty following their father's death. This is exemplified by the Dashwood sisters' situation, where they face challenges due to their lack of independent wealth and the constraints on women's roles and opportunities. The dependence on men during this time allowed for many women to be easily betrayed. This is evident, as seen by Willoughby’s actions towards Marianne. While he said he genuinely loved her, he did not think their relationship was worthy enough to carry out because of her lack of money. This allowed Willoughby to do whatever he wanted without facing any major repercussions because he did not have any need to be with her.
Sense and Sensibility also includes a lot of characters who act on their own human nature. One of the most prominent examples of this is Willoughby. This is shown by his actions towards Eliza, where he got her pregnant and refused to marry her. On top of his actions toward Eliza, he allured Marianne to fall in love with him, but then leaves her without any notice before. After he had already married someone with a lot of money, he tried to win Marianne’s favor again. The entirety of his actions are based on his greed for money and pleasure. While, he strives to go out with women for his pleasure, if they do not have enough money for his needs, he does not hesitate to abandon them. Another example of greed, is Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood, at the beginning of the story, Mr. John Dashwood was supposed to send out a set amount of money for the Dashwood sisters. However, Mrs. John Dashwood convinced Mr. John Dashwood to not give them any money for the sake of their child. These actions are only a little bit of Mrs. and Mr. John Dashwood’s greediness.
In conclusion, through the experiences of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, Austen shows the story of the many societal expectations and manners that controlled women's lives. Despite facing obstacles and heartbreaks in their romantic pursuits, both sisters ultimately find love and marry men whom they deeply care for. The theme of marriage as a tool for social climbers is central to the novel, highlighting the importance of marrying for wealth in a society where financial stability and social standing are closely related. Moreover, "Sense and Sensibility" portrays human nature's darker aspects, portraying characters driven by greed, deception, and self-interest. The novel's portrayal of women's dependence on men for financial support and societal validation reflects the limitations and constraints imposed on women during the Regency era.
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