Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen that explores the lives of the Dashwoods, mainly Elinor and Marianne. In their former home, Norland Park, Elinor is seen to be fond of Edward Ferrars, but after moving to Barton Park, the two don't see each other much anymore. At their new home, the sisters meet Sir John Middleton, Lady Middleton, Mrs Jennings, and Colonel Brandon. Soon, Marriane, meets a handsome gentleman, John Willoughby, and they fall in deep love. However, Willoughby soon leaves, to Marianne's despair, for business. One day, Edwards gives Elinor a visit, but he is seen to look unhappy. Later, it is revealed that he has a secret, loveless engagement to Lucy Steele. Willoughby is then seen in a new relationship with Miss Grey, a lady with a large fortune; it is also revealed that he had seduced and abandoned Eliza Williams. Soon, after finding out about his engagement with Lucy, Mrs Ferrars makes Edward break the engagement immediately. In the end, Elinor marries Edward, and Marriane, who realizes she never would've lived well with Willoughby, marries Colonel Brandon.
In most cases, people pay attention and great focus on others with similar taste, opinion, and personality when finding a suitable partner. The behaviors and actions of one can impact other people’s first impressions in multiple ways. Marianne sees taste and opinion as one of the most important factors in a romantic relationship; she wouldn’t be able start a good and long-lasting attachment if the other has a different personality from her. When she is asked about her opinions on Edward Ferrars at the start of the novel, Marianne confidently states that he lacked taste in music, art, and books. She puts the matters of taste and sensibility in men as a top priority. On the other hand, Marianne immediately falls in deep love and admiration with Willoughby when she discovers that he is fond of music, dancing, and literature, much like her. Moreover, their similar opinions considering Colonel Brandon also makes Marianne develop strong passion for him. Colonel Brandon, when discussed upon in one of Marianne and Willoughby’s conversations, is said to have neither taste, genius, or spirit. Colonel Brandon’s different character from Marianne in one of the main reasons that cause her to take little interest in him at first. Marianne’s perspective of suitable relationships and marriage includes the necessity of similar taste and opinion.
Most people are strict on one’s background and past life before forming a romantic relationship or proposing for marriage. Marianne, like many, pays attention to one’s past to find a suitable partner who would develop compassion for her just as she does to him. Moreover, she is particularly interested in people in the suitable age range, suitable social status, and suitable family. When Elinor mentions Colonel Brandon obvious love for Marianne, she replies that he is way too old for her, with an age difference of nineteen years. Marianne also shows little interest in Colonel Brandon because of his particular past life and background. When he was youthful, he had a loved one who soon died; one reason he likes Marianne is because she shows similar behavior with his past lover, reminding him of her. Willoughby, however, is a young and rich gentleman with a stable fortune and suitable family for Marianne, which still contributes to a small portion of her passion for him. In the novel, it is also hinted that the Marianne wasn’t particularly fond of Edward Ferrars because of his unstable income, which depended entirely on his mother’s inheritance, and the fact that Fanny, a snobbish and manipulative woman, was his sister. Especially in older eras and time ranges, one’s social income, family condition, and age was important when finding a suitable partner.
In many eras, some believed in love at first sight, and developed strong passion for people they admired instantly. True love at first sight normally and often depends on appearance and first impressions. Marianne had been shown at the beginning of the novel that she loved Willoughby deeply in a short time, which might hint at her believing love at first sight. Moreover, she thinks that the fact that Willoughby just happened to pass by when she tripped in the rain could be fate. However, if she was less imprudent and more like her elder sister Elinor, she would’ve realized that she wouldn’t have been happy if she married Willoughby, which she discovered later on in the story plot. Later, Willoughby is found to have seduced and abandoned Miss Eliza Williams, and married Miss Grey for her large fortune. On the other hand, although she didn’t take interest in him at first sight, Marianne soon learned to admire Colonel Brandon’s features and spent a calm life with him later on, after their marriage. One’s relationship and opinions on people can change when one learns more about them.
Sense and Sensibility explores the Dashwood sisters’ lives as they navigate through the hardships of love, heartbreak, and social expectations. The second eldest of the Dashwood sisters, Marianne follows the love regulations that most people have. For one, she pays great attention to people’s taste and opinions. While she isn’t interested in Colonel Brandon, who had no genius, taste, or spirit, she fell deeply in love with Willoughby, who shared many interests with her. Moreover, Marianne considers people with the suitable family conditions, background / past life, and social status. Willoughby’s stable income and family is considered, while Colonel Brandon had a lover before, who soon died. Marianne also disliked Edward Ferrars at first because he was the sister of Fanny Dashwood, the snobbish wife of Mr. John Dashwood. Unlike Elinor, at the first half of the novel, Marianne admired people who caught her sight at once, and people with good first impressions, like Willoughby. However, she started to like Colonel Brandon after learning to appreciate his taste and opinion.
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