: Choose one of the films listed below and write an essay on the associated topic. These films are o
Sense and Sensibility, based on Jane Austen’s 1811 novel
The Romantics were known for rejecting reason (“sense,” as seen in the character of Elinor), instead embracing “over-the-top” emotion (“sensibility,” as seen in the character of Marianne). How does Austen contradict that ideal in Sense and Sensibility?
ANSWER
Sense and sensibility (1995) is a film based on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1811) historical fiction novel that features a British period drama directed by Ang Lee. Sense and Sensibility the novel was written in the late 18th century in a time when sensibility in extreme forms was very popular (Lyons 1996). The author intended the novel to be a pushback against the idea that moral worth was measured by the innate ability of a character to be emotional (Lyons 1996). Austen used humour, satire and irony to mock these notions depicting the exaggeration often displayed in emotion and unrealistic situations. One of the biggest achievement of the author and the story is that for once it was able to make flawed heroin acceptable, sympathetic and appealing perhaps the “progenitor of the novel of realism” which gained more popularity in the 19th century (Lyons 1996). This essay focusses on reason versus emotion (sense versus sensibility) as depicted by the main characters as the story unfolds.
The story focuses majorly on two sisters Elinor and Marianne. Elinor personifies common sense while Marianne personifies emotionality thereby sense and sensibility respectively. An event occurs that changes the sisters’ lives when their father dies and they are left under the care of their half-brother John. However, John, greatly influenced by his cunning wife, Fanny, fails terribly at this task. The two sisters together with their mother and younger sister, Margaret, have to take matters in their own hands to find a way to sustain themselves and move to Devonshire. Marianne being the more expressive one meets two men who express interest in her, Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby. In an ill-advised decision, Marianne chooses John who does not take long to disappoint and abandon her but in a corrective decision, goes to Brandon and settles in a sensible marriage with him.
In the same time, we meet Elinor, more discreet and prudent develops a relationship with Edward Ferrars a brother to her half-brother’s wife Fanny. Elinor is the perfect image of reason because she is cautious to display her affections peculiarly after learning that Edward has been engaged to Lucy Steele for years in secret. When the engagement is revealed, Edward is disowned and but Brandon offers assistance in the form of a job as a clergyman. Later into the story, Elinor receives news that Mr Ferrars had got married and believes it was her Edward but is happy to later discover that it was Edward brother Robert. In a happy event, Edward arrives and proposes to Elinor who accepts the proposition.
Using the characters of Elinor and Marianne we can dive into the understanding of sense and sensibility as applied in the story. Marianne, for instance, prefers to express herself exactly as she feels while holding nothing back. She has no discretion and struggles to be polite or conceal her feelings towards those she does not like. This character spreads to affect her romantic ideals in a way that she utterly cannot conceal her emotions and becomes excessively sensitive. She spreads her ideals to Elinor with regards to her romantic affections towards Edward. For her affections, she does not even stop to consider Colonel Brandon even though is more sensible and respectable. This makes her have a character of intolerance especially towards the feelings of others. This impacts even her physical well-being when she becomes ill after Willoughby abandons her. It blinds her from seeing those that cared for her and those that were there for her. In some way, it could be said that she lost her ability to make sound judgements due to her overwhelming emotions. However, her illness acts as self-check to reevaluate her decisions which leads her to be more reasonable and a devoted wife to Brandon which achieves both of them true happiness;
On the other hand, Elinor is a representation of reason in contrast to her sister. She can manage her feelings towards Edward even on the direst of circumstances. She handles her problems in secrecy as a way to make those around her unburdened by her troubles. When she discovers Edward’s secret engagement, unlike Marianne, she does not break down but self-commands herself to composure and good sense. This character enables Elinor to offer sound judgement even to her mother while she is only nineteen years old as well as her sisters. She covers for Marianne’s insensitivity by apologizing on her behalf severally. However, it alienates her and she admits to feeling alone. She puts up a proper and logical front with her family to protect them enabling her to be likeable and appropriate in decorum.
In an analysis, the distinction between reason and emotion forms the basis of the human decision-making process. The story of the film and by extension the novel forms the logic that emotion just as a reason is both equivalent and useful in the process of making a decision. By the use of Austen’s characters and events, the sense is understood the “use of reason to understand the world and build the intellect” while sensibility and the romantics apply “emotions to understand nature and connect to the feelings of others” (Lyons 1996).
In the end, both characters achieved their definition of happiness and their journeys there had their particular nature of challenges. While Elinor felt alone and heavily burdened, Marianne had the frontline experience of depression that caused her even physical illness. In the end, Elinor gets her Edward in a marriage proposal and Marianne gets over the abandonment by her first love and settles with Brandon into what can be described as happiness. Two completely different characters and decisions but the same and equivalent happy ending. Other characters in the story such as the mother shows both aspects of sense and sensibility. Colonel Brandon has a strong sense that enables him to wait for Marianne even after she chooses Willoughby instead of him. We do not get to know Edward enough to know which side he falls. The film does not focus much on the development of male characters as it has a feminist touch to it.
As indicated earlier, Jane Austen wrote the novel at a time when sensitivity was prevalent as highly admired. Good character was measured by the ability of a character to identify with others sympathetically. Characters would cry, faint and even die from experiencing emotion and was seen as the ultimate and innate significance of humanity. Austen was determined to discredit this notion by juxtaposing her characters Marianne and Elinor for the readers and viewers to determine themselves that emotion alone is not always the wisest choice. However, she plays with the idea by somehow supposing that in the instance Willoughby never abandoned Marianne, sensibility would have carried the day and discredited sense. The story goes back and forth between the two extremes until resolution when both characters get their desired result.
The lessons on sense and sensibility apply even to today’s world. Considering the author’s notions of sense and sensibility at that particular time that emotion was not the only way to be a hero but reason as well. In today’s world, perhaps the lesson would be on striking the balance of the two, having enough sentimentality to be able to sympathise and empathise with others but also enough logic to stand beside the action and issue a sound judgment on various issues. A balance of the two would mean an all-round character able to circumvent daily challenges and experiences to make wholesome decisions and sustainable strategies and plans of the future.
References
Austen, J. (2004). Sense and sensibility. OUP Oxford.
Lyons, D. (1996). Passionate Precision: Sense and Sensibility. Film Comment, 32(1), 36.
