A hearty welcome, dearest Janeites, to the Austen 250 Reader Series––our celebratory blog series for the 250th anniversary year––and the first week of our Sense and Sensibility content, in which we shall cover the first eight chapters of the novel. I believe Austen's treasured debut requires no preamble, so without further ado, let us begin!
Sense and Sensibility opens with a bit of necessary exposition, detailing the history of the Dashwood family at the grand estate of Norland Park, in the county of Sussex. Mr. Henry Dashwood is the currently resides at Norland, along with his second wife and three young daughters. His son from his previous marriage, John, is in possession of wealth from his late mother and has, additionally, married well.
The elderly owner of Norland––an uncle of Mr. Dashwood's––dies shortly after the novel commences and leaves the property to John and his family. This is unfortunate as Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters would find themselves in a precarious position should Mr. Dashwood pass away. Unfortunately, this event happens only one year after the death of the uncle. With his final breath, Henry Dashwood asks his son to look after Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters, and John promises that he will.
John has a selfish bent which is only encouraged by his cold and haughty wife, Fanny. She immediately moves into Norland after Henry Dashwood's funeral, giving no prior notice to his family, who are demoted to the roles of visitors in their own home. Mrs. Dashwood is shocked and wishes to move immediately, but Elinor persuades her to remain at Norland.
Elinor, this eldest daughter whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgement [...] had an excellent heart; her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong: but she knew how to govern them [...] Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent. (Ch.1)
John Dashwood originally planned to give his sisters 3,000 pounds, but Fanny makes quick work of that idea by persuading her husband how terrible such a monetary loss would be for their own child, a boy of four years old. The couple parries back and forth a few times, with John not wishing to disobey his father. Fanny lauds John's honor and loyalty and convinces him that his late father did not wish for any funds be shared, only the common courtesy of a few gifts now and then. John quickly acquiesces and the ever-conniving Fanny decreases her husband's monetary generosity from 3,000 pounds to 1,500, to100, then to none at all.
"[...] whatever I may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds now and then will prevent their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father." (Ch. 2)
Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters reside at Norland for a number of months, all the while searching for a new place of residence. Pragmatic Elinor reigns in her mother and Marianne, whose choices of homes tend to err on the side of extravagance. One bright spot in the midst of the turmoil is the arrival of Edward Ferrars, Fanny's much kinder brother, with whom Elinor forms an acquaintance. An attachment grows between the two of them, to the delight of Mrs. Dashwood––who is sure of an engagement––and to the chagrin of Fanny, who has "higher" hopes for her brother. Marianne laments Edward's lack of passion and expressions of feeling, despairing that she will never find a husband who meets all of her expectations.
Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address. He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. [...] he was neither fitted by abilities nor disposition to answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him distinguished as — they hardly knew what. (Ch. 3)
Marianne and Elinor discuss the subject and Marianne shocks her sister with her candidness and surety of an impending union between Elinor and Edward. Elinor is unsure, due to the disparity of their financial situations, and Fanny takes every opportunity to hint at Edward being "destined" for more. A distant cousin of Mrs. Dashwood writes, rather out of the blue, offering her and her daughters the use of the cottage on his estate, Barton Park. He had heard of their situation and wished to provide assistance. Barton, in Devonshire, is quite the distance from Norland, in Sussex, yet Mrs. Dashwood has had enough of Fanny and wishes to leave at once. Without a moment's hesitation she writes back accepting Sir John's offer.
To quit the neighbourhood of Norland was no longer an evil; it was an object of desire; it was a blessing, in comparison of the misery of continuing her daughter-in-law's guest: and to remove for ever from that beloved place would be less painful than to inhabit or visit it while such a woman was its mistress. (Ch. 4)
Mrs. Dashwood sends their furniture on to the cottage and invites a forlorn Edward to visit them often at Barton Cottage, in the hope that distance will not quiet his affection. John and Fanny have no qualms about having Norland all to themselves, yet even though Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are glad to leave, Marianne in particular is quite melancholy.
"Dear, dear Norland," said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; "when shall I cease to regret you!—when learn to feel a home elsewhere! Oh, happy house, could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot, from whence, perhaps, I may view you no more! And you, ye well-known trees!—but you will continue the same. No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless [...] ! No; you will continue the same, unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you occasion, and insensible of any change in those who walk under your shade! But who will remain to enjoy you ?" (Ch. 5)
Barton Cottage, while small, is comfortable and nice. Sir John visits immediately and invites them all to Barton Park. There they meet Lady Middleton, who is rather listless and reserved, but Sir John makes up for his wife's countenance with his own jovial conversation.
The situation of the house was good. High hills rose immediately behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open downs, the others cultivated and woody. The village of Barton was chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows. The prospect in front was more extensive; it commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond. (Ch. 6)
The Dashwoods then attend a dinner at Barton Park, where they are first introduced to Lady Middleton’s mother, Mrs. Jennings, a very amiable, if a bit vulgar woman who is fond of matchmaking and gossip. A friend of Sir John's, Colonel Brandon, a quiet gentleman, is also presented. After the meal, Marianne plays the pianoforte, which causes a ruckus of over-the-top compliments where Sir John and Mrs. Jennings are concerned, however the Colonel shows great taste in his attention towards and appreciation of Marianne's performance.
Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters were met at the door of the house by Sir John, who welcomed them to Barton Park with unaffected sincerity; and, as he attended them to the drawing-room, repeated to the young ladies the concern which the same subject had drawn from him the day before, at being unable to get any smart young men to meet them. They would see, he said, only one gentleman there besides himself; a particular friend who was staying at the Park, but who was neither very young nor very gay. [...] Luckily, Lady Middleton's mother had arrived at Barton within the last hour; and as she was a very cheerful, agreeable woman, he hoped the young ladies would not find it so very dull as they might imagine. (Ch. 7)
Mrs. Jennings notices that the Colonel has been taken with Marianne and slyly shares that she thinks it would prove to be a wonderful union. Marianne heartily disagrees, believing that Colonel Brandon, at thirty-five, is much too old a man to consider. Later, she and her mother discuss Edward Ferrars, as he has not yet come to visit them.
Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now, therefore, nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world. In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance. She was remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of discernment enabled her, soon after her arrival at Barton, decisively to pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne Dashwood. [...] She was perfectly convinced of it. It would be an excellent match, for he was rich, and she was handsome. (Ch. 8)
Such ends our first portion of Sense and Sensibility. Stay tuned for the next installment of Chapters 9-18, released next Tuesday, January 21. A helpful week-by-week reading guide can be found here. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear anything and everything, dear readers!
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