Main Characters : Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Willoughby, Colonel Brandon
Written on similar lines as Pride and Prejudice this novel by Jane Austen is quite similar to it in character and cast. The main characters of the story are Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, young, pretty sisters like the Bennet sisters of Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately the Dashwood family has fallen on hard times due to the death of their father. His property goes to his only son Mr John Dashwood, the girl's stepbrother. Mrs Dashwood and her daughters are forced to seek a home more suited to their current state of relative poverty as they are disliked by Mrs John Dashwood. Sir John Middleton, their distant relation offers them Barton Cottage far away from Norland and they decide to shift there. Elinor is in love with Edward Ferrars, who is also Mrs John Dashwood's brother. Marianne and her mother all like him and expect Elinor to be engaged to him but he does not propose to Elinor when they are at Norlund though he shows a decided preference for Elinor's company. Elinor gives excuses for this to herself and her impetuous younger sister Marianne who cannot understand dilly dallying or withholding her emotions. Elinor is on the other hand level headed and sensible as compared to Marianne who is rather rash and impulsive giving in to her sensibilities. This is the crux of the difference in the characters of the two sisters. At Barton Cottage Marianne meets Willoughby who is a young and handsome young man who soon seems completely devoted to her and besotted by her. She too falls deeply in love with him as he is the epitome of young man to her, sharing in all her interests like music and dancing. Colonel Brandon , a respectable gentleman of thirtyfive odd years, Sir Middleton's friend also becomes interested in Marianne but she pays no attention to him having eyes only for Willoughby. They spend idyllic days in each other's company, meeting for parties and picnics where they have eyes only for each other. After this Willoughby is suddenly sent by his aunt from whom he is to inherit Allenham Cottage, on an errand. He comes back no more to Barton Cottage. Marianne expects him to return daily and watches everybody who comes by on horseback to be Willoughby. Edward Ferrars comes for a visit to their house and goes away without proposing to Elinor. In Sir John Middleton's house they meet Mrs Jennings his mother in law, an elderly, rich, friendly woman and Mr and Mrs Palmer, Mrs Palmer being the younger daughter of Mrs Jennings. Mr and Mrs Palmer are absolute opposite of each other. Mrs Palmer is talkative, goodnatured and friendly whereas Mr Palmer is taciturn and uncommunicative who takes no notice of Mrs Palmer's speeches. Elinor and Marianne also become acquainted with Lucy and Anne Steele, two girls who are relatives of Mrs Jennings & are thus invited to Sir Middleton's house. Lucy Steele is a clever, conniving girl and on becoming better acquainted with her Elinor realises that Lucy Steele is secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars, and they have been engaged for many years. Although Lucy tells Elinor that Edward is very attached to her Elinor does not believe this as she feels that Edward had entered the engagement when he was younger and not aware of Lucy's character fully. Elinor believes that Edward being a gentleman cannot sever the engagement but regrets it. Of this she becomes sanguine, though she does not reveal all this to her mother or sisters who still cherish the hope that she will marry Edward.
When Willoughby does not return to Devonshire, the girls Elinor and Marianne agree to Mrs Jenning's invitation to stay with her in London for a few months. On reaching London, Marianne comes to know of Willoughby's presence in town. She writes him a number of times but receives no reply to her letters. This agonises her so much that she can hardly behave normally with others. Willoughby's true character is revealed to her when they hear the news that he is engaged to be married to a rich heiress. Meanwhile Colonel Brandon tells Elinor that Willoughby had seduced and then ditched his ward. The Steele sisters also arrive in London to stay with the Palmer's. Here Lucy Steele is invited to stay with Mrs John Dashwood, Elinor's sister in law. Lucy Steele meets Edward Ferrars younger brother Robert and finding him to be richer than Edward gets engaged to him after breaking off her engagement with Edward. After Willoughby's betrayal Marianne is anxious to leave London and return to her mother. On their way back she falls dangerously ill and they have to break their stay at Colonel Brandon's house. She is nursed to health by Elinor. When she is sick Willoughby also comes there and asks Elinor's forgiveness for his behaviour towards Marianne which he regrets deeply. Marianne recovers slowly. The story ends with Marianne accepting Colonel Brandon's proposal of marriage and Elinor marrying Edward Ferrars who has been provided a living as a clergyman in Colonel Brandon's parish church.
What I like about the book:
Elinor's character is a balanced and sensible one. She is able to judge people accurately and she guides her mother and Marianne to take proper decisions when they would have acted foolishly or impulsively. She is able to judge Edward's actions in the affair of Lucy Steele, and does not reproach him for it.
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