Though there is some friction between them and John and Fanny, they are soon joined at Norland Park by Fanny’s brother, Edward Ferrars, who forms an attachment with Elinor. Faced with having to leave their home, the Dashwood women struggle to find a suitable new home within the means of their limited income. However, John’s selfish, snobbish wife, Fanny, convinces him that he need not show any great responsibility to his step-sisters and their mother, and John is not difficult to persuade. On his deathbed, Henry presses John to take care of his second family which John assures his father he will. Elinor, Marianne, their mother and younger sister are left with only small inheritances while the bulk of Mr Dashwood’s wealth and property is passed to John his son from an earlier marriage. The novel begins with the death of their father, Henry Dashwood. Sense and Sensibility is largely a story of two contrasting sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. But, on reflection, Sense and Sensibility is also a carefully crafted critique of social ethics and leaves the reader with much to think over. Men and women of contrasting and complimenting character are thrown together, but, the chances of love are thwarted by the social conventions of the period that prevent honesty and openness and instead breed duplicity and secrecy. Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen’s first published novel, appears to be a straightforward romance.

Sense and sensibility book