Analysis of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility:

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are two vastly different characters although they are close sisters. Elinor keeps her feelings for Edward hidden inside her heart, and Marianne makes it clear to the world that she is in love with Willoughby and doesn't care who knows it. Elinor doesn't take out her bad feelings towards others like Edward's intended, Lucy Steele, she treats her civilly and shows no one her true inner feelings. Deep in her heart she resents Lucy for getting to Edward first, but she knows this is not fair of her to think so, because it was Edward who chose Lucy instead of her.

Marianne shows her resentment and ill feelings towards others openly. She rolls her eyes often when Mrs. Jennings daughter, Charlotte, gives her attention. She does not like the fact that Edward is reserved and genteel towards Elinor. Marianne has always viewed romance as something that is exciting and burns with a fiery passion. Observing the way that Edward is towards Elinor makes her doubt his affections. Throughout the novel, Marianne is selfish and cares only for Willoughby. She shows affection towards her immediate family, but any others, including Colonel Brandon, she takes for granted.

Because Marianne reminds him of his first love at a young age, Colonel Brandon watches over Marianne silently. Elinor senses his dedication to her, but as always, hides it away in her heart. Elinor seems to hold everything inside her spirit, never letting anyone in to help bear her burdens. As time goes on, keeping the secret of Edward's engagement to Lucy eats away at her. She finally reveals it to Marianne in a heated discussion.

Marianne does not take the time to get to know Willoughby's situation, she just falls headlong in love with him, never considering the future. Willoughby is also at fault for leading her on and just wanting to have a bit of fun with her in the beginning. He brings the despair of losing her to Colonel Brandon on himself because he made the situation what it was. After rescuing her on the hillside, he came back and let her feelings and lovely countenance carry him away.

After Marianne recovers from her near death experience, she realizes how she treated others for so long. She confesses to Elinor that had she died, she would have regretted leaving that way. In all of her depression and anxiety, she was caring only for herself. When she tells Elinor this, she confesses that she was selfish and did not show sincere concern for Elinor's grievances. Marianne learns to care for others instead of constantly brooding about her own problems. She has grown into a young woman by the conclusion of the novel, learning to be selfless and care for those closest to her.

Sense and Sensibility is one of Austen's most profound novels. While bringing to light the deepest desires of the human heart, it is also critical of 19th century society and its many rules. Marianne has a lust for passionate and dangerous love, while Elinor desires a quiet life with Edward. Marianne learns to love someone whom she would not look twice at before, and Elinor must learn to show her emotions and let her sister know her feelings so she may receive help and comfort. Both sisters grow tremendously by the end of the novel, and as a reader, we knew what was best for them from the beginning.

A Summary of Austen's Major Works

Sense and Sensibility was the first novel by Jane Austen. The story is about three sisters and their mother who are left almost destitute by the death of their father. Through a turn of events, a cousin offers them a cottage where they live comfortably. Both of the sisters fall in love with men who at first do not make their intentions towards them clear. Edward Ferrars is the brother of the Dashwood sister's sister in-law Fanny. His mother wishes Edward to marry for money, when all the time Edward only wants a quiet life in the country and who does not care about money. When he meets the eldest sister, Elinor Dashwood, they immediately form a bond which leads them both into love, and all the while Edward has been secretly engaged to a Miss Steele for three years.

The middle sister, Marianne, is a very passionate character. She injures her ankle on a hillside one day and is rescued by a man named John Willoughby. They both fall madly in love with one another, but if Willoughby chooses to marry Marianne, he will lose the fortune promised him by his family.

When Willoughby abruptly leaves one day, Elinor and Marianne are asked by their neighbor, Mrs. Jennings, to visit London with her for a few months. After receiving no replies from Willoughby, who is also in town, Marianne is desperate to meet him. They happen to meet at a ball, and Willoughby is rude and unfeeling towards Marianne. Through a turn of events, Elinor finds out that he is promised to another woman who has money and will make a great impact on his fortune. Their friend, Colonel Brandon, proceeds to tell Elinor of Willoughby's qualities which are not the best. Marianne loses herself in depression after Willoughby returns the lock of hair she "so obligingly bestowed" on him (Austen).

Marianne is taken ill while on the way back to Barton Cottage with Elinor, and is on the brink of death. Colonel Brandon is deeply concerned about her, and offers to get her mother and bring her to where they are staying. While in the carriage with Mrs. Dashwood, he professes his love for Marianne and asks her if she survives the sickness, if he may pursue Marianne. Colonel Brandon is an unwavering figure throughout the novel. He loves Marianne even through the depths of despair, and some of her childish notions. Marianne reminds Colonel Brandon of a woman whom he loved in his past, which makes him fall even more in love with her and causes him to be protective of Marianne.

Marianne pulls through the sickness with Elinor's help. It is soon discovered the the Miss Steele Edward was engaged to has fallen in love with his brother and they are married. When Edward visits Barton Cottage, he delivers the good news to her and she is overcome with joy. So after months of being separated from Edward forever, they are finally married. Colonel Brandon and Marianne are also married, and from that day, Willoughby always regrets her and says that there is no woman as beautiful as Mrs. Brandon in the whole world.

Pride and Prejudice was the second novel by Jane Austen. The novel is about Elizabeth Bennet and her family. Mrs. Bennet is set on getting her daughters married off to rich husbands because the fate of their family rests in the fact that if they do not marry well, the family's estate will go to their cousin Mr. Collins. The Bennet family becomes acquainted with the Bingleys and their friend, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is cold and lofty to Elizabeth at first, while the friendly Mr. Bingley falls instantly in love with Jane. The story is centered around Elizabeth and Darcy, and the development of their rocky relationship. In spite of himself, Mr. Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth and proposes, but she tells him she must be in love with a man before she will ever marry him, and had he "behaved in a more gentleman like manner," she would have accepted him. Through a turn of events, he brings justice to the man who runs away with the Bennets youngest daughter, Lydia, and forces him to marry her. Elizabeth does not know this until after the marriage, and her regard and love for him deepens.

Mansfield Park was Austen's third novel. It is the story of Fanny Price, who is sent to live with her wealthy aunt, because her mother married beneath her and their family is very poor. Fanny is caught between the family relationships many times, and finds a friend in the youngest son, Edmund. The Bertram family become friends with Henry and Mary Crawford, who both have their eyes on marrying one of the Bertram children to gain the inheritance. The story intensifies when Henry believes himself to be in love with Fanny, who does not return his feelings. Edmund almost proposes to Mary many times and tells Fanny of his feelings which makes Fanny realize her love for him. Throughout the novel, Henry flirts with the married Maria Bertram, and runs off with her in the end. Mary finally tells Edmund that she wishes his wild and drunken older brother, Tom, were dead so that he could inherit the family fortune. In the conclusion of the novel, Fanny brings the family back together and marries Edmund, while the rest of the party are thrown out of good society because of their deeds (Spark Notes).

Emma is Jane Austen's fourth novel. Emma Woodhouse believes herself to be a great matchmaker, and uses her talents on her new and less fortunate friend Harriet Smith. Harriet is from a questionable back ground, so Emma decides to take her under her wing and find her a husband. She convinces Harriet to refuse a marriage proposal from a man she really does love, and convinces her that she is in love with a man she is not. Emma drags poor Harriet's feelings through rough circumstances, and finally almost all of the suitors are gone. After Harriet is snubbed by Mr. Elton at a ball, Emma's dear friend Mr. Knightley saves her by asking her to dance twice. Thus Harriet believes herself to be in love with Mr. Knightley. Upon hearing this, Emma realizes she is in love with Mr. Knightley also! After a chance meeting with her first suitor, Mr. Martin, Harriet is proposed to again by him. She accepts and they all live happily ever after ( BookRags).

Northanger Abbey. When Catherine Morland visits Bath with her friends, the Allens, she meets Henry Tilney and is unsuccessfully courted by him. She becomes friends with his sister Eleanor, and is asked to visit their home, Northanger Abbey. After spending many happy hours there, a misunderstanding forces Catherine to leave and Henry pursues her and they are married (Book Rags).

Persuasion. Anne Elliot fell in love with Captain Wentworth eight years ago. After being advised against marrying him by her peers, She is now past the marrying age and is doomed to a life alone with her egotistical father, and her stuck up sister. They are forced to rent their estate, and move to Bath. When the tenants arrive, they are a Admiral and Mrs. Croft. Mrs. Croft's brother is Captain Wentworth, although Anne does not
know it at the time. Anne visits her married sister Mary, who believes herself to be sick constantly. They Musgrove family, who have two daughters, Henrietta, Louisa and Charles who is Mary's husband, become great friends. Captain Wentworth is friends with Mr. Musgrove and spends much of his time at their estate. He is merely polite to Anne, although she is very anxious around him. She finally tells herself she has lost him forever. The families decide on a trip to Lyme to visit an old navy friend, and while there, Anne is spotted by a Mr. Elliot, who turns out to be her cousin. Towards the end of the novel, Anne is told by an old school friend that Mr. Elliot only wants to marry her to secure the Elliot inheritance. Captain Wentworth realizes his love for Anne is still there, and he has become much richer since they broke their engagement, so he asks for her hand and is accepted (Spark Notes).

1. Spark Notes. 2010. Web. April 16 2010.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mansfieldpark/

2. Book Rags. 2010. Web. April 16 2010.

http://www.bookrags.com/

Jane Austen's Major Themes, Influences, and Artistic style

Some major themes of Austen's novels is what the proper relationship should be between the individual, society, and others, freedom and restraint, and courtship and marriage (Academic Brooklyn). Austen dealt with these issues while still conforming to society's rules. She was rarely radical in her views and it was not until after her death that various authors criticized her for her views on conforming to society (Academic Brooklyn).

In 18th century England, women were not permitted to own property. Thus, when a father died, the house and grounds were immediately given to the son or closest male relative. This fact is also a component in many of Austen's novels. In Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters are forced to rely on the kindness of a male cousin who procures for them a cottage where they live comfortably with two servants. Also, educational opportunities were not readily availible for young women, so they educated themselves at home by reading and practicing musical instruments (Kings Education). As a child and a young women, Austen was encouraged to read and better her mind. Reading was a favorite hobby of the Austen family, and the library was where much of her time was spent. Much of her writings were influenced by society at the time, and by her extensive knowledge gained from books.

"Jane Austen became a major English novelist. Her writing style was elegant and satirical. Her work marked the transition in English literature from neo-classicism to romanticism (Literature Collection)."

1. Literature Collection: Jane Austen. 2010. Web. April 9 2010.

http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/jane-austen/

2. Jane Austen: Academic Brooklyn. 2010. Web. April 9 2010.

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/austen/index.html

3. Jane Austen: Kings College. 2010. Web. April 9 2010.

http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/jausten.html

After revising Sense and Sensibility, she sold the work to a publisher and it was accepted. It was published as a work "By a Lady" and it eventually gave her a profit of one hundred and forty pounds. She soon sold Pride and Prejudice in November of 1812, and became published in January of 1813. Readers began praising her for her work, and she encouraged people to tell others what her name was. Mansfield Park was published in 1814, and became a very popular novel. She had also begun work on Emma, which was sold in December of 1815. After beginning work on Persuasion and finishing it in August of 1816, she began working on her unfinished novel titled Sanditon.

Austen never received any awards for her contribution to British Literature. Women were not highly recognized in that era for their accomplishments, so it is left to us to appreciate the gift of her genius.

1. The Republic of Pemberley: Biography: Life (1775-1817) and Life. 2010. Web. 26

March 2010. http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janelife.html#life1a.

2. Austen.com: The Works of Jane Austen. 2010.Web. 1 April

2010. http://www.austen.com/novels.htm

Jane Austen's Early Life

Jane Austen was born in Hampshire, England on December 16, 1775, to Reverend George Austen and his wife Cassandra. She was the seventh child of eight, and was very close to her sister Cassandra. The only education she received outside of her home was that of the Abbey boarding school in Reading, England. Jane and her sister Cassandra. They were both sent home after a disease broke out in Reading, thus their education was continued at home. It was there that the girls and their siblings spent time learning the piano, drawing, and reading.

The Austen family spent much of their leisure time reading novels. The Reverend Austen had an extensive library that Jane spent many hours in. The Austen family would also put on plays in the church, with the help of their cousin.

In her early adulthood, trips were taken to Bath, London, and Southampton where the Austen's attended balls an plays. Jane was known by many as a social butterfly and met Mr. Tom Lefroy on one of these many outings. In one of her many letters to Cassandra, she admits to flirting with him, and despairs over the fact that she will only see him one last time. It was later said by Mr. Lefroy that he did have a "boyish love for Jane Austen". Jane was proposed to in 1802 by Harris Bigg-Wither while she and Cassandra were staying with the Bigg family. She accepted but changed her mind and refused him the next morning declaring that she did not love him.

Reverend Austen died in 1805, so the Austen family moved to Southampton to be closer to her brothers who were in the navy at the time. In 1809, Mrs. Austen, Cassandra, and Jane moved to Chawton to live in a house provided by their brother Edward. It was in this house that she revised Sense and Sensibility, and it was published anonymously in 1811. She then revised Pride and Prejudice, which was published in January of 1813. Jane became quite famous after the publishing of Pride and Prejudice, compelling her to begin work on Mansfield Park.

She finished her novels while living in Chawton, and after many years of writing, attending concerts, and visiting with her family, she left everything to Cassandra in her will and died on July 18, 1871. She was only 41 years old.

1. The Republic of Pemberley: Biography: Life (1775-1817) and Life. 2010. Web. 26

March 2010. http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janelife.html#life1a.

2. Jane Austen.org: Jane Austen Biography. 2010. Web. 26 March

2010. http://www.janeausten.org/.