Illness In Sense And Sensibility Essay - 1,193 words

Illness in Sense and Sensibility Class and gender difference made judgment, jealousy, appearance, gossip, and success all that mattered to the people living in that time period. Women could not own property, were expected to stay in the home, be polite and perform only the acceptable roles and behaviors which society would allow. Nothing could change or ease that situation, unless they married well. The novel Sense and Sensibility is a very admirable example of the situation in which the societies went through in the 19th century, it explores into the nature of illness that penetrated the society at large. While showing the trouble the girls went through trying to cope with the excessive restrictions, the book also has many examples of the narrow-minded wealthy and a lot of snobbery. Old Mr.


Dashwood is the owner of a large estate in Sussex called Norland Park. When Mr. Dashwood is dying, gender limitations prevent his wife and girls from inheriting both the estate and the money. Since Old Mr. Dashwood has no sons, his estate is bequeathed to his nephew, Henry Dashwood. Henry, in turn, leaves the estate to his eldest son, John. Trying to find a way to make sure the women are taken care of, he makes his son promise to care for his stepmother and three half-sisters.


In the 19th century, women did not have control of what happened to them unless they could find someone to marry who had money. Getting a job was not an option for the women at that time; therefore they would have to rely on marriage. Marriage would be very difficult for the girls because they had no money. Wealth was almost as important to the men as it was for the women in wedding. Since they had no money, they would have to rely on love and luck. Fanny's brother, Edward Ferrars, visits Norland for several weeks and develops a strong attachment to Elinor Dashwood. Edward is the eldest son of a man who died very rich; now his entire fate depends upon his mother's will.


As the women are trying their hardest to find a place to live, Edward and Elinor spend the days with each other. Elinor tells no one of her feelings. It is just assumed that they are meant for each other. Six months after Fanny claims herself mistress at Norland, Mrs. Dashwood receives a letter from her cousin Sir John Middleton, telling her that she and the girls are invited to stay at the Barton Cottage on his property in Devonshire. Marianne falls and twists her ankle.


Fortunately, a dashing gentleman comes along and carries Marianne home. When they reach Barton Cottage, he tells all the women that his name is Willoughby and that he hails from Allenham, about a mile and a half away. Sir John informs the women that Willoughby is an amiable young man and is likely to inherit the fortune of an elderly female relative, which he lives with at Allenham Court. Marianne thinks it is love at first site and that they are meant to be. As Elinor and Marianne try not to think of their troubles, Sir John announces that he has some guests and invites them over for dinner. They found themselves unfortunately unable to decline his invitation to dinner with his new guests, the Palmers.


Mrs. Charlotte Palmer was a lively woman, expecting a child, and her husband was rather dry just sitting and reading the newspaper throughout the entire visit. When the Palmer ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: sense and sensibility, elinor, the girl, marianne, jane austen

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