The Conflict of Head and Heart: A Study of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility
The resolution of the novel lies in the sisters learning from one another. Marianne eventually realizes that her "sensibility" was a form of selfishness that caused her family distress. She grows to appreciate the quiet constancy of Colonel Brandon, a man who possesses deep feeling but expresses it through action rather than performance.
Austen uses the sisters’ romantic failures to critique the extremes of their philosophies. Marianne’s unfiltered sensibility nearly destroys her. When Willoughby abandons her for a wealthy heiress, her grief is so indulgent that it leads to a life-threatening illness. Her refusal to exercise "sense" leaves her defenseless against the cruelties of a world driven by money and status.
The Conflict of Head and Heart: A Study of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility
The resolution of the novel lies in the sisters learning from one another. Marianne eventually realizes that her "sensibility" was a form of selfishness that caused her family distress. She grows to appreciate the quiet constancy of Colonel Brandon, a man who possesses deep feeling but expresses it through action rather than performance. Sense and Sensibility
Austen uses the sisters’ romantic failures to critique the extremes of their philosophies. Marianne’s unfiltered sensibility nearly destroys her. When Willoughby abandons her for a wealthy heiress, her grief is so indulgent that it leads to a life-threatening illness. Her refusal to exercise "sense" leaves her defenseless against the cruelties of a world driven by money and status. The Conflict of Head and Heart: A Study
