Sense and Sensibility Quotes Flashcards
“Elinor, the eldest daughter whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgement”
Chapter 1, p4- Elinor characterised as calm, reserved, polite and responsible. Representative of Neoclassical period.
“her feelings were strong: but she knew how to govern them”
Chapter 1, p4- Elinor collected and calm
“Marianne’s abilities were…eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.”
Chapter 1, p4- total opposite to Elinor- passionate, emotional, representative of Romanticism.
“She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent.”
Chapter 1, p4- Marianne is interesting, bold and passionate.
“He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing.”
Chapter 3, p11- not typical male character- not particularly attractive. Not a byronic hero.
His mother wished to interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament”
Chapter 3, p11- family have high expectations of him- trying to get him to go into politics- wealth, status, society.
“Cold-hearted Elinor. Oh! worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise.”
Chapter 4, p15- believes she cannot display any emotion- feelings do not meet Marianne’s expectations of passion
“Dear, dear Norland!…when shall I cease to regret you?”
Chapter 5, p19- overly dramatic, mocking poetic viewpoint/ romanticism
“Sir John Middleton was a good-looking man about forty.”
Chapter 6, p21- ideal male to marry, wealthy, honourable, attractive
“Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty”
Chapter 6, p22- marriage for status/ wealth shown by the large age difference.
“Conversation, however, was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest child”
Chapter 6, p22- lack of connection/ commonplace- Austen mocking dullness of society- bring child to create conversation.
“She was perfectly disposed to make every allowance for the colonel’s advanced state of life which humanity required.”
Chapter 7, p26- comical- making him seem extremely old- Marianne is fickle/ overly dramatic.
“It would be an excellent match, for he was rich and she was handsome.”
Chapter 8, p27- for the man marriage is about having a beautiful woman, whereas it is entirely about society and status for women.
“A woman of seven-and-twenty… can never hope to feel or inspire affection again”
Chapter 8, p28- mocking fickleness of society- Austen was 36 at the time of writing- witty
“The gentleman offered his services, and perceiving that her modesty declined what he situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without further delay”
Chapter 9, p30- abnormal, impertinent- presented as heroic/ masculine.
“He acquiesced in all her decisions, caught all her enthusiasm, and long before his visit concluded, they conversed with the familiarity of a long-established acquaintance.”
Chapter 10, p34- abnormal, improper, spending time together before engaged- not a formal courtship
“In Mrs Dashwood’s estimation, he was as faultless as in Marianne’s”
Chapter 10, p35- naivety, foolish, similar to Marianne
“In hastily forming and giving his opinion of other people, in sacrificing general politeness…he displayed a want of caution which Elinor could not approve”
Chapter 10, p35- improper, impertinent- lacks formal behaviour- foreshadows later casualness/ carelessness. Contemporary audiences would view this as a warning.
“Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments.”
Chapter 11, p40- foreshadows end of relationship and Marianne’s heartbreak. Demonstrates her overly romantic view on love.
“I am sure they will be married very soon, for he has got a lock of her hair.”
Chapter 12, p43- symbolic of loss of innocence/ purity- sacrificing her purity for him.
“he seemed to be begging something of her, and presently he took up her scissors and cut off a long lock of her hair”
Chapter 12, p44- in control- represent sexuality- taking her virginity?§
“He drove through the Park very fast, and they were soon out of sight”
Chapter 13, p49- dangerous for her reputation- shameful behaviour could cause gossip. Willoughby is reckless with her life and reputation.
“Mr Willoughby wanted particularly to show me the place”
Chapter 13, p52- poor influence on her, careless with her reputation.
“he lived at an expense to which that income could hardly be equal”
Chapter 14, p53- reckless, careless, not everything as it seems, suspicion.
