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.
“I felt an immediate satisfaction and interest in the event”
Chapter 14, p55- fated love (romantic) or purposeful and premeditated? (neoclassical)
“I will not torment myself any longer by remaining among friends whose society it is impossible for me now to enjoy.”
Chapter 15, p58- dramatic, emotional- like Marianne- cares only for himself?
“Something more than what he owned to us must have happened.”
Chapter 15, p58- suspicion- Elinor more logical/ intelligent- foreshadows later knowledge of his misdemeanours.
“Oh! Elinor, how incomprehensible are your feelings! You had rather take evil upon credit than good.”
Chapter 15, p59- Elinor branded as harsh and emotionless again for merely being skeptical- similar to Jane Eyre.
“Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby.”
Chapter 16, p62- dramatic, over the top- his exit effecting her physiologically- cannot even sleep she is that distressed.
“It is not everyone…who had your passion for dead leaves.”
Chapter 16, p66- Elinor completely opposes Marianne’s romantic view of the world.
“His coldness and reserve mortified her severely.”
Chapter 16, p67- Elinor doesn’t understand why he is being reserved- foreshadows his secret. She keeps her feelings inside and maintains rationality.
“He was not in spirits however; he praised their house, admired its prospect, was attentive and kind; but still he was not in spirits.”
Chapter 17, p68- link to his secret hanging from him- reserved, calm, emotionless
“I never saw you wear a ring before, Edward.”
Chapter 18, p73- secrecy, suspicion
“Mr Palmer does not hear me. He never does sometimes. It is so ridiculous!”
Chapter 19, p80- commentary on marriage for status- no love between them.
“You have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back again.”
Chapter 20, p84- comical- comment on lack of love between them
“their appearance was by, no means ungenteel or unfashionable. Their dress was very smart, their manners very civil”
Chapter 21, p89- introduces the Miss Steeles as respectable women- ideal partners for men.
“they happened to be so dotingly fond of children that Lady Middleton’s good opinion was engaged in their favour”
Chapter 21, p89- gaining Lady Middleton’s affection as support- trying to be liked by someone of high status.
“Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good-humoured and agreeable.”
Chapter 21, p89- ideal women- honourable, respected, attractive.
“she had a sharp, quick eye and a smartness of air”
Chapter 21, p90- judgement, jealous, bad intentions- false intelligence, facade?
“Lord! Anne, you can talk of nothing but beaux - you will make Miss Dashwood believe you think of nothing else.”
Chapter 21, p93- in reality that is their priority- of a lower class so need to marry.
“looks upon yourself and the other Miss Dashwoods quite as his own sisters”
Chapter 22, p98- cruel, conniving, calculated, making her feel rejected by Edward.
“Though you do not know him so well as me, Miss Dashwood, you must have seen enough of him to be sensible he is very capable of making a woman sincerely attached to him.”
Chapter 22, p100- calculated, teasing her, making her feel rejected- competitive.
“I shall have no fortune, and I fancy she is an exceeding proud woman.”
Chapter 22, p101- not the ideal woman for Edward- no dowry- marriage for love?
“with a composure of voice under which was concealed an emotion and distress beyond anything the had ever felt before. She was mortified, shocked, confounded.”
Chapter 22, p103- cannot display her emotion, reserved, calm, collected.
“could he…be satisfied with a wife like her - illiterate, artful and selfish?”
Chapter 23, p104- jealousy, doesn’t understand, heartbroken, betrayed
“the two fair rivals were thus seated side by side at the same table”
Chapter 23, p108- competition between women, deception (card game), keeping cards close to one’s chest.
“But Mrs John Dashwood would not much approve of Edward’s going into orders.”
Chapter 24, p112- controlling, expect him to have a successful career.
“I believe it would be the wisest way to put an end to the business at once by dissolving the engagement…. But will you not give me your advice, Miss Dashwood?”
Chapter 24, p112- trying to get her to tell her not to marry him- manipulation, rivalry.
“Elinor sat down to the card table with the melancholy persuasion that Edward was not only without affection for the person who was to be his wife, but that he has not even the chance of being tolerably happy.”
Chapter 24, p113- will not be a happy marriage, little love between them, Elinor knows Edward better.
“Marianne was again writing to Willoughby, for she could not suppose it to be to any other person.”
Chapter 27, p127- impertinence, shameful- letters should only be between family members or engaged couples.
“as they openly correspond, and their marriage is universally talked of”
CHapter 27, p128- shameful, damaged reputation, talk of town.
“To your sister I wish all imaginable happiness; to Willoughby, that he may endeavour to deserve her.”
Chapter 27, p128- hint towards his poor/ shameful behaviour.
“her whole countenance glowing with sudden delight, she would have moved towards him instantly, had not her sister caught hold of her.”
Chapter 28, p129- romanticism, passionate, in love, infatuated.
“Marianna, now looking dreadfully white, and unable to stand, sunk into her chair.”
Chapter 28, p130- physical reaction, pain, heartbreak, dramatic, romanticism.
“turned hastily away with a slight boy and joined his friend.”
Chapter 28, p130- suspicious, hiding something, sly.
“my affections have been long engaged elsewhere”
Chapter 29, p135- lying- previously intended to marry Marianne but has bad to marry for money.
“I am quite at a loss to discover in what point I could be so unfortunate as to offend you.”
Chapter 29, p135- gaslighting her, making it sound like she was pushing relationship.
“Oh! how easy for those who have no sorrow of their own to talk of exertion! Happy, happy Elinor, you cannot have any idea of what I suffer.”
Chapter 29, p137- doesn’t think Elinor can feel emotion- readers know that Elinor is actually in main.
“Yes - no - never - absolutely. It was every day implied but never professedly declared.”
Chapter 29, p137- Willoughby led her on but made her feel loved- planned, manipulative, conniving.
“But her condemnation of him did not blind her to the impopriety of their having been written at all.”
Chapter 29, p139- writing letters was shameful.
“Elinor, I have been cruelly used, but not by Willoughby…. By all the world, rather than by his own heart.”
CHapter 29, p140- naive, young, hopeful- not blaming Willoughby for his own impertinence and poor behaviour.
“I must feel - I must be wretched”
Chapter 29, p140- has to release her emotions to the fullest extend.
“And yet this woman - who knows what her art may have been - how long it may have been premeditated, and how deeply contrived by her!”
Chapter 29, p141- blaming Miss Grey for Willoughby’s actions- victimises him.
“But when there is plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord bless you! they care no more about such things!”
Chapter 30, p143- money prioritised over everything including love and morality- Willoughby motivated by wealth.
“for they say he is all to pieces. No wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!”
Chapter 30, p143- Willoughby frivallous with money- needs a wealthy woman to fund his lavish lifestyle.
“She was married - married against her inclination to my brother.”
Chapter 31, p152- traded, comparable to Bertha- no choice in marriage, marriage for wealth/ status/ purpose.
“for she experienced great unkindness”
Chapter 31, p152- abused, mistreated, no options to leave.
“there was every reason to fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of sin”
Chapter 31, p153- prostitution- lost everything to the Brandons- women lose everything to men.
“So altered - so faded - worn down by acute suffering of every kind!”
Chapter 31, p153- punished for her sins- deterioration, symbolic of the ‘Fallen Woman’.
“Life could do nothing for her, beyond giving time for a better preparation for death; and that was given.”
Chapter 31, p 153- peace in death, freedom, solace, solitude.
“What I thought, what I feared, may be imagined; and what I suffered too,”
Chapter 31, p154- Eliza slept with Willoughby- pregnant.
“He had left the girl whose youth and innocence he had seduced in a situation of the utmost distress, with no creditable home, no help, no friends, ignorant of his address!”
Chapter 31, p155- neglected her, didn’t take responsibility, no care
“The rest of Mrs Palmer’s sympathy was shown in procuring all the particulars in her power of the approaching marriage, and communicated them to Elinor.”
Chapter 32, p160- caring in their own way, showing her a lot of sympathy- contrasts care for Eliza.
“she thought herself at liberty to attend to the interest of her own assemblies and therefore determined…, as Mrs Willoughby would at once be a woman of elegance and fortune, to leave her card with her as soon as she married.”
Chapter 32, p160- cares for no one but herself and her children, fickle, hypocritical.
“Mrs Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect. Her complexion was sallow… without beauty.”
Chapter 34, p175- comparable to Mrs Reed- pale, dull, harsh.
“She was not a woman of many words;… not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.”
Chapter 34, p175- hostile, cruel, bitter, rude. Making it clear she disapproves of Elinor’s marriage.
“that her interest and her vanity should so very much bind her, as to make the attention which seemed only paid her because she was not Elinor, appear a compliment to herself.”
Chapter 35, p179- acting like Mrs Ferrars adored her, when in reality she was doing it to spite Elinor.
“Civil! - Did you see nothing but only civility! I saw a vast deal more - such kindness as fell to the share of nobody but me!”
Chapter 35, p180- gloating, bragging, trying to get a reaction/ jealousy from Elinor.
“I am sure if ever you tell your sister what I think of her you cannot speak too high.”
Chapter 35, p181- sichophancy- trying to get the admiration of the family to soften the blow when they find out about the engagement.
“don’t think of my health. Elinor is well, you see.”
Chapter 35, p182- trying to get Edward to show his affection for Elinor. Austen met Irishman Tom LeFroy- relative of brother in law- he was forced to marry another woman (parallels).
“you think young men never stand upon engagements”
Chapter 35, p183- dramatic irony, sly, malicious- Edward doesn’t know Elinor knows.
“poor Lucy in such a condition, he says, she could hardly walk; and Nancy, she was almost as bad”
Chapter 37- p194- satyrising the romantic period- overly dramatic, comedic.
“It was told me - it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself whose prior engagement ruined all my prospects”
Chapter 37- p197- forcefully told of it by Lucy to gloat/ make her jealous. Has been holding this baggage for weeks.
“If you can think me capable of ever feeling - surely you may suppose that I have suffered now.”
Chapter 37, p198- Elinor’s transformation, demonstrates that she can show some emotion- released her need to conceal emotion.
“Marianne engaged never to speak of the affair to anyone with the least appearance of bitterness”
Chapter 37, p198- demonstrates Marianne’s change- more respectful/ private.
“Nothing should prevail on him to give up his engagement.”
Chapter 37, p200- honourable.
“his mother has determined, with a very natural kind of spirit, to settle that estate upon Robert immediately, which might have been Edward’s on proper conditions.”
Chapter 37, p202- punished with extradition/ exiled from the family.
“how he had declared before them all that he loved nobody but Lucy, and nobody but Lucy would he have.”
Chapter 38- p206- seemingly honourable, honest and loyal (find out that it is potentially fabricated.
“and if anything should happen to take you and your sister away, and Mrs Jennings should want company, I am sure we should be very glad to come and stay with her for as long a time as she likes.”
Chapter 38, p210- strategic- trying to remain accepted/ supported in society.
“though earnestly did I, as I thought my duty required, urge him to it for prudence sake, and would have parted for ever on the spot, would he consent to it”
Chapter 38, p211- appearing honourable/ martyry- twisting the truth- he encouraged her to leave him.”
“should it ever be in your power to recommend him to anybody that has a living to bestow, am very sure you will not forget us.”
Chapter 38, p11- true intention to gloat and also try to gain societally- asking Elinor to advocate them even after the hurt she has caused her.
“the least evil of the two, and she would be glad to compound now for nothing worse.”
Chapter 41, p226- would accept/ compromise to allow Elinor into the family instead of Lucy who has no money or status.
“Mrs Jennings, however, with a kindness of heart which made Elinor really love her, declared her resolution of not stirring from Cleveland as long as Marianne remained ill.”
Chapter 43, p236- maternal, kind, caring.
“Poor Marianne, languid and low from the nature of her malady, and feeling herself universally ill, could no longer hope that tomorrow would find her recovered.”
Chapter 43, p236- suffering- heartbreak, disease, dying- metaphor for ruined reputation/ purity???
“with a warmth which brought all the former Willoughby to her rememberance”
Chapter 44, p246- charming, emotionally manipulative.
“Careless of her happiness, … I endeavoured… to make myself pleasing to her, without any design of returning her affection.”
Chapter 44, p247- selfish, cruel, calculating.
“Remember, from whom you received the account. Could it be an impartial one?”
Chapter 44, p248- trying to diminish his responsibility/ blame.
“The purity of her life, the formality of her notions, her ignorance of the world - everything was against me.”
Chapter 44, p249- suggests that Mrs Smith was biased against him- ignorance.
“her money was necessary to me, and in a situation like mine anything was to be done to prevent a rupture.”
Chapter 44, p255- desperate for wealth, reliant on Miss Grey’s funds.
“Yet when I thought of her today as really dying, it was a kind of comfort to me to imagine that I knew exactly how she would appear to those who saw her last in this world.”
Chapter 44, p254- finds comfort in seeing her look dead.
“was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a far more incurable nature.”
Chapter 44, p257- Marianne will move on, but Willoughby won’t- unhappy permanently.
“The world had made him extravagant and vain; extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish.”
Chapter 44, p257- Austen criticising society.
“It was a great relief to me - what Elinor told me this morning - I have now heard exactly what I wished to hear.”
Chapter 47, p270- finds peace/ comfort in knowing that Willoughby is suffering/ did have good intentions.
“He regrets what he has done. And why does he regret it?…It has not made him happy.
Chapter 47, p271- only regrets his actions because they have made him miserable, not because he hurt Marianne.
“She feared that under this persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive - nay, almost unkind to her Elinor”
Chapter 47, p276- Mrs Dashwood acknowledges that she did not care enough for Elinor/ did not make sure she was emotionally okay.
“he was now married, and she condemned her heart for lurking flattery which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.”
Chapter 48, p276- still yearns for him- making it more painful.
“He was released, with any reproach to himself, from an entanglement which had long formed his misery, from a woman whom he had long ceased to love”
Chapter 49, p280- Edward free from relationship with Lucy- admits that he did not feel any love/ passion for her.
“we all know the tenderness of Mrs Ferrars’ heart, and that she wishes for nothing so much as to be on good terms with her children.”
“Edward was admitted to her presence and pronounced to be again her son.”
Chapter 49, p287- Mrs Ferrars eventually allows Edward to rejoin the family- softens.
“Lucy became as necessary to Mrs Ferrars, as either Robert or Fanny”
Chapter 50, p292- sycophancy!!
“as well as the frequent domestic disagreements between Robert and Lucy themselves, nothing could exceed the harmony in which they all lived together.”
Chapter 50, p292- marriage for purpose- no love between them.
“Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions.”
Chapter 50, p293- Marianne transformed into a balanced and honest woman.
“a wife, the mistress of a family and the patroness of a village”
Chapter 50, p294- submits??
“He lived to exert and frequently to enjoy himself.”
Chapter 50, p294- Willoughby continued to live his extravagant/ unfaithful life.
