Jane Austen's novel, Sense and Sensibility, was published in 1811 and has many of the same qualities that are present in her other novels. Women are dependent on the male figures in society which can be seen in the opening pages. Henry Dashwood dies and his son John takes over the estate. Unfortunately, that leaves Henry's wife and three daughters (Elinor, Marianne and Margaret) with hardly any fortune. Six months after Mr. Dashwood's death, Sir John Middleton (Mrs. Dashwood's cousin)invites her and her daughters to come live at Barton Cottage where he lives. Mrs. Dashwood willingly accepts the invitation. Even though Mrs. Dashwood cannot wait to leave, Elinor has trouble leaving everything behind, especially a gentleman that she likes named Edward Ferrars. Upon their arrival to their new home, the Middletons throw their guests a dinner party. Colonel Brandon, a guest at the party, takes an interest in Marianne, but Marianne later falls in love with John Willoughby. Lucy Steele comes to visit and informs Elinor that she has been secretly engaged to Mr. Ferrars for a year now. Elinor assumes that she means Robert Ferrars, but to her horror she finds out it is really to Edward Ferrars, the man Elinor loves. Later, Marianne's heart is also broken when she sees Mr. Willoughby at a party and he sends her a letter soon afterward saying that he never had feelings for her. It becomes clear that the reason for breaking up their relationship was because he had met Sophia Grey, a rich young woman. Quickly after their break-up, news comes around that he has already asked Sophia for her hand in marriage. While Marianne is sick, Mr. Willoughby comes to visit her and she realizes that her life is better without him. I do not want to give away the ending, but I will say that I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Jane Austen's other pieces of literature.
1. What would you do if you found out that the person you loved had secretly been engaged? Would you confront them or would you behave more like Elinor and just decide to move on with your life without fully confronting the person?
2.In the novel, Edward's fiance ends up leaving him for his brother Robert. If you were in this situation, how would you react?
8 comments:
It depends on how the situation had played out. If the guy I loved always acted as if he had an interest in me, or even claimed to love me, I would be very upset and have a hard time getting over it. But if I were in love with a guy I knew had no interest in me and I found out he was engaged, it would be easier to get over. But overall, this would be a very hard and heart-breaking situation to have to get over.
I think I would be mad that my sibling could even fathom being with my fiance. But eventually I know I would have to get over it and let them be happy together because there is no point in staying angry when nothing will come of my anger.
1. If i found out that someone I loved was really engaged to someone else, I would be very upset. I probably would leave the person and not talk to them anymore. I would confront the person. I like to solve issues rather than forget them. For someone to fully get over a situation in life, I feel that the problems need to be addressed and each person should know the others point of view.
2. I would be furious. If someone left me for my sister, I do not know if I could ever look at either of them the same. It is just like the dating rules that you are not suposed to date you best friends ex boyfriend. Your sister is suposed to be like a best friend to you, and if they go datin your ex, than that is like she is betraying you.
1. I would probably confront them one time calmly just so my mind could be at ease. After i would confront the person then i would just move on with my life and forget about her totally.
2) If I was Edward I'd be pretty ticked and would probably fight my brother
If I was Robert I'd sort of feel bad but I mean I'm getting married so I have more important things to worry about.
1. I would definitely confront him and probably leave him. I don't tolerate lying and wouldn't just shove it under a rug.
1. I agree with all four view points. Courtney, I completely agree that it depends on the situation. Like all of you said, I would also most likely confront the person, just to get my feelings out so that I would be able to move forward with my life.
2. I have the same opinion as all of you, I would be extremely upset if I were in that situation. I don't know if I would physically fight my sister, but I would absolutely feel betrayed. There would always be tension lingering between us and I know that I wouldn't be able to feel happy for her on her wedding day.
Sorry Julie, I didn't see your comment. I fully agree, I wouldn't be able to pretend that it didn't happen. And good point, lying is definitely enough to completely alter an entire relationship.
2. I'd be pretty pissed if I was him. How could your own brother do something like that to you? But at the same time you can't always control who you fall in love with. So although his brother maybe shouldn't have acted on his feelings, he can't really be blamed for falling in love with her.
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