Sense and Sensibility and the Humor That Be

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is my most recent English course read. I did end up skipping parts in the middle because my partner had a severe case of the flu and I had no energy to read. I hope to go back and read these pages when I have more time. However, because of that, I’ve decided to give some of my favorite, stand-out, or hilarious quotes from the book instead of my overall feelings.

If you’re unaware (like I was at the beginning of this story), this story is set in the late 1700s and follows the personal and social lives of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne. They are quite different from each other, as many sisters are. To reflect the title, it’s easiest to think of Elinor as “sense” and Marianne as “sensibility”; Elinor keeps her emotions hidden and is incredibly socially adept while Marianne keeps her emotions on display and struggles to be ingenuine. In a society that survives on manners and primogeniture and tradition, life can be hard, especially for two sisters out of the will and struggling for love in a misogynistic world.

Without further delay, the quotes:

“She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was every thing but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great.”

“‘He admires as a lover, not as a connoisseur.’”

“It was enough to secure his good opinion; for to be unaffected was all that a pretty girl could want to make her mind as a captivating person.”

“‘You are endeavoring to disarm me by reason, and to convince me against my will.’”

“‘They will be brought up,’ said he, in a serious accent, ‘to be as unlike myself as possible. In feeling, in action, in condition, in every thing.’”

“Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however the occasion; and upon Elinor therefore the whole task of telling lies when politeness required it, always fell.”

“Her narration was clear and simple; and though it could not be given without emotion, it was not accompanied by violent agitation, nor impetuous grief.–That belonged rather to the hearer, for Marianne listened with horror, and cried excessively.”

“‘Ah! Elinor,’ said John, ‘your reasoning is very good, but it is founded on ignorance of human nature.’”

“…her kindness, recommended by so pretty a face, was engaging; her folly, though evident, was not disgusting, because it was not conceited; and Elinor could have forgiven every thing but her laugh.”

“Mrs. Dashwood could think of no other question, and Thomas and the table-cloth, now alike needless were soon afterwards dismissed.”

“His errand at Barton, in fact, was a simple one. It was only to ask Elinor to marry him;–and considering that he was not altogether inexperienced in such a question, it might be strange that he should feel so uncomfortable in the present case as he really did, so much in need of encouragement and fresh air.”