Impulse_Plus_Caution_Equals_Sense_And_Sensibility

Impulse Plus Caution Equals Sense And Sensibility In the novel, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen portrays the adversities of two sisters by emphasizing one’s impulsiveness and the other’s cautiousness. The two sisters, Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, have contrasting, yet complementary qualities. Elinor being the disciplined one, is cautious about all aspects of her life, especially her love for Edward Ferrars. Marianne is the impulsive one. She does not sit back and wait, she goes after what she wants. Elinor Dashwood, the eldest daughter, is expressive and loving but also disciplined. She surpasses her mother and sister in her ability to manage her emotions. She acts as the “sense” of the family. Her disciplined nature keeps her from acting on her feelings toward Edward. “I do not attempt to deny that I think very highly of him---greatly esteem, that I like him,” (p. 17, Austen). Elinor is unwilling to just confess her deep feelings for Edward to Marianne. He has not yet confessed the way he feels about her, therefore, she does not want to assume that he cares for her anymore than a friend. Elinor stays realistic in fear of being disappointed. Her serious personality is the marianne, elinor, austen, willoughby, yet, wait, two, sisters, sister, one, dashwood, after, think, sense, must, jane, go, emotions, edward, disciplined, back, acts, ways, very, time, sit, short, seven, sensibility, personality, personalities, other’s, novel, nature, marianne’s