Sense and Sensibility

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Chapter forty-four in Sense and Sensibility is an emotional confession of Mr. Willoughby to Elinor when he comes to check on a sick Marianne. While this scene is intended to pardon Willoughby, many pieces of this chapter show how undeserving he still is of Elinor and Marianne’s forgiveness.
To begin, when Willoughby arrives at the Dashwood residence, he is agitated and short with Elinor. Elinor allows him in, but asks him to calm down with "well, sir -- be quick -- and if you can -- less violent." Even after knowing that Elinor is feeling uncomfortable, Willoughby remain short and rude as he says "Sit down, and I will be both." He is not helping his case by being rude.
Next, as Willoughby continues to speak in a cryptic manner, Elinor believes he has been drinking and advises him to come back tomorrow. Here Willoughby openly states "Yes, I am very drunk. -- A pint of porter with my cold beef at Marlborough was enough to overset me." While many might argue that he is not truly drunk with only one pint of beer, it could also be said that if Willoughby admits to being drunk, then why not assume he is? If he was not drunk, then why should he say he is? One reason might be to make Elinor feel pity for him and excuse his obtrusive behavior; however, being drunk does not ease Elinor’s apprehension as Willoughby continues to speak, furthering his demise.
Throughout Willoughby’s speech, specific quotes stand out. For example, the following quote, no matter how sorry he is for doing so should not be discredited by his guilt. “Careless of her happiness, thinking only of my own amusement, giving way to feelings which I had always been too much in the habit of indulging, I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to make myself pleasing to...

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...to Marianne, nor can I suppose it a relief to your own conscience." Elinor does not condone his behavior and tells him that he cannot make himself feel better by making someone else look or feel worse than himself. Elinor has seen through him.
Mr. Willoughby in chapter 44 of Sense and Sensibility does not deserve pity or forgiveness. It would have meant more to his character if he had not been drunk, rude, and dishonest. Elinor might have actually pitied him had he been more sincere. Even though by the end of the chapter Elinor had waged her battle and forgiven him, it does not appear that he would remain in the Dashwood’s good graces. If anything, Elinor might have told him that he would be forgiven to get him out of the house so she did not have to listen to his sob story any longer.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.

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