Comparing Two Attachments In Jane Austen's Sense And Sensibility

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Throughout Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, Austen incorporates the phrase “second attachments” to describe the experience of developing affectionate emotions towards someone after previously developing those emotions towards someone else. The phrase is directly geared towards Marianne Dashwood to reveal her initial disapproval for “second attachments.” Though Marianne does not explicitly state this opinion herself, both Elinor and Colonel Brandon note her opposition from afar.
This is particularly mentioned within the scene in which Elinor and Colonel Brandon have a discussion regarding Marianne. Colonel Brandon tells Elinor of his awareness that Marianne “does not approve of second attachments” (Austen 56). Meanwhile, Elinor expresses that she had “never yet heard” her sister mention of second attachment “being pardonable" (Austen 57).
Eventually, “second attachments” play a significant role in Marianne’s character development. Despite already devoting her affection for Willoughby, Marianne eventually grows fond of Colonel Brandon while departing from …show more content…

The opposition of “second attachments” was a common belief among women during the late 17th century. Dublin’s He is found at last: or, memoirs of the Beverley family, which was published in 1781, discusses how many women who are “romantic souls” also consider it “impossible to love twice (21). However, Dublin discusses the topic further by disputing these opinions on “second attachments” by describing how once a first love is “extinguished” another will “naturally supply” its position (21). Although falling in love once was considered the logical way to achieve romance for many women of the late 17th century, Dublin’s publication indicates that the idea of refuting this common belief was also introduced during Austen’s life. Thus, Dublin’s work and those similar to it served to be an inspiration for Jane Austen’s future

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