Sense and Sensibility

763 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The art of fiction analysis

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...

... middle of paper ...

...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.

Show More
Related

  • The Importance Of Being Earnest Laughter Essay

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...Lady Bracknell was excited to hear that Cecily has wealth; she almost instantaneously consented to her marriage to Algernon. Wilde uncovers the frivolousness of their proclaimed love by displaying how Lady Bracknell would only consent for

    Read More

  • Gossip and Its Social Role in Sense and Sensibility

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Lucy Steele’s confession to Elinor that she is engaged to Edward Ferrars, we can see how the novel illustrates gossip as a cause of both internal conflict, in Elinor, and external conflict, present between Elinor and Lucy. Elinor becomes jealous because of Lucy’s boastful gossip about her life, placing the two into a conflict over romance. When the two meet, Lucy divulges in her relationship with Edwa...

    Read More

  • Elizabeth Bennett Pride And Prejudice Analysis

    934 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth Bennett’s first meeting with Mr. Darcy was marred by Mr. Darcy’s pride to which, “Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him.” At the end of the novel, after Elizabeth learns the truth and unravels her prejudice against Darcy, she begins to realize that she does have feelings for him. During their first meeting

    Read More

  • Pride And Prejudice, Sense And Sensibility, By Jane Austen

    1977 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jane Austen, author of Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and many other well-known books, was born on December 16th, 1775, in England. Her parents, George and Cassandra Austen, came from lower middle-class English families. When Austen was a child, her home had an open and intellectual atmosphere, and her family frequently discussed politics and social issues. This influenced her writing as an adult, which explored themes of social class and the treatment of women. As a teenager, Austen was sent to Oxford to be educated, but she contracted typhus and nearly died. She was then educated at home, learning what girls were normally taught during that time, such as French, needlework, and music. Austen was also a enthusiastic reader,

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Being Earnest Stereotypes Essay

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    (…) I pity any poor woman whose husband is not called Ernest” (p. 912). This ridiculous requirement causes the reader to realize that the characters’ strange concept of a functional relationship and the simplified view of love is somehow a social norm in that period. Another evidence of a foolish behavior is when Gwendolen and Cecily first meet. Wilde problematizes a social norm that corresponds to women’s behavior which is that women are known to change their minds. Once Gwendolen meets Cecily she immediately says “Something tells me that we are going to be great friends. I like you already more than I can say” (p. 913). After a short conversation and realizing that they are both engaged to Ernest Worthing, instead of being furious at the man who, as they thought, had proposed to both of them, they argue about whose right it is to marry the liar. Then, ironically, Gwendolen says “From the moment I saw you I distrusted you. I felt that you were false and deceitful” (p. 916). The reader recognizes both humor and hopelessness in the situation. This

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Sense And Sensibility

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    Elinor and Marianne responded differently to love with the first being more reserved while the latter was blatantly obvious about her devotion. Their response to heartbreak also differed as Elinor kept her feelings to herself, but others could easily deduce that Marianne was upset since she did not hide her emotions. The audience if left to believe that Elinor will not marry Edgar and Marianne will die from heartbreak; however, the play ends with a deus ex machina. Elinor and Edgar get married after he breaks his engagement. Marianne also get a happy ending as she marries the Colonel (Jeffrey Cornell) who cared for her since he first met

    Read More

  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    The text is Pride and Prejudice which is about the ups and downs of the connection/relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The person who changes the most throughout the novel is Mr. Darcy who changes for the affection of Elizabeth. The first copy of Pride and Prejudice was published in 1993 by Wordsworth Editions Limited. Jane Austen is the author and the genre of the novel is Historical/Romance. The book looks at Mr. Darcy and changing his personality, which characters remain static through the book, what Jane Austen is trying to say about the period of time the novel is set in and why Jane Austen has so many characters that stay the same all through the book.

    Read More

  • Essay On Mr Darcy Character Development

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each of Jane Austen’s characters in her novel, Pride and Prejudice, experiences a significant character development. Whether the change occurs by self-realization or through the assistance of another character varies from each individual character. For Austen’s leading man, Mr. Darcy, his character improvement is documented through his two marriage proposals to Elizabeth Bennet and her subsequent first rejection of his proposal. His first proposal demonstrates his extreme arrogance, elitism, and blindness to his many flaws. While his latter proposal shows not only the recognition of his deficiencies, but the overall improvement in his mentality. Mr. Darcy’s two proposals, though having the same intended end result, are completely different

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Change in Pride and Prejudice

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    Elizabeth decides soon after meeting him that he is a despicable man, much too abrupt and overweening, and obsequious to be liked by anyone, and lacking even the most basic social skills of the time he is very laconic with everyone. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great. admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned. the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire. could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance.

    Read More

  • Feeling Accomplished: Reflections of Judgement in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    The tension that is laced into the tone of the passage underscores the differences that lie between the characters and their contrasting opinions. Bingley is the only one who describes women with kindness, in his belief that he "scarcely knows anyone" (lines 10-11) who is not accomplished. However, his generosity can also be interpreted as a sense of naivety, which is a truthful portrayal of Bingley's nature of seeing the best in others. Elizabeth, on the other hand, speaks with a rational voice; she is very logical in her "wonder at [Darcy and Caroline] knowing any" (line 37) accomplished women. Her responses to Caroline demonstrate both Elizabeth's fearlessness in speaking of her own opinions and desire to speak her mind. Bingley and Elizabeth's tones are contrasted by Caroline and Darcy's manners. Caroline is vitriolic in her comments, not only on the whole but particularly toward Elizabeth when she describes her opinions as "paltry" (line 52) and "mean" (line 52). Caroline's tone reveals her lack of respect for others who are below her in social standing. Darcy appears frank for speaking his thought...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband

    1499 Words  | 3 Pages

    He proposes an ironic attitude towards women when he states that they discover everything, “except the obvious.” At the end of the play, Lord Caversham and Mabel are carrying on a conversation with Lord Goring pertaining to his marriage to Mabel Chiltern.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Being Earnest Analysis

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ntain her social class, and only worrying about wealth and style over the life and death of others. The art of manners and social discussions are expressed through the dialogue between Gwendolen and Cecily. Although both women showed hatred towards each other, it is done in a civilised manner. Wilde shows this by creating a stylised and artificial atmosphere by making the dialogue repetitive and parallel, thus making their dialogue and comments on insignificant subjects as part of having a polite conversation. Jack also shows the significance of high society and manners by showing that he has a high sense of duty and responsibility in the country; and being serious about Cecily’s education as it can help better her current position as well as his own. Hence, Wilde’s criticisms on high society and manners are expressed through the characters and their dialogue.

    Read More

  • Revenge in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    Heathcliff never finds peace through his revenge.  In fact, the only time he truly finds happiness is when he gives up his plan for retaliation.   Austin O’Malley states  “Revenge is like biting a dog that bit you”  (O’malley 1).  O’Malley’s quote reflects Heathcliff’s immature need to propagate agony in those who have offended him.  Heathcliff’s plan for revenge on Edgar and Catherine is to marry Isabella, who is ignorant of love and of men because she has never experienced either.  He wants to hurt Edgar because of his marriage to Catherine, and he wants to get revenge on Catherine by making her jealous. Catherine’s death proves that this flawed plan of repayment helps nothing.  Heathcliff, haunted by the ghost of Catherine because he is her “murderer,” still is motivated by the need for revenge and tries to get young Cathy away from Edgar by having her marry his son, Linton.  Heathcliff never finds peace until he gives up his plan for revenge just before he dies.  When Heathcliff gives up his plan for revenge, he meets Catherine in death and truly becomes happy once more.

    Read More

  • Pride And Prejudice

    483 Words  | 1 Pages

    Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen is a novel that goes into great detail discussing the reasons for marriage. Marriage in the 1800's, when this novel took place, was very different from conventional marriages today. In that period in time, reasons for marriages were wealth, convenience, and most uncommonly, love.

    Read More

  • The Significance of 'First Impressions' in 'Pride and Prejudice'

    1374 Words  | 3 Pages

    In contrast, Mrs Bennett’s first impression of Mr Darcy was that he is cold, abrupt, and proud. This is established because of his manner and behaviour. The narrator describes Darcy’s behaviour in chapter 1;

    Read More

More about Sense and Sensibility

Open Document