Sense and Sensibility

Main Ideas

• The contrast between sense and sensibility: the main theme of the novel is the conflict between reason and emotion, embodied in the characters of the two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Elinor represents sense, restraint, and responsibility, while Marianne embodies emotion, passion, and impulsiveness.
• Social norms and the status of women: the novel raises questions about the status of women in society, their dependence on marriage and financial stability. Austen critiques the social norms that limit women's freedom and force them to seek advantageous marriages.
• Love and marriage: the novel explores various forms of love and marriage. Austen shows that true happiness in marriage is possible only with a combination of love, respect, and mutual understanding, rather than just passion or financial interests.
• Family relationships and responsibility: the novel emphasizes the importance of family ties, responsibility to loved ones, and self-sacrifice. Elinor, despite her personal feelings, always puts her family's interests first.
• Critique of romantic ideals: through Marianne's character, Austen critiques the excessive romanticization of love and life, showing that such idealization can lead to disappointment and suffering.