Sense and Sensibility
by Jane Austen
While I enjoyed Sense and Sensibility infinitely more than Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen isn’t really my favorite author. It’s ironic, because I love the movies made of Austen’s books. The 1995 film Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite movies of all time. Reading the book is a much more difficult process, and it’s not nearly as enjoyable. In my opinion, Emma Thompson improved the original novel.
Sense and Sensibility is a tale of three sisters and their mother, tossed out from their life of luxury after the family patriarch dies and leaves his fortune and estate to his son from his first marriage. In that time, unmarried women with no dowry and very little money to carry them through important society were pretty much destined for a life of poverty. Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret aren’t used to being treated in a lower class, and their new life takes some adjusting, especially when the two oldest girls, of marrying age, fall in love above their new station.
To me, the supporting cast is much more likable than the main characters. Marianne is incredibly immature and selfish, and Elinor continually picks up her mother’s slack by trying to train her younger sister to behave acceptably. The lesser characters are the kindhearted relatives who welcome the girls into their home, the villains characters love to hate, and of course, the very dreamy love interests. Colonel Brandon, a wonderful, kind, sensitive man, has a tragic flaw: he loves the immature, selfish, mean Marianne. This part of the story, as well as others, doesn’t really make sense to me, but maybe to younger readers, Marianne will seem more sympathetic. Then again, younger readers probably won’t be able to keep up with Austen’s language flow. If you know you love Austen, then by all means, buy yourself a collection and read all her lovely novels. If you’re like me and prefer the movies, save yourself a very dry read and stick with Emma Thompson.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1995 film adaptation here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the literary spoof Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters here!
Sense and Sensibility is a tale of three sisters and their mother, tossed out from their life of luxury after the family patriarch dies and leaves his fortune and estate to his son from his first marriage. In that time, unmarried women with no dowry and very little money to carry them through important society were pretty much destined for a life of poverty. Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret aren’t used to being treated in a lower class, and their new life takes some adjusting, especially when the two oldest girls, of marrying age, fall in love above their new station.
To me, the supporting cast is much more likable than the main characters. Marianne is incredibly immature and selfish, and Elinor continually picks up her mother’s slack by trying to train her younger sister to behave acceptably. The lesser characters are the kindhearted relatives who welcome the girls into their home, the villains characters love to hate, and of course, the very dreamy love interests. Colonel Brandon, a wonderful, kind, sensitive man, has a tragic flaw: he loves the immature, selfish, mean Marianne. This part of the story, as well as others, doesn’t really make sense to me, but maybe to younger readers, Marianne will seem more sympathetic. Then again, younger readers probably won’t be able to keep up with Austen’s language flow. If you know you love Austen, then by all means, buy yourself a collection and read all her lovely novels. If you’re like me and prefer the movies, save yourself a very dry read and stick with Emma Thompson.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1995 film adaptation here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the literary spoof Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters here!