Paradox of characters in sense and sensibility

Assignment Paper 5

The Romantic Literature

Ajit A. Kaliya

M.A. Sem 2

Roll No. 1

Enrollment No. 2069108420170013

Batch: 2016-18

Email- kaliyaajitbhai@gmail.com
Department Of English, MKBU

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Paradox of characters in 'Sense & sensibility'

Have you ever read any story, novel or drama whose all characters have same nature? The answer should be No, because without different type of characters, progress of any story is impossible. It is contrast of characters who makes literature. If there is God, there must be Satan. If there is Othello, there must be Iago. If there is Dr Jekyll, there must be Mr. Hyde. Literature always shows conflict between good and evil. So it is necessary to include all type of characters. It is the variety of characters that make any work interesting and real. Here I'm going to talk about one novel whose name itself shows total contrast, 'Sense and sensibility' by Jane Austen.

Every novel has variety of characters, so this novel also has. But there are so many characters, almost every character's nature contrasts with other character. So it is interesting to see how their nature is different, what do they face and what do they achieve?

Elinor vs. Marianne

The title of the novel has represented by these two sisters. They can be considered as protagonists of the novel. Though they are sisters, their personality and thoughts are very much different from each other. Elinor represents sense. She is nineteen years old but very mature. She is calm and thoughts carefully about the things. She is good in knowing people. In matter of love also she is very different from Marianne. Though attracted to Edward, she is cautious, telling her sister, "I am by no means sure of his regard for me." She keeps her self-control when she learns that Lucy has been secretly engaged to Edward and rightly concludes that Edward felt only a youthful infatuation for the girl. She remains same throughout the novel and at the end she gets married with Edward whom she loved and lives happily.

In opposite, Marianne represents sensibility. She is imaginative and wants Romantic love. She is amazed that Elinor could love the colorless Edward. "He is not the kind of young man — there is something wanting," she tells her mother. She looks on Colonel Brandon as an old man. She falls in love with Willoughby, whom Elinor and Brandon dislike. Because of her sensible nature she suffers lot. She betrayed by Willoughby and falls badly ill. She does not think of others feelings. Marianne is displeased by Sir John's jests and finds Mrs. Jennings vulgar and gossipy. She treats Mrs. Jennings impolitely during their trip to London but is eager to avail herself of Mrs. Jennings' hospitality. At last she learns sense and accepts that it was her mistake and she herself brought sorrows to her. In the end she marries Colonel Brandon and lives happily.

Colonel Brandon vs. John Willoughby

These characters contrast with each other very well. One is absolute gentlemen and other is selfish and greedy.

The first Colonel Brandon was Bachelor friend of Mr. Middleton. He was faithful, helpful friend, good natured, unselfish and very good man. Colonel Brandon's behavior is always honorable to everyone. He loves Marianne and helps while she was ill, remaining in background. He does not like to show up like Willoughby. He tells Elinor about Willoughby's real side. At the end he gives his Delaford house to Edward and Elinor. He also gets married with Marianne in the end.

Opposite to Colonel Brandon, John Willoughby is selfish, disloyal and man with a mask. He once saves Marianne and Marianne falls in love with him. He seemed good man but his true nature can be seeing when he leaves Marianne without telling anything and marries Miss Grey only for her wealth. He sends a letter to Marianne that he had never been seriously attracted to her. He does not care for other's feelings. He also made fun of Colonel Brandon. Mud Smith also reveals that Willoughby has seduced Colonel Brandon's protégé Eliza. This shows his true side.

So these two characters also contrast and makes novel interesting.

Elinor vs. Mrs. Dashwood

This mother and daughter also have different nature from each other. Apart from Elinor her mother is very fanciful like Marianne. She is very joyful lady and gossips about love with her daughters. She is woman with exaggerated sensibility. She also believes that Willoughby likes Marianne and will marry her but very sad and anxious after knowing the truth. In the end she is very happy to be married.

Edward vs. Willoughby

Willoughby's character can be contrasted with Edward Ferrars also. Like Colonel Brandon Edward are gentleman like and pleasing man. He is loyal and takes care of other's feelings. He keeps his promise to Lucy though he was in love with Elinor. He does not take decisions in hurry. He did not propose Elinor because he thought about Lucy. He proposed when he freed from relationship with Lucy and finally he and Elinor marry and live happily.

Edward Vs Robert

This two brother’s nature also is different from each other like Elinor and Marianne. As we seen that Edward was good mannered, calm and wise. But his brother Robert Ferrars is silly and great coxcomb. Utterly foolish in his views, he talks nonsense to Elinor on their second meeting, breaking into lavish praise of cottages: "Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition. He is man of vanity and pride which differs him from his brother Edward.

Mrs. Dashwood vs. Fanny Dashwood

With Mrs. Dashwood's lively, careful and good nature, Fanny Dashwood's selfish, proud and angry nature contrasts well. She is most unpleasant woman, Fanny represents the spoiled and selfish woman of wealth of Austen's time. She is egoistic and believes that what is good for her or her child is the best thing for everyone. Deter-mined to get all she can for her son, she cleverly persuades her husband to break his promise and give up any idea of providing for his stepmother and half-sisters. Neither courteous nor kindly, she does not wish to entertain Elinor and Marianne in London and is resentful when they are invited by her friends. She plays important role in prevention of property to Mrs. Dashwood and their three daughters.

Lady Middleton vs. John Middleton

John Middleton is relative of Mrs. Dashwood who gives shelter to them. He is good humored, generous and hospitable. He tries to make Dashwood family comfortable there. He sends them fish and game, carries their letters "to and from the post," and gives them his daily newspaper. He is energetic and arranged parties, picnics and dance.

Lady Middleton, in contrast to her husband, is perfectly well-bred but reserved and cold. She has few subjects of conversation and is concerned chiefly with the elegant maintenance of her household. So this husband and wife also have different natures.

Mr. Palmer vs. Mrs. Palmer

This husband wife also differs from each other. Mrs. Charlotte Palmer is sister of Lady Middleton and younger daughter of Mrs. Jennings. She is cheerful young woman. Naturally she is civil and happy. She is not so elegant as her sister, Lady Middleton, but is "much more prepossessing." When she visits the Dashwoods at Barton Cottage, she likes and admires everyone and everything: "Well! What a delightful room this is! I never saw anything so charming!" Not even her husband's rudeness can disturb her: "When he scolded or abused her, she was highly pleased." She is one of the most entertaining characters in the novel.

But his husband, Mr. Palmer is grave looking man, strongly congrats with his wife's very cheerful nature. Mr. Palmer acts in a consistently rude and boorish manner, probably to give himself importance. He complains because Sir John has no billiard room, declares his mother-in-law to be ill-bred, and continually insults or ignores his wife.

Mrs. Palmer vs. Lady Middleton

As we have seen nature of these both characters before, we can find that these sisters also have different nature. Mrs. Palmer’s artless, cheerful and happy nature contrast with her sister Lady Middleton's cold and artificial manners.

Conclusion

We saw that how characters have paradox of nature. Most of them are family members. Sisters like Elinor and Marianne, Mrs. Palmer and Lady Middleton. Brothers like Edward and Robert. Couples like Mr. Middleton and Lady Middleton, Mr. Palmer and Mrs. Palmer. Mother and daughter like Elinor and Mrs. Dashwood, Mrs. Jennings and Lady Middleton. Would there be any reason to include paradoxical characters. Or did it happen unconsciously. It is also interesting to see which type of character did receive what? Elinor and Edward get married. Edward had been engaged with Lucy but in last Edward gets free and marries Elinor. Did Elinor also care about poetic justice in the novel that good rewarded and bad suffers? Colonel Brandon also rewarded as he finally succeeded to merry Marianne. John Willoughby suffers from unhappy marriage. Lucy also marries with foolish brother of Edward. Does it prove that Jane Austen wanted to give moral idea that ultimately good enjoy and bad suffers? Or was it just for entertainment?

References

www.cliffnotes.com

www.shmoop.com

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