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
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
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