Senselessness and Secretiveness: The Role

Senselessness and Secretiveness:

The role of hidden information in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen's early novel Sense and Sensibility reflects the Enlightenment principles of balance and contrast. The title of Austen's work suggests that the ideal human being and the ideal relationship reflect both good sense and practicality as well an appreciation of romance and refinement. However, the plot structure of the novel subtly implies that it is better to err on the side of sense rather than to openly wallow in an excess of emotions. For the novel's heroines, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, embodying too much of one principle leads to an overly secretive culture of romance that nearly thwarts their future happiness. But it is the most outwardly 'sensible' of all of the characters, namely Edward Ferras and Colonel Brandon, who ultimately show the most passion towards the women they love.

The novel begins with a straightforward introduction to the characters of these two young women, and Austen's authoritative and omniscient narrator counsels the reader how to view contrasting characters. The Dashwood family has been impoverished and disinherited after the death of Mr. Dashwood. By law, the family's property and fortune pass down the male line, to Mr. Dashwood's half-brother, rather than the female line. "Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother…Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent" (Chapter 1).

Marianne's impulsivity, passion, and forwardness lead her to fall in love with John Willoughby, a man with a dark past. Although he does not formally propose to her, Marianne makes a public display of her affections, in clear violation of social propriety, and at first, Willoughby reciprocates gladly. Then, suddenly, he leaves her, without real explanation. Marianne is devastated, and everyone is shocked when he declares he will marry another woman, after making such a public spectacle of his feelings for Marianne. Mrs. Jennings, a kindly, matronly (although somewhat ridiculous) relation of the Dashwoods says: "As not his behaviour to Marianne and to all of us, for at least the last fortnight, declared that he loved and considered her as his future wife, and that he felt for us the attachment of the nearest relation? Have we not perfectly understood each other? Has not my consent been daily asked by his looks, his manner, his attentive and affectionate respect? My Elinor, is it possible to doubt their engagement? How could such a thought occur to you? How is it to be supposed that Willoughby, persuaded as he must be of your sister's love, should leave her, and leave her perhaps for months, without telling her of his affection; -- that they should part without a mutual exchange of confidence?" (Chapter 15).

During Willoughby's absence, Elinor is horrified to discover that Marianne has been sending passionate letters to Willoughby, as if the two were engaged, even though he never made a formal proposal or statement of his love. Only a lock of hair (which Willoughby returns to Marianne in a cold-worded letter) was exchanged during their courtship. Despite Marianne's statement to her sister: "Our situations then are alike. We have neither of us any thing to tell; you, because you do not communicate, and I, because I conceal nothing," Marianne has been less than candid with her sister, allowing Elinor to believe by implication of her public flirting that Willoughby had proposed marriage to her. When Willoughby sends the letter finally informing Marianne of his rejection, the two sisters have the following exchange:

"Engagement!" cried Marianne, "there has been no engagement."

"No engagement!"

"No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him. He has broken no faith with me."

"But he told you that he loved you."

"Yes -- no -- never absolutely. It was every day implied, but never professedly declared. Sometimes I thought it had been -- but it never was" (Chapter 29).

The reason that Willoughby does not make his declaration to Marianne is because of his own uncertain financial status: he eventually elects instead to marry Miss Gray, an heiress. Although he originally intended to propose marriage to Marianne, Willoughby's moralistic aunt disinherited him after it was revealed he had an illegitimate child. Willoughby's secret had long been known by Colonel Brandon, as the unfortunate woman in question was Brandon's ward. Colonel Brandon is a quiet and reserved man who loves Marianne. Of course the question arises as to why Brandon did not reveal Willoughby's character: unlike the intemperate Marianne, Brandon shows too much reserve. Willoughby, despite his faults, is attractive because of his passionate love of sentimental verse, but Marianne must learn to look beneath the surface of both her two suitors. This is made difficult by Brandon's reserve and sense of propriety. Until Brandon speaks the truth, Marianne and Elinor do not know that behind Willoughby's charming demeanor there is an ugly, sensual and mercenary side. Beneath Brandon's seemingly implacable surface there is a man who is good, kind and truly romantic, given that the reason he took on his ward Eliza was that she was the daughter of a woman he loved, who was forced to marry his brother.

Brandon's actions, beneath his surface of good sense, actually reveal him to be even more passionate than Willoughby, when he reveals his secret to Elinor: "She was married -- married against her inclination to my brother. Her fortune was large, and our family estate much encumbered. And this, I fear, is all that can be said for the conduct of one, who was at once her uncle and guardian. My brother did not deserve her; he did not even love her. I had hoped that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though she had promised me that nothing -- but how blindly I relate! I have never told you how this was brought on. We were within a few hours of eloping together for Scotland" (Chapter 31).

Brandon's decision to reveal his great secret to Elinor seems appropriate, given that she has a similarly 'sensible' character as the Colonel. Like Brandon, Elinor also harbors a dark secret: she is in love with Edward Ferras. When Edward does not propose to her after the two of them engage in a hesitant courtship, Marianne unthinkingly states it is because of her elder sister's coldness, but in fact it is not: rather it is due to the fact that when Edward was young and intemperate, he became engaged to Lucy Steele, a lower-class and rather vulgar young woman. Lucy confides this secret to Elinor, and forces Elinor to swear not to reveal it. Unlike the Byronic Willoughby, despite the fact he does not love Lucy anymore, Edward is honorable enough to accept being disinherited and to keep his promise to Lucy. However, Lucy, once she is released from the engagement, Lucy marries Edward's brother instead, who now has the family fortune.