Sense & Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility, the revised version of the earlier sketch, 'Elinor and Marianne', was published in 1811. On his death, Henry Dashwood entrusts his second wife and daughters - Elinor, Marianne and Margaret - as well as his son by his first marriage. John fails to fulfill his promises. Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters retire to a cottage in Devonshire. The young ladies pursuits of love and the constraints and discontentment that break their hearts before the logical culmination form the main plot of the novel. Austen here is recreating the predicament of human relationships of the times through a puzzing interplay of goodness and fortitude on the one hand and greed and impetuosity on the other. Austen has a sure message to convey, when all finally settle down.