I decided to reread Sense and Sensibility because it had been awhile since I had read the entire book. I only got as far as the first chapter when I noticed the amount of descriptive words Jane used for the characters. Usually, in this day and age we describe our friends and family with only one or two adjectives. So, I thought it would be interesting to make a list of those descriptions (underlined) for my quote.
Here goes, Chapter One.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood:
Both having goodness of heart, as well as the cheerfulness of the children -
His temper was cheerful and sanguine -
Her own tender love for all her three children -
Eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence -
Mr. John Dashwood, the son of Mr. Henry Dashwood:
A steady, respectable young man -
Not the strong feelings of the rest of the family -
He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted, and rather selfish, is to be ill-disposed -
In general, well respected -
He conducted himself with propriety -
He might have been made still more respectable than he was; he might even have been made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married.
The prospect of four thousand a-year, …… warmed his heart and made him feel capable of
generosity. "Yes, he would give them three thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome!
Mrs. John Dashwood:
Was a strong caricature of himself; more narrow-minded and selfish.
The indelicacy of her conduct -
With only common feelings, ….but in her mind there was a sense of honour so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind, … was to her a source of immoveable disgust -
How little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it. -
So acutely did Mrs. [Henry] Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour...
Mr. John Dashwood’s son:
Such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three years old: an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his own way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, …..
Elinor:
Possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though
only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and enabled her frequently to counteract, to
the advantage of them all….
She had an excellent heart; her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong: but
she knew how to govern them…
Marianne:
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. -
Elinor saw … the excess of her sister's sensibility…
Margaret:
The other sister, was a good-humoured, well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having much of her sense; she did not, at thirteen,
Bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
End of List
I might I have missed a few, so consider this is just a ‘short’ list of what I found. Now that Jane has set the tone for the story, it is up to us to remember who is whom and what they are.
Linda the Librarian
Pic 1: Kate Winslet & Greg Wise from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qzd9HIsRWeA/R6TYdg6ttpI/AAAAAAAAGFk/5Dnj2w8lZbc/s400/Sense+and+Sensibility.bmp
Pic 2: Sense & Sensibility 1995: http://www.jasa.net.au/study/images/SENSE18B.JPG
Pic 3: Emma Thompson & Hugh Grant from: http://jennifermorrill.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/sense-and-sensibility.jpg
Seems Emma has been my favourite as well... for my last quote was also about Emma. Anyway, can't help falling in love with the book! Chapter 17, last paragraph, as Harriet received the bad news about Mr. Elton's utter admiration for Emma, and none for herself:
Posts
