Sense and Sensibility: A Comprehensive Guide to Characters and Viewpoint

Posted on Aug 3, 2024 in English

Characters

Dashwood Family

  • Henry Dashwood: Husband of Mrs. Dashwood, father of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret; also has a son, John, from a previous marriage.
  • John Dashwood: Mr. Dashwood’s only son, selfish, miserly, and unpleasant to his half-sisters; married to Fanny Dashwood.
  • Mrs. Dashwood: Mother of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret; romantic and close to her daughters.
  • Elinor Dashwood: Oldest of the Dashwood girls; sensible and good-hearted; foil to Marianne.
  • Marianne Dashwood: Two years younger than Elinor; youthful, impetuous, and immersed in romantic ideals.
  • Margaret Dashwood: Youngest Dashwood girl; tries to imitate Marianne’s romantic sentiments.

Other Characters

  • Edward Ferrars: Fanny Dashwood’s brother; shy, kind, and retiring; attached to Elinor.
  • Sir John Middleton: Owner of Barton Park, the Dashwood’s landlord and neighbor; kind and loves company.
  • Lady Middleton: Sir John’s wife; vain and proper; takes joy in her children.
  • Mrs. Jennings: Lady Middleton’s mother; makes jokes about potential suitors for Marianne and Elinor.
  • Colonel Brandon: One of Sir John’s oldest friends; former military officer; good-hearted but stern countenance.
  • John Willoughby: Dashing, roguish young man; embodies romantic qualities that Marianne prizes.
  • Miss Williams: Colonel Brandon’s adopted daughter; seduced and abandoned by Willoughby.
  • Mrs. Smith: Willoughby’s aunt; orders him away to London when she finds out about Miss Williams.
  • Mrs. Palmer: Mrs. Jennings’ other daughter; foolishly good-spirited and empty-headed.
  • Mr. Palmer: Mrs. Palmer’s husband; bitter and sarcastic.
  • Miss Steele: Distant cousin of Mrs. Jennings; foolish and flippant.
  • Lucy Steele: Miss Steele’s sister; smarter than her sister but still silly and unpolished.
  • Robert Ferrars: Edward’s brother; vain and conceited; profits from Edward’s integrity.
  • Miss Grey: Willoughby’s chosen wife; has a great deal of money.
  • Miss Morton: Wealthy and of good family; supposed to marry Edward, then Robert, but ends up with neither.
  • Mrs. Ferrars: Edward, Fanny, and Robert’s mother; bad-tempered and vain.
  • Dr. Harris: Helps during Marianne’s illness at Cleveland.

Viewpoint

  • Third-person omniscient: Jane Austen writes with a third-person omniscient point of view, allowing her to switch to other characters as needed.
  • Focus on Elinor’s perspective: The narration tends to focus our perspective through Elinor’s thoughts most often.
  • Female perspective: Austen primarily shows us the female perspective, allowing us to get to know the women in the novel better.