Sense and Sensibility · Chapter
Chapter I explained
The Dashwood family is introduced, residing at Norland Park in Sussex.
What happens
The Dashwood family is introduced, residing at Norland Park in Sussex. Upon the death of the old gentleman, the estate passes to Mr. Henry Dashwood, but is entailed to his son from a first marriage, John Dashwood, and then to John's young son. Mr. Henry Dashwood dies soon after, leaving his widow and three daughters—Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret—with only ten thousand pounds. On his deathbed, he extracts a promise from John to provide for his stepmother and half-sisters. John, though initially inclined to give them a substantial sum, is gradually persuaded by his selfish wife, Fanny, to do as little as possible. The chapter contrasts the sense and composure of Elinor with the excessive sensibility of Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood, who indulge their grief without restraint.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Sibling Bonds
The chapter establishes the Dashwood family dynamics, contrasting the coldness of John Dashwood and his wife with the affectionate but imprudent bond between Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters.
Social Class and Money
The financial precariousness of the Dashwood women is introduced, highlighting how inheritance and wealth dictate their future comfort and social standing.
Sense vs. Sensibility
Elinor's rational composure is contrasted with Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood's unrestrained emotional indulgence, setting up the central dichotomy of the novel.
Characters to notice
- John Dashwood
The son from Mr. Henry Dashwood's first marriage, who inherits Norland. He is well-meaning but cold-hearted and selfish, easily swayed by his wife to break his promise to his father.
- Fanny Dashwood
John's wife, narrow-minded and selfish. She manipulates John into abandoning his plan to give money to his half-sisters and stepmother, and behaves indelicately by arriving at Norland immediately after the funeral.
- Elinor Dashwood
The eldest daughter, aged nineteen, possessed of strength of understanding and coolness of judgment. She acts as the counsellor to her mother and strives to govern her strong feelings.
- Marianne Dashwood
The second daughter, sensible and clever but eager in everything, with no moderation in her sorrows or joys. She and her mother encourage each other in the violence of their affliction.
- Mrs. Dashwood
The widow of Mr. Henry Dashwood, a woman of keen honor and romantic generosity. She indulges her grief excessively and is strongly influenced by Marianne's sensibility.
- Margaret Dashwood
The youngest sister, aged thirteen, good-humored but has imbibed much of Marianne's romance without her sense.
Key passages
“He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed”
John Dashwood was not a bad person, unless being cold-hearted and selfish counts as being bad.
Introduces John Dashwood's character as fundamentally selfish but not malicious.
“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”
Elinor, at just nineteen, had such good sense and calm judgment that she could advise her mother effectively.
Highlights Elinor's role as the rational anchor of the family.
“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.”
Marianne was just as intelligent as Elinor, but she was immoderate in all her feelings, whether sad or happy.
Establishes Marianne's temperament as the embodiment of sensibility.
