# VII explained — Sense and Sensibility

> Chapter companion for Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

## What happens

The Dashwoods attend their first dinner at Barton Park, where they meet Sir John Middleton's mother-in-law, Mrs. Jennings, and his friend Colonel Brandon. The evening is marked by Mrs. Jennings's vulgar jokes about lovers, Marianne's musical performance, and the contrasting manners of the party—Lady Middleton's cold insipidity, Sir John's boisterous mirth, and Colonel Brandon's grave but gentlemanlike demeanor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Propriety and Social Conduct

The chapter contrasts the vulgarity of Mrs. Jennings's jokes and Sir John's boisterousness with Colonel Brandon's gentlemanlike gravity, highlighting the spectrum of acceptable social behavior.

### Romantic Idealism vs. Reality

Marianne's disdain for Mrs. Jennings's worldly talk and her respect for Colonel Brandon's restrained appreciation of music reflect her idealistic expectations versus the reality of social interactions.

## Character check-ins

### Elinor Dashwood

Endures Mrs. Jennings's raillery with composure, drawing Marianne's anxious concern.

### Marianne Dashwood

Vexed by Mrs. Jennings's jokes on her sister's behalf; performs music and feels respect for Colonel Brandon's attentive silence.

### Colonel Brandon

Introduced as Sir John's friend; silent and grave, but gentlemanlike; the only one who listens to Marianne's music without raptures, earning her respect.

### Sir John Middleton

Hosts the dinner with unaffected sincerity; loud in admiration of Marianne's singing; delights in collecting young people.

### Mrs. Jennings

Lady Middleton's mother; a good-humored, merry, fat, elderly woman who talks much and makes vulgar jokes about lovers and husbands.

## Key lines

> She was full of jokes and laughter, and before dinner was over had said many witty things on the subject of lovers and husbands; hoped they had not left their hearts behind them in Sussex, and pretended to see them blush whether they did or not.

Mrs. Jennings made many humorous remarks about romance and marriage, teasing the Dashwood sisters about leaving their sweethearts in Sussex and pretending to catch them blushing.

_Illustrates Mrs. Jennings's vulgar but good-natured character and the social pressure on young women regarding marriage._

> Colonel Brandon alone, of all the party, heard her without being in raptures. He paid her only the compliment of attention; and she felt a respect for him on the occasion, which the others had reasonably forfeited by their shameless want of taste.

Only Colonel Brandon listened to Marianne's singing with quiet attention rather than exaggerated praise, and she respected him for it, unlike the others who showed a lack of true appreciation.

_Highlights Marianne's preference for genuine sensibility over superficial flattery, and her initial respect for Colonel Brandon._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters