# Chapter XIII explained — Sense and Sensibility

> Chapter companion for Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

## What happens

The planned excursion to Whitwell is cancelled when Colonel Brandon receives a letter requiring his immediate attendance in town, disappointing the entire party. Meanwhile, Mrs. Jennings reveals that she discovered Marianne and Willoughby visited Allenham alone, leading to a tense discussion between the Dashwood sisters about propriety. The party instead spends the day driving about the country, and Marianne remains oblivious to the impropriety of her conduct.

## Themes in this chapter

### Propriety and Social Conduct

Marianne's visit to Allenham alone with Willoughby and her defense of the act highlight the tension between personal desire and social expectations.

### Romantic Idealism vs. Reality

Marianne's belief that pleasure justifies her actions contrasts with Elinor's pragmatic concern for reputation, illustrating the clash between romantic idealism and social reality.

## Character check-ins

### Elinor Dashwood

Elinor is concerned about Marianne's impropriety in visiting Allenham alone with Willoughby and tries to reason with her about discretion.

### Marianne Dashwood

Marianne defends her visit to Allenham with Willoughby, showing her romantic idealism and disregard for social propriety.

### Colonel Brandon

Colonel Brandon receives a letter that distresses him and forces him to leave for town, canceling the Whitwell excursion.

### Mrs. Jennings

Mrs. Jennings reveals she discovered Marianne and Willoughby's visit to Allenham and speculates about Colonel Brandon's business involving Miss Williams.

### John Willoughby

Willoughby takes Marianne to Allenham alone and later dismisses Colonel Brandon's departure as a trick, showing his manipulative and dismissive nature.

## Key lines

> I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety."

Elinor warns Marianne that enjoying an activity does not make it socially acceptable.

_Elinor's caution reflects the theme of propriety versus personal inclination._

> On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for if there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting wrong, and with such a conviction I could have had no pleasure."

Marianne argues that her enjoyment proves the act was proper, as she believes one cannot take pleasure in wrongdoing.

_Marianne's reasoning exemplifies her romantic idealism and rejection of conventional social rules._

## Links

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