Sense and Sensibility · Chapter
XIX explained
Edward Ferrars departs Barton Cottage after a week-long visit, leaving Elinor to grapple with her feelings.
What happens
Edward Ferrars departs Barton Cottage after a week-long visit, leaving Elinor to grapple with her feelings. He confesses his lack of a profession and his family's opposition to his desire to join the church. After his departure, Elinor busies herself with drawing to manage her grief, while Marianne views her sister's composure as lacking merit. The chapter ends with a visit from Sir John, Lady Middleton, Mrs. Jennings, and the Palmers, who invite the Dashwood sisters to dine at the park.
Themes in this chapter
Propriety and Social Conduct
Elinor's composed behavior after Edward's departure contrasts with Marianne's open grief, illustrating differing views on proper emotional restraint.
Female Agency and Constraint
Elinor's use of drawing to manage her sorrow demonstrates a constrained form of agency, while Marianne's criticism reflects her belief in the value of expressing strong emotions.
Family and Sibling Bonds
The differing responses of Elinor and Marianne to Edward's departure highlight their close but contrasting sibling relationship, with Elinor protecting her family from worry.
Characters to notice
- Elinor Dashwood
Struggles with Edward's departure, using drawing and composure to manage her grief, contrasting with Marianne's more expressive sorrow.
- Marianne Dashwood
Criticizes Elinor's calm self-command, believing strong affections make such restraint impossible; shows her own romantic sensibility.
- Edward Ferrars
Departs after a week, expressing discontent with his idle life and his family's refusal to let him pursue the church; shows despondency and lack of independence.
- Mrs. Dashwood
Urges Edward to stay longer and advises him to take up a profession; shows maternal concern and optimism about his future.
- Sir John Middleton
Arrives with a large party and insists the Dashwood sisters dine at the park the next day, showing his persistent hospitality.
- Mrs. Jennings
Chatters about the Palmers' journey and Mrs. Palmer's pregnancy, displaying her gossipy and jovial nature.
Key passages
“I think, Edward, you would be a happier man if you had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions.”
Mrs. Dashwood suggests that Edward would find more happiness if he had a career to occupy his time and give purpose to his life.
Mrs. Dashwood advises Edward on the value of meaningful occupation.
“I always preferred the church, as I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family.”
Edward confesses that his true desire has always been to become a clergyman, but his family considered it insufficiently fashionable.
Edward reveals his thwarted vocational ambition due to family pressure.
“Elinor sat down to her drawing-table as soon as he was out of the house, busily employed herself the whole day, neither sought nor avoided the mention of his name.”
Immediately after Edward's departure, Elinor turned to her drawing, keeping herself occupied and neither bringing up his name nor shying away from it.
Elinor's method of coping with Edward's departure through purposeful activity.