Sense and Sensibility · Chapter
Chapter XXXIV explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. John Dashwood visits Mrs. Jennings and Lady Middleton, forming a cold friendship based on mutual selfishness. The Dashwoods host a dinner party in Harley Street, inviting the Middletons, Mrs. Jennings, the Miss Steeles, and Colonel Brandon. At the party, Mrs. Ferrars openly snubs Elinor while favoring Lucy Steele, causing Marianne to defend her sister passionately. Lucy revels in the attention, while Elinor observes the irony of Mrs. Ferrars's misplaced graciousness.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Mrs. Ferrars's graciousness toward Lucy Steele is a misapplied courtesy, as Lucy is secretly engaged to Edward; Elinor observes the irony of the situation.
Social Class and Money
The Dashwoods' lavish dinner party contrasts with John Dashwood's earlier claims of poverty, highlighting the importance of maintaining appearances of wealth.
Family and Sibling Bonds
Marianne's passionate defense of Elinor against Mrs. Ferrars's slight demonstrates the deep affection and loyalty between the Dashwood sisters.
Characters to notice
- Elinor Dashwood
Endures Mrs. Ferrars's pointed disdain with composure; amused by the irony of Lucy being favored instead.
- Marianne Dashwood
Defends Elinor against Mrs. Ferrars's coldness, bursting into tears from emotional distress.
- Lucy Steele
Revels in being distinguished by Mrs. Ferrars; exultant at the attention, unaware of the irony.
- Mrs. Ferrars
Displays pride and ill nature; pointedly snubs Elinor while favoring Lucy Steele.
- Colonel Brandon
Observes Marianne's affectionate defense of Elinor with admiration; rises to comfort her.
- John Dashwood
Hosts the dinner party; tries to secure Colonel Brandon's company; conversationally deficient.
Key passages
“The cold insolence of Mrs. Ferrars's general behaviour to her sister, seemed, to her, to foretell such difficulties and distresses to Elinor, as her own wounded heart taught her to think of with horror”
Marianne interpreted Mrs. Ferrars's icy rudeness toward Elinor as a sign of future hardships for her sister, which her own broken heart made her dread.
Highlights Marianne's empathetic and dramatic nature, projecting her own pain onto Elinor's situation.
“She could not but smile to see the graciousness of both mother and daughter towards the very person—for Lucy was particularly distinguished—whom of all others, had they known as much as she did, they would have been most anxious to mortify”
Elinor found it amusing that Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny were being so kind to Lucy, the one person they would most want to humiliate if they knew the truth.
Shows Elinor's quiet irony and her ability to find humor in the social hypocrisy around her.