# Chapter XXXIV explained — Sense and Sensibility

> Chapter companion for Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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