Sense and Sensibility

Chapter IOld Gentlemen, owner of Norland Park, invites his nephew and family after his sister's death.

Mr. Henry Dashwood is the legal inheritor of the Norland estate.

He has one son by a former marriage and three daughters with a present wife.

His son, John Dashwood, was already rich and had no need of inheriting Norland, unlike his three half-sisters.

When the Old Gentlemen dies, his will indicates that all his inheritance goes to John Dashwood.

Henry Dashwood becomes disappointed and ill after this decision and asks his son to make a promise.

Since he can't help his current family, he wants John to help his daughters and his wife financially, to which he accepts paying each one a thousand pounds a-piece.

After his father death Mrs. John Dashwood arrives suddenly with their 4-year child and established herself as mistress of the estate.

Mrs. Dashwood doesn't like her ungracious behavior and wants to leave as soon as possible.

Her eldest daughter, Elinor, advices her mother to keep calm and try to live for a time with this new change, as mere visitors.

Chapter IIMrs. John Dashwood debates strongly with John about his decision to help his half-sisters financially.

She is being selfish and manipulative in every form.

John argues that it was his father's promise.

Mrs. John Dashwood tells him that it was too much money they were "taking" from there son to give to his half-sisters and that his father wasn't thinking straight.

He is then convinced that five hundred pounds is more than enough.

Mrs. John Dashwood keeps insisting to not worry about them, since they will receive ten thousand pounds for their fathers death.

She also tells him that paying them annually will bring them in poverty.

John is greatly convinced that what his wife ask of him and tells him is the right decision.

Chapter IIIMrs. Dashwood is preoccupied and doubts that the promise between Henry and John will ever be made for the sake of her daughters.

At the moment, Mrs. Dashwood is also pensive in a new and very close relationship between Elinor and Mrs. John Dashwood's brother, Edward Ferrars.

Mrs. Dashwood believes his not handsome and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing.

Edward's mother and sister expected him much more from him if he wanted to obtain a huge inheritance.

Mrs. Dashwood's second daughter, Marianne, thinks that Edward isn't complete enough for her older sister.

She becomes to debate with her mother, her main reason being that Edward doesn't have much interest in her drawings.

Mrs. Dashwood defends Elinor in this debate.

Chapter IVDuring the mother and daughter debate, Elinor enters defending Edward.

Marianne keeps quiet and doesn't want to offend her sister when she realizes Elinor is secretly in love with him.

When Marianne points out this hidden love, Elinor tries to retract any positive comment from him.

Elinor explains she won't demonstrate Edward love for the fear of not receiving the same.

Later on Mrs. Dashwood recieves a letter from Sir John Middleton.

It was offering her and her three daughters a small cottage of their own called Barton Cottage in his property in Devonshire.

Mrs. Dashwood didn't think twice and responded the letter with great joy to leave Norland as soon as possible.

Chapter VMrs. Dashwood was very content when she told Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood about her new home.

John was the only one to be preocupied about how far they will be.

Mrs. Daswood acknowledges that she will be leaving far from Norland and that will seperate Edward and Elinor, which wasn't her intention.

She also acknowledges the possibility that her daughters won't receive the payment from their half-brother.

Marianne is lamenting hugely the fact that they will leave soon their home.

CharactersOld Gentleman: First owner of Norland Park, after his sister dies he invites Mr. Henry Dashwood and his family to live with him. Dies ten years later than her sister.

Mr. Henry Dashwood: Had a son with a first marriage and three daughters with his actual wife, cared allot for his family. Makes a promise with his son before his death, to take care of them and pay for them.

Mr. John Dashwood: cold hearted, selfish and easily manipulated by his wife. He inherits everything from the Old Gentleman after his death. Doesn't fulfill completely his fathers promise.

Mrs. Dashwood: Careful and loving mother of three daughters. Doesn't inherit anything after her husbands death and does everything she can to help her daughters.

Elinor: Nineteen year old daughter of Mrs. Dashwood. She was very understanding and had a good judgement, good hearted and had self-control. She acted as an advisor for her mother.

Marianne: Not yet seventeen, daughter of Mrs. Daswood. Sensible, clever, eager, generous, amiable, and interesting. She really cared for Elinor and was concerned in her relationship with Edward.

Margaret: Thirteen year old daughter of Mrs. Dashwood. Good-humored but thinks she knows much about love.

Mrs. John Dashwood: Wife of John Dashwood and sister of Edward Ferrars. Selfish, snobbish, and manipulative, she came to Norland Park as soon as Henry's funeral ended. She cared more for her son than John's sisters.

Edward Ferrars: Comes to Norland Park and creates a strong relationship with Elinor during his stay. Nsible and friendly but greatly reserved and not so handsome.

Sir John Middleton: Relative of Mrs. Dashwood who invites her and her's daughters to his cottage to live.