Comments on: Sense and Sensibility http://austenblog.com/2008/08/04/sense-and-sensibility/ Tue, 15 May 2012 15:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Maria L. http://austenblog.com/2008/08/04/sense-and-sensibility/#comment-34321 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:10:28 +0000 http://www.austenblog.com/?p=3003#comment-34321 I love the description of the assembled company at Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood’s dinner party:

John Dashwood had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wife had still less. But there was no peculiar disgrace in this; for it was very much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost all laboured under one or other of these disqualifications for being agreeable–Want of sense, either natural or improved–want of elegance–want of spirits–or want of temper.

Followed by the wonderful description of the insipid after-dinner conversation of the ladies:

When the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room after dinner, this poverty was particularly evident, for the gentlemen had supplied the discourse with some variety–the variety of politics, inclosing land, and breaking horses–but then it was all over; and one subject only engaged the ladies till coffee came in, which was the comparative heights of Harry Dashwood, and Lady Middleton’s second son William, who were nearly of the same age.

Had both the children been there, the affair might have been determined too easily by measuring them at once; but as Harry only was present, it was all conjectural assertion on both sides; and every body had a right to be equally positive in their opinion, and to repeat it over and over again as often as they liked.

The parties stood thus:

The two mothers, though each really convinced that her own son was the tallest, politely decided in favour of the other.

The two grandmothers, with not less partiality, but more sincerity, were equally earnest in support of their own descendant.

Lucy, who was hardly less anxious to please one parent than the other, thought the boys were both remarkably tall for their age, and could not conceive that there could be the smallest difference in the world between them; and Miss Steele, with yet greater address gave it, as fast as she could, in favour of each.

Elinor, having once delivered her opinion on William’s side, by which she offended Mrs. Ferrars and Fanny still more, did not see the necessity of enforcing it by any farther assertion; and Marianne, when called on for her’s, offended them all, by declaring that she had no opinion to give, as she had never thought about it.

]]> By: LynnS http://austenblog.com/2008/08/04/sense-and-sensibility/#comment-34320 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:17:38 +0000 http://www.austenblog.com/?p=3003#comment-34320 That’s heartbreaking. I always tend to go to this passage when I need a belly laugh:

“After a proper resistance on the part of Mrs. Ferrars, just so violent and so steady as to preserve her from that reproach which she always seemed fearful of incurring, the reproach of being too amiable, Edward was admitted to her presence, and pronounced to be again her son.

Her family had of late been exceedingly fluctuating. For many years of her life she had had two sons; but the crime and annihilation of Edward a few weeks ago, had robbed her of one; the similar annihilation of Robert had left her for a fortnight without any; and now, by the resuscitation of Edward, she had one again.

In spite of his being allowed once more to live, however, he did not feel the continuance of his existence secure, till he had revealed his present engagement; for the publication of that circumstance, he feared, might give a sudden turn to his constitution, and carry him off as rapidly as before.”

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