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II INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF YOUNG RESEARCHERS 

389 

 Qafqaz University                         

          18-19 April 2014, Baku, Azerbaijan 

JANE AUSTEN AS THE BEST DESCRIBER OF WOMEN`S CHARACTERS AND 

FEELINGS (IN “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY”) 

 

 

 

Shafaq IMRANI 

Qafqaz University 

[e-mail] 

 

During the 18

th

 and 19

th

 centuries many publishers considered that it wasn`t a woman`s place to indulge herself in 

writing literature. Therefore ,there were few options left to women if they wanted to preserve in becoming published authors 

,they could continue to try and get published under their own name-prejudiced male publishers made those hopes very 

small-write under a male pseudonym, or submit to failure. 

Jane Austen chose to go under the name of “A Lady" when her first novel “Sense and Sensibility" was published. At 

that time in English literature many writers characterized women`s feelings. But Indian people tell that “Only a woman can 

understand another woman". And Jane Austen was one of the female writers who skillfully described women`s feelings in 

her works, especially in “Sense and Sensibility". In this novel we can see the contrast in the characters and feelings of two 

sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Jane Austen wrote this novel in 1795 and gave it the title “Elinor and Marianne”, but she later 

changed the title to “Sense and Sensibility”. This novel portrays the lives and loves of two very different sisters. In this case, 

Elinor is the voice of “sense” and her sister Marianne-who called Elinor cold-hearted-is the symbol of“sensibility". The 

interesting side of this is that one of Jane Austen`s heroines Elinor is19years old and she wrote this novel when she was 

19.That`s why Jane`s main heroine Elinor reflects parts, aspects and dreams of the author that she had that were never 

fulfilled. Elinor Dashwood mirrors Jane Austen`s strait-laced sense of propriety and her concern and care about family 

members. Claire Tomalin wrote in her book "Jane Austen: a life" that Jane was practical and sensible, and she did what she 

thought to be the best. It means Jane drew on her experiences and her dreams for the future and incorporated them into her 

writing. 

The discrepancy is not only visible in the feelings of these sisters but also in their characters as well. Feelings always 

influence characters and ways of thinking, because in various situations the sisters react differently. 

Elinor Dashwood –the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood ,whose advice was so useful, effectual ,possessed a 

strength of understanding, coolness of judgment , which qualified her to be counselor of her mother and enabled her 

frequently to counteract, had a great deal of intelligence and common sense. She had an excellent heart, her disposition was 

affectionate and her feelings were strong, but she knew how to govern them .Elinor always felt a keen sense of 

responsibility to her family and friends, she places their welfare and interests above her own, and suppresses her own strong 

emotions in a way that leads others to think she is indifferent, cool. 

Marianne Dashwood - Dashwoods' middle daughter, whose feelings were always strongly felt and expressed, she is 

sensitive, romantic, sobbing wildly and passionately ,she is light and airy with a flighty personality. Her emotions dictate 

her actions .She was eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation; she was interesting, amiable but 

prudent. She took after her mother Mrs. Dashwood, but like Elinor she is also generous and clever. 

Tomalin Claire wrote that Austen uses Marianne to relate her views of feminism. In reality, Austen never commented 

on Mary Wollstonecraft’s work to gain rights for women. Rather, she states her opinions through her characters.  Marianne, 

when she hears the phrase about women “setting their cap” at men, responds, “setting their cap. . . is an expression . . . 

which I particularly dislike. Tendency is gross and illiberal; and if construction could ever be deemed clever, time has long 

ago destroyed all its ingenuity”. Very subtlety, Austen inserts her own feminist views into the words of her character.  Since 

she could not condone the feminist movement in public as a result of her societal position, she made her female characters 

pro-woman and pro-women’s rights. 

Rashel Lerman in her article distinguishes these sisters like this: Elinor is composed, Marianne is foolhardy. Elinor is 

careful; Marianne rushes into situations without thinking them through. Elinor isn't prone to being swayed by others, 

Marianne is easily led. These observations are evident in their handling of affairs of the heart. Elinor is the one who 

supports Marianne through her heartache; she is the realist, whereas her sister is the romantic. 

In another Jane Austen`s quotes she says “It isn`t what we say or think that defines us but what we do". All her works 

are written masterly. 

Elinor was the girl whom Jane Austen herself most evidently admired, Elinor is the symbol of a sense, Jane Austen 

said in one of her quotes that “Sense will always have attractions for me". A truly happy marriage, she shows us at the end 

of the novel, exists only where Sense and Sensibility meet and mix in proper measure.