Sense and Sensibility

In the novel, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen writes about many different characters. The male characters in the novel are interesting. Some characters are meant to be liked and some are meant to be disliked. Austen even develops some male characters to be ridiculed. Characters such as John Dashwood and Robert Ferrars are meant to be disliked and characters such as Sir John Middleton and Colonel Brandon are meant to be liked. Characters such as Edward Ferrars and John Willoughby are meant to be ridiculed by the reader. There are many different ways in which Jane Austen shows each character's merits and faults.

Early on in the novel, Austen portrays John Dashwood as a passive man. At first, he is almost pitied by the reader; but this is not the portrayal Austen wants the reader to have of John Dashwood. His wife controls him and Austen makes that very clear from the very beginning. Even though his wife does the controlling, she is not the one we ultimately dislike; he is. The first time the reader is introduced to his “true colors” is in chapter 2. John Dashwood is talking to his wife, Fanny, about giving the sisters of the Dashwood household money after their father has passed away. She do

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

Austen describes the scene in which the girls first meet Colonel Brandon in chapter 7. She says, “his face was not handsome, (but) his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike” (Austen, page 30). The author gives numerous examples of his unending kindness and generosity. He treats the Dashwood household with respect throughout the novel. He marries the woman that caused his mother to disinherit his brother. es not think the girls should get anything and she quickly convinces her husband of this as well. This is the perception the reader gets of John Dashwood: a weak, scrawny, powerless man who allows his wife to control him. He seems to be a bit rough around the edges, so to speak. He is hopelessly in love with Marianne Dashwood. Even though he does not do anything out right “bad” he is not the best character. Austen intentionally portrays each male character to be liked, disliked, or chastised with her words and style of writing. The author goes on to say he is “a young man of good abilities, quick imagination, lively spirits, and open, affectionate manners” (Austen, page 43). The passage stated above also shows he lacks conviction.

Approximate Word count = 1033
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.