A Comparison between Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Pre

‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ is a keen observation of social class and customs. In this various issues stemming from economic instability are brought to the surface.

Novels by Jane Austen revolve around the typical issues of marriage, love and the disillusionment that prevails over the broken hearted ones. In nineteenth century marriage for women was considered the only escape from depressing spinsterhood. Hence, by focusing on matrimony, she brings out the social customs of her age.

The main theme is highlighted in the very titles of these novels. Whether two different personality traits such as ‘Pride and Prejudice’ or contradictory words like ‘Sense and Sensibility’ are used, the emphasis is to familiarize the reader about the disclosure following. A preconceived notion once developed by the reader makes the entire novel easy to comprehend.

The two novels are a clear manifestation of the nineteenth century environment. Walks, parties, filagree and balls are the main focus of people’s lives. All the attention is given to such occasions and it is during these moments that many of the turning points are felt

In ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Jane Bennet is the family beauty. She is polite and never loses her temper. Being calm in nature she stays bottled up and suffers because of it. As Jane and Elizabeth the two sisters are contrasts in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ so are the two friends Darcy and Bingley in ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Thus contrasts are drawn between two people who are close. It is shown that a well knit relation requires for people with different qualities to come close and interact. This also adds some life to the combination. Unlike Darcy, Bingley is easy going and good looking. He is gullible and is thus easily led by Darcy’s false assumptions.

The protagonists of her writings are not shown very beautiful but highly observant and sensible. They emerge as foils to the other characters. Elizabeth though open in her feelings but at the same time very observant and conscious of her surroundings. Her honest opinions were never meant to offend anyone. Similarly, Elinor in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ emerges as the most pragmatic character. She exhibits the same qualities except that she was not open about her feelings. She hid her emotions even when Edward’s former relationship was unveiled and suffered within.

Wickam in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and Willouby in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ are of the same type. Names starting with the letter W have the same playful and disloyal traits. Apparently perfect but actually not. Both suffer from serious character discrepancies. There is also a sharp display of contrast between the characters of the respective mothers in the two novels. Where on one hand she guides her children on a more moral track, the other mainly concentrates on getting good proposals for her daughters through any means. The family unit is pretty similar in the two novels. The number of females outweighs male presence. Upbringing of daughters and the influence a mother exerts in this task is seen throughout the two novels. A household where only daughters reside is the main focus of these two novels. Similarly the limited role a father plays in these stories is evident. He merely plays the role of a bread winner and stays more or less indifferent towards the ongoing affairs of the family. Therefore the main focus of Austen’s writings revolves around the lives of females and the various stages they pass through.

There is a basic similarity between the characterization of both ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’. Female protagonist is the main power character. She not only exerts immense power through her love but also facilitates the transformation of her hero. Male and female protagonists are separated by a wide social chasm, hero lying on the upper rung of the socio economic ladder and heroine on the lower. The tone and mood of her novels remain more or less tensed till the climax is reached. It is then a stream of pleasant events occur that make the story lighter. Ending on a happy note through various chaotic situations, the story is never without a moral l

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