Natural Reflection :: essays research papers

Jane Austens novel Sense and Sensibility illustrates a number of characteristics accompaniment to Romantic Literature. Of these characteristics, few are better utilized to offer a view into the individual geniuss of her characters than the images of natural beauty present throughout the novel. In contrast to the Neo-classical ideal, which reserves no place for the appreciation of the sublime in nature in its structure and design, Romantic literature expresses a muddy reverence and awe toward the natural world. In the case of Sense and Sensibility, this appreciation is manipulated to produce a subtle, but humorous reflection on the temperament of the Miss Dashwoods. Upon Edward Ferrars arrival at Barton, he joins Marianne and Elinor on their walk keep going to the cottage. During this walk, a discourse on the surroundings begins after Elinor small talks that Norland probably looks more as it always does at this time of year (p. 77). Elinors comment comes as a somewhat perturbe d response to Mariannes overzealous inquiries concerning the coming into court of Norland. Elinor also mentions that it is probably rather gloomy and untidy because of the unwarranted leaves that stew the woods and walks. This prompts and even more dramatic exclamation from Marianne Oh cried Marianne, with what transporting sensations dumbfound I formerly seen them fall (p. 77). In this line, and in those that follow, it seems that Marianne gets carried away with her appreciation of the dead leaves on the ground. In the description of them as inspiring transporting sensations in her, the extremity of Mariannes sensibility is aptly conveyed in a very pithy scene. The guts that is characteristic of Elinor is depicted in her response to Mariannes hyperbolise praises It is not every one, said Elinor, who has your passion for dead leaves (p. 77). It is not that she is unaffected by the beauty of her surroundings, but she understands the difference between what is truly honorable of praise, and what would be an exaggeration or possibly even an affectation. She does not have the propensity to swoon when she thinks of the dead leaves at Norland, but she has the wit and sense to subtly joke about her sister.