feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/gradesaver/Sense and Sensibility/section_4_part_5.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapter 45
feat_summary_id: chapter 45
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter 45", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210419170735/https://www.gradesaver.com/sense-and-sensibility/study-guide/summary-chapters-41-50", "summary": "Elinor, in spite of herself, feels for Willoughby, as she is assured of his grief at being forever parted from Marianne and from their family. Mrs. Dashwood finally arrives with the Colonel, and Elinor assures her that Marianne is out of danger; both Mrs. Dashwood and the Colonel are relieved, and Mrs. Dashwood observes how glad the Colonel is at this news. Elinor wrestles with telling her sister of Willoughby, and puts it off until her sister is truly better. Mrs. Dashwood tells Elinor that the Colonel had confessed his love for Marianne during the journey from Barton; Mrs. Dashwood wishes the Colonel and Marianne to be married, although Elinor sees Marianne's lack of regard for him as a certain hindrance. Mrs. Dashwood says she thinks the Colonel far more amiable than Willoughby, and knows he is much more honorable; Elinor knows she is saying this to soothe her own recent disappointments regarding Willoughby, although her perceptions of the Colonel's character are correct. Elinor wishes the Colonel well in securing Marianne's affections, as her mother does, but is more pessimistic regarding Marianne's temperament, and ability to accept the Colonel so readily, after confessing such disdain for him in the past.", "analysis": "That Mrs. Dashwood has seized upon the notion that the Colonel should marry Marianne is another encouragement for the match between them to be made; however, Marianne's affections are still in doubt, and probably still devoted to Willoughby. The difference in the temperaments of Elinor and her mother is fully displayed in this chapter, as her mother wants things to work out, as does Elinor, but does not consider the facts thoroughly, nor take account of Marianne's feelings. Elinor is perhaps too pessimistic in thinking that Marianne could never grow to like the Colonel, but she sees her mother's haste to have them together, and her lack of consideration for Marianne's stubbornness, as foolhardy. Mrs. Dashwood's well-meaning, but false confessions of her former doubts about Willoughby are a prime example of her wishful thinking; Mrs. Dashwood would have things work out to her satisfaction, but also refuses to see that her plans might not prevail. However, the Colonel shows that he is fully sensible, like Elinor, in not being too convinced in the certainty of a match between himself and Marianne. He is the more realistic of the parties; he has more hope than Elinor, yet knows that his success depends completely on the alteration of Marianne's feelings toward him, which cannot be assured. Elinor's regret on Willoughby's behalf is perhaps a little excessive; by this point, it should be obvious that although he is not a bad person, he is certainly no good for Marianne, and he is better off forgotten. The Colonel certainly deserves Marianne's affections now, and with any luck, Marianne will amend her former opinions and begin to like him"}
text: 
  
  Elinor, for some time after he left her, for some time even after the
  sound of his carriage had died away, remained too much oppressed by a
  crowd of ideas, widely differing in themselves, but of which sadness
  was the general result, to think even of her sister.
  
  Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the most
  worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a
  degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which made
  her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a
  tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged
  within herself--to his wishes than to his merits.  She felt that his
  influence over her mind was heightened by circumstances which ought not
  in reason to have weight; by that person of uncommon attraction, that
  open, affectionate, and lively manner which it was no merit to possess;
  and by that still ardent love for Marianne, which it was not even
  innocent to indulge.  But she felt that it was so, long, long before
  she could feel his influence less.
  
  When at last she returned to the unconscious Marianne, she found her
  just awaking, refreshed by so long and sweet a sleep to the extent of
  her hopes.  Elinor's heart was full.  The past, the present, the
  future, Willoughby's visit, Marianne's safety, and her mother's
  expected arrival, threw her altogether into an agitation of spirits
  which kept off every indication of fatigue, and made her only fearful
  of betraying herself to her sister.  Short was the time, however, in
  which that fear could affect her, for within half an hour after
  Willoughby's leaving the house, she was again called down stairs by the
  sound of another carriage.--Eager to save her mother from every
  unnecessary moment's horrible suspense, she ran immediately into the
  hall, and reached the outward door just in time to receive and support
  her as she entered it.
  
  Mrs. Dashwood, whose terror as they drew near the house had produced
  almost the conviction of Marianne's being no more, had no voice to
  inquire after her, no voice even for Elinor; but SHE, waiting neither
  for salutation nor inquiry, instantly gave the joyful relief;--and her
  mother, catching it with all her usual warmth, was in a moment as much
  overcome by her happiness, as she had been before by her fears.  She
  was supported into the drawing-room between her daughter and her
  friend;--and there, shedding tears of joy, though still unable to
  speak, embraced Elinor again and again, turning from her at intervals
  to press Colonel Brandon's hand, with a look which spoke at once her
  gratitude, and her conviction of his sharing with herself in the bliss
  of the moment.  He shared it, however, in a silence even greater than
  her own.
  
  As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had recovered herself, to see Marianne was her
  first desire; and in two minutes she was with her beloved child,
  rendered dearer to her than ever by absence, unhappiness, and danger.
  Elinor's delight, as she saw what each felt in the meeting, was only
  checked by an apprehension of its robbing Marianne of farther
  sleep;--but Mrs. Dashwood could be calm, could be even prudent, when
  the life of a child was at stake, and Marianne, satisfied in knowing
  her mother was near her, and conscious of being too weak for
  conversation, submitted readily to the silence and quiet prescribed by
  every nurse around her.  Mrs. Dashwood WOULD sit up with her all night;
  and Elinor, in compliance with her mother's entreaty, went to bed.  But
  the rest, which one night entirely sleepless, and many hours of the
  most wearing anxiety seemed to make requisite, was kept off by
  irritation of spirits.  Willoughby, "poor Willoughby," as she now
  allowed herself to call him, was constantly in her thoughts; she would
  not but have heard his vindication for the world, and now blamed, now
  acquitted herself for having judged him so harshly before.  But her
  promise of relating it to her sister was invariably painful.  She
  dreaded the performance of it, dreaded what its effect on Marianne
  might be; doubted whether after such an explanation she could ever be
  happy with another; and for a moment wished Willoughby a widower.
  Then, remembering Colonel Brandon, reproved herself, felt that to HIS
  sufferings and his constancy far more than to his rival's, the reward
  of her sister was due, and wished any thing rather than Mrs.
  Willoughby's death.
  
  The shock of Colonel Brandon's errand at Barton had been much softened
  to Mrs. Dashwood by her own previous alarm; for so great was her
  uneasiness about Marianne, that she had already determined to set out
  for Cleveland on that very day, without waiting for any further
  intelligence, and had so far settled her journey before his arrival,
  that the Careys were then expected every moment to fetch Margaret away,
  as her mother was unwilling to take her where there might be infection.
  
  Marianne continued to mend every day, and the brilliant cheerfulness of
  Mrs. Dashwood's looks and spirits proved her to be, as she repeatedly
  declared herself, one of the happiest women in the world.  Elinor could
  not hear the declaration, nor witness its proofs without sometimes
  wondering whether her mother ever recollected Edward.  But Mrs.
  Dashwood, trusting to the temperate account of her own disappointment
  which Elinor had sent her, was led away by the exuberance of her joy to
  think only of what would increase it.  Marianne was restored to her
  from a danger in which, as she now began to feel, her own mistaken
  judgment in encouraging the unfortunate attachment to Willoughby, had
  contributed to place her;--and in her recovery she had yet another
  source of joy unthought of by Elinor.  It was thus imparted to her, as
  soon as any opportunity of private conference between them occurred.
  
  "At last we are alone.  My Elinor, you do not yet know all my
  happiness.  Colonel Brandon loves Marianne.  He has told me so himself."
  
  Her daughter, feeling by turns both pleased and pained, surprised and
  not surprised, was all silent attention.
  
  "You are never like me, dear Elinor, or I should wonder at your
  composure now.  Had I sat down to wish for any possible good to my
  family, I should have fixed on Colonel Brandon's marrying one of you as
  the object most desirable.  And I believe Marianne will be the most
  happy with him of the two."
  
  Elinor was half inclined to ask her reason for thinking so, because
  satisfied that none founded on an impartial consideration of their age,
  characters, or feelings, could be given;--but her mother must always be
  carried away by her imagination on any interesting subject, and
  therefore instead of an inquiry, she passed it off with a smile.
  
  "He opened his whole heart to me yesterday as we travelled.  It came
  out quite unawares, quite undesignedly.  I, you may well believe, could
  talk of nothing but my child;--he could not conceal his distress; I saw
  that it equalled my own, and he perhaps, thinking that mere friendship,
  as the world now goes, would not justify so warm a sympathy--or rather,
  not thinking at all, I suppose--giving way to irresistible feelings,
  made me acquainted with his earnest, tender, constant, affection for
  Marianne.  He has loved her, my Elinor, ever since the first moment of
  seeing her."
  
  Here, however, Elinor perceived,--not the language, not the professions
  of Colonel Brandon, but the natural embellishments of her mother's
  active fancy, which fashioned every thing delightful to her as it chose.
  
  "His regard for her, infinitely surpassing anything that Willoughby
  ever felt or feigned, as much more warm, as more sincere or
  constant--which ever we are to call it--has subsisted through all the
  knowledge of dear Marianne's unhappy prepossession for that worthless
  young man!--and without selfishness--without encouraging a hope!--could
  he have seen her happy with another--Such a noble mind!--such openness,
  such sincerity!--no one can be deceived in HIM."
  
  "Colonel Brandon's character," said Elinor, "as an excellent man, is
  well established."
  
  "I know it is,"--replied her mother seriously, "or after such a warning,
  I should be the last to encourage such affection, or even to be pleased
  by it.  But his coming for me as he did, with such active, such ready
  friendship, is enough to prove him one of the worthiest of men."
  
  "His character, however," answered Elinor, "does not rest on ONE act of
  kindness, to which his affection for Marianne, were humanity out of the
  case, would have prompted him.  To Mrs. Jennings, to the Middletons, he
  has been long and intimately known; they equally love and respect him;
  and even my own knowledge of him, though lately acquired, is very
  considerable; and so highly do I value and esteem him, that if Marianne
  can be happy with him, I shall be as ready as yourself to think our
  connection the greatest blessing to us in the world.  What answer did
  you give him?--Did you allow him to hope?"
  
  "Oh! my love, I could not then talk of hope to him or to myself.
  Marianne might at that moment be dying.  But he did not ask for hope or
  encouragement.  His was an involuntary confidence, an irrepressible
  effusion to a soothing friend--not an application to a parent.  Yet
  after a time I DID say, for at first I was quite overcome--that if she
  lived, as I trusted she might, my greatest happiness would lie in
  promoting their marriage; and since our arrival, since our delightful
  security, I have repeated it to him more fully, have given him every
  encouragement in my power.  Time, a very little time, I tell him, will
  do everything;--Marianne's heart is not to be wasted for ever on such a
  man as Willoughby.-- His own merits must soon secure it."
  
  "To judge from the Colonel's spirits, however, you have not yet made
  him equally sanguine."
  
  "No.--He thinks Marianne's affection too deeply rooted for any change
  in it under a great length of time, and even supposing her heart again
  free, is too diffident of himself to believe, that with such a
  difference of age and disposition he could ever attach her.  There,
  however, he is quite mistaken.  His age is only so much beyond hers as
  to be an advantage, as to make his character and principles fixed;--and
  his disposition, I am well convinced, is exactly the very one to make
  your sister happy.  And his person, his manners too, are all in his
  favour.  My partiality does not blind me; he certainly is not so
  handsome as Willoughby--but at the same time, there is something much
  more pleasing in his countenance.-- There was always a something,--if
  you remember,--in Willoughby's eyes at times, which I did not like."
  
  Elinor could NOT remember it;--but her mother, without waiting for her
  assent, continued,
  
  "And his manners, the Colonel's manners are not only more pleasing to
  me than Willoughby's ever were, but they are of a kind I well know to
  be more solidly attaching to Marianne.  Their gentleness, their genuine
  attention to other people, and their manly unstudied simplicity is much
  more accordant with her real disposition, than the liveliness--often
  artificial, and often ill-timed of the other.  I am very sure myself,
  that had Willoughby turned out as really amiable, as he has proved
  himself the contrary, Marianne would yet never have been so happy with
  HIM, as she will be with Colonel Brandon."
  
  She paused.--Her daughter could not quite agree with her, but her
  dissent was not heard, and therefore gave no offence.
  
  "At Delaford, she will be within an easy distance of me," added Mrs.
  Dashwood, "even if I remain at Barton; and in all probability,--for I
  hear it is a large village,--indeed there certainly MUST be some small
  house or cottage close by, that would suit us quite as well as our
  present situation."
  
  Poor Elinor!--here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!--but
  her spirit was stubborn.
  
  "His fortune too!--for at my time of life you know, everybody cares
  about THAT;--and though I neither know nor desire to know, what it
  really is, I am sure it must be a good one."
  
  Here they were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and
  Elinor withdrew to think it all over in private, to wish success to her
  friend, and yet in wishing it, to feel a pang for Willoughby.
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter 45
target: Elinor, in spite of herself, feels for Willoughby, as she is assured of his grief at being forever parted from Marianne and from their family. Mrs. Dashwood finally arrives with the Colonel, and Elinor assures her that Marianne is out of danger; both Mrs. Dashwood and the Colonel are relieved, and Mrs. Dashwood observes how glad the Colonel is at this news. Elinor wrestles with telling her sister of Willoughby, and puts it off until her sister is truly better. Mrs. Dashwood tells Elinor that the Colonel had confessed his love for Marianne during the journey from Barton; Mrs. Dashwood wishes the Colonel and Marianne to be married, although Elinor sees Marianne's lack of regard for him as a certain hindrance. Mrs. Dashwood says she thinks the Colonel far more amiable than Willoughby, and knows he is much more honorable; Elinor knows she is saying this to soothe her own recent disappointments regarding Willoughby, although her perceptions of the Colonel's character are correct. Elinor wishes the Colonel well in securing Marianne's affections, as her mother does, but is more pessimistic regarding Marianne's temperament, and ability to accept the Colonel so readily, after confessing such disdain for him in the past.
feat_summary_analysis: That Mrs. Dashwood has seized upon the notion that the Colonel should marry Marianne is another encouragement for the match between them to be made; however, Marianne's affections are still in doubt, and probably still devoted to Willoughby. The difference in the temperaments of Elinor and her mother is fully displayed in this chapter, as her mother wants things to work out, as does Elinor, but does not consider the facts thoroughly, nor take account of Marianne's feelings. Elinor is perhaps too pessimistic in thinking that Marianne could never grow to like the Colonel, but she sees her mother's haste to have them together, and her lack of consideration for Marianne's stubbornness, as foolhardy. Mrs. Dashwood's well-meaning, but false confessions of her former doubts about Willoughby are a prime example of her wishful thinking; Mrs. Dashwood would have things work out to her satisfaction, but also refuses to see that her plans might not prevail. However, the Colonel shows that he is fully sensible, like Elinor, in not being too convinced in the certainty of a match between himself and Marianne. He is the more realistic of the parties; he has more hope than Elinor, yet knows that his success depends completely on the alteration of Marianne's feelings toward him, which cannot be assured. Elinor's regret on Willoughby's behalf is perhaps a little excessive; by this point, it should be obvious that although he is not a bad person, he is certainly no good for Marianne, and he is better off forgotten. The Colonel certainly deserves Marianne's affections now, and with any luck, Marianne will amend her former opinions and begin to like him