feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/pinkmonkey/Sense and Sensibility/section_7_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: Sense and Sensibility.chapter 8
feat_summary_id: chapter 8
feat_summary: {"name": "Chapter  8", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20180820034609/http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmSenseSensibility24.asp", "summary": "This chapter gives an extended character sketch of Mrs. Jennings. Wealthy and contented, she is anxious to see young men and women settled in life. Thus, when she spots Colonel Brandon admiring Marianne as she is playing the piano, she immediately pairs them up as a suitable couple. She voices her thoughts aloud to both Brandon and Marianne. While the Colonel ignores her remarks, Marianne expresses shock at the suggestion. She rejects the Colonel on the basis of his age and his reserved temperament. Elinor, though, does not agree with her sister.", "analysis": "Notes Mrs. Jennings is a typical matron: she delights in making matches between eligible men and women. She is happy to gain the acquaintance of the Dashwood girls. When she observes the Colonel admiring Marianne's talent, she concludes that Brandon is in love with the girl. She amuses herself by teasing both Marianne and the Colonel. Austen once again points out the difference in the attitudes of the two sisters. Elinor, with her better judgment, is able to assess the merits of Brandon and finds him an eligible bachelor. Marianne, fed on romantic literature, does not find the Colonel exciting enough to capture her heart. She discards the idea of him as a match for herself because he is twice her age and does not display vigor and enthusiasm. CHAPTER 9 Summary The Dashwoods settle down to a life of peace and contentment. They keep themselves occupied, and John Middleton visits them frequently. One morning, while Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor are engaged in the household duties, Marianne and Margaret venture out to explore the countryside. They get carried away by the beauty of the natural surroundings and start climbing up a hill, despite the rough weather. Suddenly it starts raining, and they head towards home. Marianne misses her step, twists her ankle and falls down. A gentleman riding by takes pity on her and carries her to her house. He introduces himself as Willoughby, from Allenham. He impresses everyone with his appearance and charming manners, and Marianne is smitten. Later in the day, when John Middleton pays them a visit, the family floods him with questions about Willoughby. Sir John talks favorably of the dashing young man. Notes The theme of love is developed. Jane Austen convincingly constructs a situation in which Marianne gets to meet the 'hero' of her dreams. Elinor has already met a good man; it is time for Marianne to find her partner. Marianne's accident, and her rescue by a knight in shining armor, resembles a scene from a fairy tale or romantic fiction. Marianne is overpowered by the striking appearance and charming manners of Willoughby. He is everything Marianne has wanted in a man: he is handsome, dashing and chivalrous. The chapter thus introduces another main character. Willoughby is a man with charm and vitality; he easily impresses beautiful girls like Marianne. His imposing presence is in direct contrast to the subdued character of the Colonel. John Middleton feels sorry for the Colonel and hopes that Marianne will realize his worth. CHAPTER 10 Summary Chapter 10 highlights the character of Willoughby and places him in further contrast to Colonel Brandon. Willoughby slowly but surely captures Marianne's heart with his enchanting ways. He also wins the approval of Mrs. Dashwood. Only Elinor is restrained in her praise for him. She is able to gauge Colonel Brandon's true feelings for Marianne, and thus feels sorry for him. She also feels hurt by the manner in which both Willoughby and Marianne ridicule the Colonel. Notes Marianne finds Willoughby an ideal suitor and is happy to seek his favor. However, Elinor is able to see through his superficial conduct. She observes that he is impulsive, prejudiced and opinionated, much like her sister. He speaks before he thinks, and he thoughtlessly hurts the Colonel's feelings with his careless remarks. Austen reveals Elinor's maturity by having her analyze the characters of Willoughby and the Colonel. She understands the real worth of the Colonel and values his sentiments. She considers him to be \"a sensible man, well-bred, well-informed, of gentle address, and--an amiable heart. \" She ranks him higher as a man than Willoughby. This chapter hints at the fate of Marianne in the hands of Willoughby. Elinor, as Austen's mouthpiece, conveys her apprehension about this shallow and ostentatious man."}
text: 
  
  Mrs. Jennings was a widow with an ample jointure.  She had only two
  daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and
  she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the
  world.  In the promotion of this object she was zealously active, as
  far as her ability reached; and missed no opportunity of projecting
  weddings among all the young people of her acquaintance.  She was
  remarkably quick in the discovery of attachments, and had enjoyed the
  advantage of raising the blushes and the vanity of many a young lady by
  insinuations of her power over such a young man; and this kind of
  discernment enabled her soon after her arrival at Barton decisively to
  pronounce that Colonel Brandon was very much in love with Marianne
  Dashwood.  She rather suspected it to be so, on the very first evening
  of their being together, from his listening so attentively while she
  sang to them; and when the visit was returned by the Middletons' dining
  at the cottage, the fact was ascertained by his listening to her again.
  It must be so.  She was perfectly convinced of it.  It would be an
  excellent match, for HE was rich, and SHE was handsome.  Mrs. Jennings
  had been anxious to see Colonel Brandon well married, ever since her
  connection with Sir John first brought him to her knowledge; and she
  was always anxious to get a good husband for every pretty girl.
  
  The immediate advantage to herself was by no means inconsiderable, for
  it supplied her with endless jokes against them both.  At the park she
  laughed at the colonel, and in the cottage at Marianne.  To the former
  her raillery was probably, as far as it regarded only himself,
  perfectly indifferent; but to the latter it was at first
  incomprehensible; and when its object was understood, she hardly knew
  whether most to laugh at its absurdity, or censure its impertinence,
  for she considered it as an unfeeling reflection on the colonel's
  advanced years, and on his forlorn condition as an old bachelor.
  
  Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than
  herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy of
  her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability of
  wishing to throw ridicule on his age.
  
  "But at least, Mama, you cannot deny the absurdity of the accusation,
  though you may not think it intentionally ill-natured.  Colonel Brandon
  is certainly younger than Mrs. Jennings, but he is old enough to be MY
  father; and if he were ever animated enough to be in love, must have
  long outlived every sensation of the kind.  It is too ridiculous!  When
  is a man to be safe from such wit, if age and infirmity will not
  protect him?"
  
  "Infirmity!" said Elinor, "do you call Colonel Brandon infirm?  I can
  easily suppose that his age may appear much greater to you than to my
  mother; but you can hardly deceive yourself as to his having the use of
  his limbs!"
  
  "Did not you hear him complain of the rheumatism?  and is not that the
  commonest infirmity of declining life?"
  
  "My dearest child," said her mother, laughing, "at this rate you must
  be in continual terror of MY decay; and it must seem to you a miracle
  that my life has been extended to the advanced age of forty."
  
  "Mama, you are not doing me justice.  I know very well that Colonel
  Brandon is not old enough to make his friends yet apprehensive of
  losing him in the course of nature.  He may live twenty years longer.
  But thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony."
  
  "Perhaps," said Elinor, "thirty-five and seventeen had better not have
  any thing to do with matrimony together.  But if there should by any
  chance happen to be a woman who is single at seven and twenty, I should
  not think Colonel Brandon's being thirty-five any objection to his
  marrying HER."
  
  "A woman of seven and twenty," said Marianne, after pausing a moment,
  "can never hope to feel or inspire affection again, and if her home be
  uncomfortable, or her fortune small, I can suppose that she might bring
  herself to submit to the offices of a nurse, for the sake of the
  provision and security of a wife.  In his marrying such a woman
  therefore there would be nothing unsuitable.  It would be a compact of
  convenience, and the world would be satisfied.  In my eyes it would be
  no marriage at all, but that would be nothing.  To me it would seem
  only a commercial exchange, in which each wished to be benefited at the
  expense of the other."
  
  "It would be impossible, I know," replied Elinor, "to convince you that
  a woman of seven and twenty could feel for a man of thirty-five
  anything near enough to love, to make him a desirable companion to her.
  But I must object to your dooming Colonel Brandon and his wife to the
  constant confinement of a sick chamber, merely because he chanced to
  complain yesterday (a very cold damp day) of a slight rheumatic feel in
  one of his shoulders."
  
  "But he talked of flannel waistcoats," said Marianne; "and with me a
  flannel waistcoat is invariably connected with aches, cramps,
  rheumatisms, and every species of ailment that can afflict the old and
  the feeble."
  
  "Had he been only in a violent fever, you would not have despised him
  half so much.  Confess, Marianne, is not there something interesting to
  you in the flushed cheek, hollow eye, and quick pulse of a fever?"
  
  Soon after this, upon Elinor's leaving the room, "Mama," said
  Marianne, "I have an alarm on the subject of illness which I cannot
  conceal from you.  I am sure Edward Ferrars is not well.  We have now
  been here almost a fortnight, and yet he does not come.  Nothing but
  real indisposition could occasion this extraordinary delay.  What else
  can detain him at Norland?"
  
  "Had you any idea of his coming so soon?" said Mrs. Dashwood.  "I had
  none.  On the contrary, if I have felt any anxiety at all on the
  subject, it has been in recollecting that he sometimes showed a want of
  pleasure and readiness in accepting my invitation, when I talked of his
  coming to Barton.  Does Elinor expect him already?"
  
  "I have never mentioned it to her, but of course she must."
  
  "I rather think you are mistaken, for when I was talking to her
  yesterday of getting a new grate for the spare bedchamber, she observed
  that there was no immediate hurry for it, as it was not likely that the
  room would be wanted for some time."
  
  "How strange this is! what can be the meaning of it!  But the whole of
  their behaviour to each other has been unaccountable! How cold, how
  composed were their last adieus! How languid their conversation the
  last evening of their being together! In Edward's farewell there was no
  distinction between Elinor and me: it was the good wishes of an
  affectionate brother to both.  Twice did I leave them purposely
  together in the course of the last morning, and each time did he most
  unaccountably follow me out of the room.  And Elinor, in quitting
  Norland and Edward, cried not as I did.  Even now her self-command is
  invariable.  When is she dejected or melancholy? When does she try to
  avoid society, or appear restless and dissatisfied in it?"
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Chapter  8
target: This chapter gives an extended character sketch of Mrs. Jennings. Wealthy and contented, she is anxious to see young men and women settled in life. Thus, when she spots Colonel Brandon admiring Marianne as she is playing the piano, she immediately pairs them up as a suitable couple. She voices her thoughts aloud to both Brandon and Marianne. While the Colonel ignores her remarks, Marianne expresses shock at the suggestion. She rejects the Colonel on the basis of his age and his reserved temperament. Elinor, though, does not agree with her sister.
feat_summary_analysis: Notes Mrs. Jennings is a typical matron: she delights in making matches between eligible men and women. She is happy to gain the acquaintance of the Dashwood girls. When she observes the Colonel admiring Marianne's talent, she concludes that Brandon is in love with the girl. She amuses herself by teasing both Marianne and the Colonel. Austen once again points out the difference in the attitudes of the two sisters. Elinor, with her better judgment, is able to assess the merits of Brandon and finds him an eligible bachelor. Marianne, fed on romantic literature, does not find the Colonel exciting enough to capture her heart. She discards the idea of him as a match for herself because he is twice her age and does not display vigor and enthusiasm. CHAPTER 9 Summary The Dashwoods settle down to a life of peace and contentment. They keep themselves occupied, and John Middleton visits them frequently. One morning, while Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor are engaged in the household duties, Marianne and Margaret venture out to explore the countryside. They get carried away by the beauty of the natural surroundings and start climbing up a hill, despite the rough weather. Suddenly it starts raining, and they head towards home. Marianne misses her step, twists her ankle and falls down. A gentleman riding by takes pity on her and carries her to her house. He introduces himself as Willoughby, from Allenham. He impresses everyone with his appearance and charming manners, and Marianne is smitten. Later in the day, when John Middleton pays them a visit, the family floods him with questions about Willoughby. Sir John talks favorably of the dashing young man. Notes The theme of love is developed. Jane Austen convincingly constructs a situation in which Marianne gets to meet the 'hero' of her dreams. Elinor has already met a good man; it is time for Marianne to find her partner. Marianne's accident, and her rescue by a knight in shining armor, resembles a scene from a fairy tale or romantic fiction. Marianne is overpowered by the striking appearance and charming manners of Willoughby. He is everything Marianne has wanted in a man: he is handsome, dashing and chivalrous. The chapter thus introduces another main character. Willoughby is a man with charm and vitality; he easily impresses beautiful girls like Marianne. His imposing presence is in direct contrast to the subdued character of the Colonel. John Middleton feels sorry for the Colonel and hopes that Marianne will realize his worth. CHAPTER 10 Summary Chapter 10 highlights the character of Willoughby and places him in further contrast to Colonel Brandon. Willoughby slowly but surely captures Marianne's heart with his enchanting ways. He also wins the approval of Mrs. Dashwood. Only Elinor is restrained in her praise for him. She is able to gauge Colonel Brandon's true feelings for Marianne, and thus feels sorry for him. She also feels hurt by the manner in which both Willoughby and Marianne ridicule the Colonel. Notes Marianne finds Willoughby an ideal suitor and is happy to seek his favor. However, Elinor is able to see through his superficial conduct. She observes that he is impulsive, prejudiced and opinionated, much like her sister. He speaks before he thinks, and he thoughtlessly hurts the Colonel's feelings with his careless remarks. Austen reveals Elinor's maturity by having her analyze the characters of Willoughby and the Colonel. She understands the real worth of the Colonel and values his sentiments. She considers him to be "a sensible man, well-bred, well-informed, of gentle address, and--an amiable heart. " She ranks him higher as a man than Willoughby. This chapter hints at the fate of Marianne in the hands of Willoughby. Elinor, as Austen's mouthpiece, conveys her apprehension about this shallow and ostentatious man.