Sense and Sensibility: Volume 2 (Book Disussion, Ch. 23-36)

Come and join us as we undertake a re-reading of Jane Austen's six major novels volume-by-volume, allowing us to focus deeper on specific areas of the novels that may not always get the most attention. We will be continuing our reading of Sense and Sensibility, Volume I (Chapters 23-36 of a standard modern copy of the novel).

A perfect time for Austen virgins to make their first dives into the novels and for seasoned Janeites to take an even deeper dive and experience the novels in their original three-volume form.

Questions to inspire discussion:

1. How is Marianne’s sensibility characterized and caricaturized throughout the development and disillusionment of her courtship with Willoughby?
   a. Given Marianne’s overindulgence in grief to an unhealthy degree (even in V1, she’s already running herself ragged) do you think it was a good idea for the mother to step back and not ask anything about Willoughby?

2. What distinguishes Marianne’s character from Brandon’s first love Eliza? Given different circumstances, do you think Marianna would have suffered a similar fate?

3. Colonel Brandon: you think his partiality for Marianne is specific for her, or born from her similarity to Eliza?

4. Consider how Colonel Brandon is thought to have a “natural daughter” when he suddenly cancels the picnic and leaves for London. While we later learn the truth about his relationship with Eliza, what does this say about society and what is most important in being considered a gentleman?

5. What do we learn about Brandon’s character in his disclosure to Elinor about his history? How does he defy social norms of being a gentleman while maintaining his honor and position in society as a gentleman?

6. Consider the fate of both the late Eliza Williams and her daughter: how does Austen show her thoughts on society’s treatment of men and women when it comes to liberal behavior between the sexes?

7. Does Henry Dashwood show any remorse or indication that he has acted wrong by his half-sisters and by his late honored father? If so, how is this indicated to us in the story?

8. Consider Lucy’s motivations from her initial disclosure to Elinor; how is she continuing these motivations in further conversations with Elinor and when they meet in London?

9. How does Elinor and Marianne’s relationship grow up to this point in the novel?
   a. What growth can we attribute to Marianne so far, prior to knowing Elinor’s secret about Edward?

Hope to see you all there!