Sense and Sensability Essay Example for Free

mind and Sensability EssayAbstract In this essay I discuss Jane Austens use of both classic and predisposition writing styles, in attempt to define whether Sense and feeling is more a product of the 18th or nineteenthh century. afterwards much research and deliberation I have discovered that as Austen utilizes the sisters to express both alkalis of neoclassicism and susceptibility that the novel is holds equ onlyy to both the 18th and the nineteenth century. 1. Critic Lionel Murphy said that Sense and Sensibility forms a bridge between the neoclassicism of the Augustan Age and the Age of Sensibility, or the Romantic Age. Written on the cusp of the 19th Century, is Sense and Sensibility more a product of the 18th or 19th Century?Discuss. Novels of the 18th century featured neoclassical, rationalistic writing, however from the late 18th century and into the 19th century, sensibility was a popular writing feature for novelists. Jane Austens Sense and Sensibility features bo th sensibility and neoclassical themes as Austen uses a subtle balance and proportion of the issues she wishes to address ab kayoed society and the mien she incorporates her characters and their stories to have equal justification.The Augustan age is defined by the Oxford side Dictionary as, relating to or denoting 17th- and 18th-century English literature of a style considered refined and classical. Whereas, Sensibility is defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica as a conception of the term held by Jane Austens contemporaries, it is a nice and delicate perception of pleasure or pain, beauty or deformity. It is very nearly allied to taste and as far as it is infixed seems to depend upon the organization of the nervous system. The differences between the styles is clearly evident, however it was not uncommon for 18th century, neoclassical writers to utilize both styles in their work (Macfarlane 2007). This was common as, sensibility was steerd by literary account statement as a ph ase that transitioned between the decline of neoclassical reason and into the eruption of romantic mental imagery (Keymer Mee 2004). Sensibility rejects the ideals of neoclassical determine on correct judgement and restraint and heavily emphasizes the value of instinct, feelings and erudition (Pike).The reputation of the 18th century literature has never quite recovered from its embarrassing association with unlimited and extravagant horny displays. It was not just distaste for the fading fashion of sensibility, but often because it was an inherently un steadfast style of writing (Keymer Mee 2004). Sensibility arose out of the opposition to rationalism and neoclassicism of the Augustan age which held the deepest feelings of the roundbodys morals (Pike, 2013).The unstable nature of sensibility came from its anti-rationalism that focused on aroused reactions, for utilisation tears, swoons, fainting, prevail mood of melancholy, fragmentation of form and set piece scenes of v irtue and distress that appear throughout the sensibility period (Keymer Mee 2004). Womens voices were cemented in 19th century literary history through their increasing popularity from the twentieth century onwards, (Shattock 2010).The literature produced by the women of the 19th century supply an image of personal tragedy and poor that became the theme of their work. The theme of personal tragedy and suffering was familiar to the characteristic tendency of these women as it was relatable to the phlight of womens rights but also due to the popularity of sensibility (Harris 2005). Austen had clear statements to make about individual conduct as sanitary as the structure of society and the relation of one to another (McMaster, 1970).Austens interested in the virtues and the vices is evident throughout Sense and Sensibilty as the imperfections of the personalities of Elinor and Mariannes characters (McMaster, 1970). Marianne expressive nature frequently, a clear example of sensibili ty, the reader often sees Marianne extremely emotional responses to the situations she finds herself in, She was awake the whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it.She got up with a headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment voicing pain every moment to her generate and sisters, and forbidding all attempt at consolation from either. Her sensibility was potent enough (81). Spectators and readers be regain to the exclamation becoming declamation, grief modulating in self-pity stoicism (Keymer Mee, 2004). Austen utilizes Marianne to emphasize the theme of sensibility throughout Sense and Sensibility. This is apparent as it is repeatedly expressed by Austen through Marianne Dashwood who feels deeply and suffers cutely, it is evident her sensibility is genuine, (Mcmaster, 1970), In such moments of precious, of invaluable misery, she rejoiced in tears of agony to be at Cleveland and as she returned by a different circuit to the house, feeling all th e happy privilege of country liberty, of wandering from place to place in free and luxurious solitude, she resolved to spend almost every hour of every solar day while she remained with the Palmers, in the indulgence of solitary rambles.The conception that sensibility maintains extravagant emotions that may in some ways appear artificial or overacted, is evident as there is something synthetic about her shrill feelings that deliberately augments them only the artificial additions to her emotions, this is evident as she repeatedly plays Willoughbys favourite songs when he leaves and when she takes to expiration on long walks in the gloomy weather (Mcmaster, 1970).Marianne sees everything through her own subjectivity, On the contrary, nothing coffin nail be a stronger proof of it, Elinor for if there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at the time, for we always know when we are acting wrong, and with such a assent I could have had no pl easure. (13. 19) Her inability to see things from a more realistic view over again emphasizes Mariannes role in constituteing Austens use of sensibility, her total concern is with her own emotional needs and actions a clear example of sensibility.Neoclassicism was witness to many extraordinary writings about all kinds of mans ability to think, feel and postulate. Building on the critical thoughts of the 17th century, English philosophers, writers, clerics and artists produced a massive body of literary works. These works were concerned with taking original works and creatively criticizing them (Macfarlane 2007). Neoclassicism was a part of the Augustan age, in literature, Augustans expressed the distrust they felt for the imagination, as well as individualism, innovation and emotional freedom (Pike 2013).Characters of the Augustan age often retained features such as, clarity, propriety, order, refinement and good sense, all features are evident in Elinor Dashwoods character (Pike , 2013). Elinor appears to be the more quiet of the two sisters as she uses acute observation of what is happening around her and through this is able to find out more about people and their feelings (McMaster, 1970). We are shown Marianne has much learning o do and reverse her values, the values that her emotional needs have created do it is not really the be all and end all, that Elinor and Edward are phugmatic and that men over thirty can feel. This is in contrast to Elinor, who only has to reproach herself once as she has been overconfident that Marianne will recover from her illness rapidly (McMaster 1970). Austen uses this to emphasize Elinors maturity and responsibility and show Mariannes more childish and emotional nature.Austen uses Elinor to express the neoclassical and Augustan themes of the novel, this is evident when she is deliberating over her love for Edward and decides he has the correct qualities, I have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and perceive his opinion on subjects of literature and taste and, upon the whole, I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, his enjoyment of books super great, his imagination lively, his observation just and correct, and his taste delicate and pure. It is difficult for Austen to show Elinors neoclassical emotional control, without suggesting her feelings are weaker than Marianne, who appears to maintain free expression and vivid immediate reaction. However readers are able to await into Elinor understanding due to Austens narration which shows that there is more in her in showing the reticent love between her and Eduard Femars, Austen manages to an occasion convey intense feeling humorously through the narration of probable trivia.This is seen their reunion scene in which Edward toys with the scissors while he blurts out news of his freedom Elinors heart is not empty we find her head is certainly far more active (McMaster, 1970). both(prenominal) of the sisters are af fected by romantic love but unlike Marianne, Elinor does not inhibit her sisters affectionateness or feel the rejections so obsessively to the verge of self-destruction (Keymer Mee 2004). Elinors more emotionally stable standing allows her to be endorsed in preference to Marrianes senseibility (McMaster 1970).Austen has clearly portrayed the sisters as each theme Marianne Dashwood has a personality that is evidently themed to be part of the sensibility movement, whereas Elinor retains herself in a way that appears neoclassical. therefrom it does not seem that Austens novel, Sense and Sensibility is based in 18th century or in the 19th century as Austen utilizes both neoclassicism and sensibility throughout the novel.