Sense and Sensibility – Location, Location, Location by Mary Simonsen

ssIt’s almost a sacrilege to write about anything other than P&P, but I’ve been branching out and rereading some of Austen’s other works, most particularly Sense and Sensibility. Here is an interesting article I found regarding Austen’s first published work.

* * *

In my large family, at a very young age, I was made aware of the necessity of cautious spending and saving for a rainy day. Because of that, I easily related to Elinor and her exasperation with her mother and Marianne, both of whom were unrealistic as to the family’s changed fortunes upon the death of their father. That is why an article by Dr. Sheryl Craig caught my attention.

“In 1795, as Jane Austen was writing Elinor and Marianne, reworked and renamed Sense and Sensibility, Britons were experiencing the first financial crisis of Austen’s lifetime, the economic results of a harvest failure of biblical proportions.” — “The Economics of Sense and Sensibility”

That quote is from the opening paragraph of one of the most interesting articles I have ever read about the economics of Jane Austen’s novels. The crop failure mentioned above affected everyone in England, but most particularly the poor who were already struggling. A population existing on the edge of starvation looked to benefactors and the government for assistance: “John Dashwood and the Members of Parliament initially promised to provide for those entrusted to their care, and surely it is no coincidence that Austen’s characters and her contemporaries were destined to be disappointed.”

What I did not realize when reading Sense and Sensibility was the importance of “place.” Norland, the Dashwood ancestral home, is located in Sussex. At the time S&S was written, “one in four people living in Sussex were classified as paupers. Another problem was that the taxes collected to aid the poor were being diverted…” and did not reach the poor. For England’s poor, “give us this day our daily bread” was was a literal and not a figurative plea.

The book’s bad boy, John Willoughby, lives in Somerset. According to Dr. Craig, Somerset is “a difficult county for the poor… The wages were low…, and the poor taxes were also low… Perversely, Willoughby is not only a wastrel, he is fully aware of the fact and yet unwilling to curb his excess.”

But, in Devon, there is an entirely different attitude toward the poor as evidenced when the recently widowed Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters are rescued by Sir John Middleton. “The reader’s first clue that Mrs. Dashwood’s relative is a very different kind of man [from her stepson John Dashwood] is the placement of Sir John in Devon. The poor rates of Devon were progressive and above the national average.” An example given of the benefits of this progressive attitude toward the poor is that milk, considered a luxury in most of England, was a part of the daily diet of the people of Devonshire. A regular and reliable source of protein might well prove to be the difference between health and chronic illness.

The people of Jane Austen’s time would have understood that by leaving the stingy John and Fanny Dashwood and Sussex behind, the fortunes of the Dashwood women would improve in the more generous Devon. The placement of John Willoughby in Somerset was a hint that this man was going to be trouble for Marianne Dashwood.

S&S is all about place, and I would recommend that you read Dr. Craig’s entire essay which is available here. I welcome any comments, but I’ve always wondered what people thought about Marianne ending up with Colonel Brandon. I’d love to read your thoughts on that.

(This post originally appeared on my now defunct blog.)

Note: A reminder that When They Fall in Love is on sale on Amazon through November 7 for .99.

16 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Anji on November 4, 2016 at 2:52 am
    • Reply

    That’s very interesting, Mary. Even as a Brit, I’d absolutely no idea about that aspect of our history (didn’t get to study that time period at school) and that the places in S&S were so significant. I’ve bookmarked the link to the complete article so that I can read it later. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

    Thanks also for the offer price on your book. I grabbed my copy yesterday.

    1. Hi Anji. I found the article fascinating. There is so much that Austen’s contemporaries understood that we don’t. I remember the first time I read about the differing lengths of candles at dances. As soon as you walked in, you would know how long the dance would last just by looking at the candles! I hope you enjoy When They Fall in Love. Thanks for buying it.

    • Constance on November 4, 2016 at 7:50 am
    • Reply

    I never realized the extent that hunger played in the English as Ireland as been more written about.

    I never could warm toward Marianne even though she changed somewhat after her illness. In my eyes she didn’t deserve Colonel Brandon and I could never see what he saw in her.

    That being said, Alan Rickmans portrayal of Colonel Brandon is forever going to be the benchmark for that character.

    1. Actually, when the potato crop didn’t fail, the Irish poor were better off than the English poor b/c the potato is much more nutritious than bread. I’m with you on Marianne not deserving the colonel, but then she was really, really young when all this was going on. Love Alan Rickman! Brilliant portrayal.

    • Alecia on November 4, 2016 at 9:05 am
    • Reply

    Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

    1. Hi Alecia. Thanks for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.

  1. Intriguing. I knew that place was a major theme in S&S–one of my favorites that actually got me kicked out of my university’s reading room while in grad school (writing an essay on civility in P&P, S&S, and MP for my Gender & Satire seminar) because I was laughing too much. 😉 But I never knew how the economics of Austen’s time played so keen a role in this novel. Thank you, Mary! 😀

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Hi Susanne. I bet you enjoyed your research on civility. Thanks for commenting.

    • June on November 4, 2016 at 10:10 pm
    • Reply

    Very helpful analysis of S&S. It’s like reading the Bible, as many stories need to be understood in context; facts that readers of the time knew, we need to learn.

    I also agree that Colonel Brandon was a doll, and Alan Rickman was excellent in the role. Marianne got a real prize in him!

      • Mary Simonsen on November 5, 2016 at 10:47 pm
      • Reply

      I’m afraid we miss so much b/c Jane assumed that we would know the background and context, like when Lydia ordered a cucumber sandwich, an extravagence for the time. Good to hear from you.

    • Stephanie L on November 8, 2016 at 11:54 am
    • Reply

    I always find the historical analyses so priceless. History is my favorite thing anyway, so associated with Austen is just loveliness. Fascinating that the places had so much to do with character building blocks. Marianne and Brandon is a personal peeve. It’s not the age thing, it’s personality types. LOL Col Brandon is my second favorite Austen character and I always feel he was a little shortchanged at the end of the day. 😉 Great post!!

      • Mary Simonsen on November 8, 2016 at 1:57 pm
      • Reply

      I’m with you. Brandon is more suited to Elinor. But I once attended a lecture by Dr. Ray (Jane Austen for Dummies), and she said that if you only watch thge movies, you will never see Brandon and Marianne as a couple. But if you read the book, you will. She made a compelling case. Thanks for commenting.

    • Jaff enthusiast on November 8, 2016 at 9:30 pm
    • Reply

    Excellent information! I wish I had know that historical background when I first read S&S.
    Very enlightening.

    Re: Maryanne: I was very young when I read S&S and I was disappointed in the outcome, not do much about Colonel Brandon, but that the romantic young love didn’t last. As I grew older, I realized what a true love is and it all made sense that as M matured, she would realize that too.
    Now, the whole Edward, Elinore…losing the inheritance and having to live in her younger, less sensible, less virtuous sister’s parsonage house…just irritated me and still does. I thought E deserved more.

      • Mary Simonsen on November 9, 2016 at 10:45 am
      • Reply

      I agree. I wish I had known about the economics background, but to modern readers, there is so much that lays hidden in Austen’s books b/c she did not explain as her readers would know. Despite the disparity in incomes, I think Elinor will be happier than Marianne. Her expectations are more realistic. Thanks for commenting.

    • Stephanie Martin on November 30, 2016 at 12:05 pm
    • Reply

    I appreciate the information you have imparted.

    Your question regarding Maryann and Brandon. So many do not consider the ramifications of her father’s recent demise, the significant change in their circumstances, or their lack of exposure to society. They led a sheltered, quiet life. Maryann was immersed in books, music, and the romantic notions of a teenager. Willoughby was the fairytale hero. Handsome, young, and very attentive with many of her same interests. How many young woman have fell for the same? He did intend to marry her. For all the disdain of that, poverty was a truly ugly thing then and the loss of the family estate would of have destroyed any man in that situation then. He had a duty there then.

    Brandon’s ward was reported as head strong and wild. Not much is divulged about this, the how or the why of it. Willoughby never addresses it. There could have been far more to this story…Wise was the epitomy of him IMO.

    Brandon deserved every happiness and desire. Rickman was awesome, indeed. I think he would be happy with Maryann, but it was a relationship that would grow with time. I would not be surprised if they adopted Elizas child… I don’t see wild passion here. I see earnest dedication, respect, and a love that is as beautiful in a different way. Maryann might find herself more comfortable in this environment with maturity. She also might come to realize in time that Brandon is the real fairytale hero. I think she saw the beginnings of it, when she almost died due to the grief she suffered from the lack of constancy from the other. Romance and love are beautiful things. One has to have some sense though. Throughout many novels, Wuthering heights and Gone with the Wind…etc. The reality is someone has to have some kind of money. You cannot eat, live, or survive without it. A tent in the woods…I think not…

      • Mary Simonsen on December 2, 2016 at 1:50 pm
      • Reply

      Thanks, Stephanie, for your thoughtful comments. You are right: One has to have something to live on. It’s that reality that caused Charlotte to accept Mr. Collins. I think Marianne will have a comfortable life with Col. Brandon, but you have to wonder how often she will think about Willoughby.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.