Money/Inheritance
Laws surrounding inheritance are
what put the Dashwood women in limbo at the beginning of the novel; and their
lack of money, compounded with their inability to work, means that they cannot
ease their situation, except through marrying well. Money also dictates the
eligibility of Elinor and Marianne, as women with larger dowries are of course
seen as better prospects for marriage.
Gender
There are very definite gender
limitations involved in the society Austen describes; women cannot own
property, are expected to stay in the home, marry, and be polite and good
company. Men can decide whether or not to pursue a career if they have enough
money, and have more latitude within society in regards to their behavior and life
choices. Gender dictates acceptable roles and behavior, and even in the world
of the novel, there is little room to deviate.
Expectations vs. reality
This is an especially important
theme with regard to Marianne and her mother, whose romantic characters lead
them to expect greater drama or trauma than actually appears. But reality
always tends to subvert expectations, whether in life or in art, as accidents
and unexpected twists and turns happen to everyone.
Marriage
For Marianne and Elinor, marriage is
not a choice, but a necessity; and their need to marry expediently and well is
a pressing concern in the novel, as they look for suitors. Young men may choose
more freely when and whom they marry, and Colonel Brandon is even 35 and still
unmarried; but even for women who have money, marriage is necessary to secure
their social positions and ensure financial stability for the future.
Discretion
Of the utmost importance in polite
society, where it is not to one's advantage to let people know all that you
think and feel. Marianne's lack of discretion leads to a great deal of gossip
and a very public snubbing by Willoughby; lack of discretion in many others
indicates poor manners and a lack of refinement.
Appearance vs. reality
Pertains to character especially, as
many characters in the novel present themselves as one thing, and end up being
another. Willoughby is the prime example of this, as he seems romantic, open,
and genuine, but ends up exposing himself as vain, idle, and cruel. Also
pertains to Lucy Steele, who ends up conniving, despite her innocent
appearance.
Expectation and disappointment
Throughout the novel, many
characters develop expectations based on sparse evidence or faulty perceptions;
this, of course, leads to disappointment as reality proves very different.
Joyful expectations are often dashed by harsher turns of events, as Marianne is
extremely disappointed by her expectation of being married to Willoughby, and
is pushed away.
Secrecy
Usually an indication of wrongdoing
on someone's part, as is especially evident in Willoughby; his sudden
unwillingness to share information with Marianne and the Dashwoods indicates
mistakes made on his part. On the other hand, as with Edward, secrecy can be a
sign of discretion, though when his secret is revealed it is damaging as
Willoughby's is.
Judgment
In interactions with other people,
judgment is always at work; a person must determine who a person really is and
what they want, in order to avoid those who could potentially be hurtful. These
judgments can be flighty and unjust, as Marianne's appraisals of most of her
acquaintance are, or blinded by kindness, as Mrs. Jennings' judgment of Lucy
Steele is.
Jealousy
Relates mostly to Lucy Steele, and
is the prime determinant of her behavior toward Elinor. Willoughby also becomes
jealous of Colonel Brandon marrying Marianne, and other, petty jealousies
become evident in characters. Indicates insecurity, or poor character.
Self-sacrifice and selfishness
Elinor especially is a model of
self-sacrifice, deciding to go to London for her sister's happiness, and trying
her best to be civil to everyone to make up for Marianne's uncivil behavior.
Marianne is the opposite, caring only for herself and her feelings; she needs
Elinor's help and goodwill to get by, but needs to learn how to be giving
toward others in order to become her own, independent person.
Hypocrisy
A vast number of characters in the
novel embody this trait to varying degrees; John and Fanny, Lady Middleton, the
Steele girls, Mrs. Ferrars, and Robert, among others, tend toward hypocritical
displays of self-serving flattery, vanity, and professing opinions they do not
believe in for self-gain or to get ahead with others. Unfortunately, none of
these characters is taught any better in the course of the novel, as hypocrisy
is an unavoidable part of human nature, and almost a part of polite society as
well.
Moderation
Marianne must learn moderation of
her emotions if she is to become independent of Elinor and become an adult; her
trials serve to teach her about her excesses, and luckily, she does come to
improve herself and become a much better, more caring person toward others.
D.N. Aloysius
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