Have you ever started reading an amazing book, and wished you had someone to discuss every twist with? Oh well, same here.
I love to chat, share my thoughts about characters, plot twists, and you know… all the drama. That’s why I decided to create this “Read With Me” series.
Join me for a chapter-by-chapter read-through of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen!
Here’s how it works:
- I’ll choose a book to read (or reread) together.
- Every Saturday, I’ll post an update covering about five chapters.
- We’ll keep going, week by week, until we finish the book!
- Take your time reading, check out my thoughts whenever you want, you can read along with me, or just enjoy the journey through my updates, no pressure, no homework, just a cozy reading break every week, and, don’t forget to drop yours thoughts in the comments. (Can’t wait to hear them!)
Each post will include:
- A short summary of the chapters
- Some fun side comments, and probably a few emotional outbursts too (because, of course!)
- My personal thoughts and feelings (spoilers alert!)
Let’s dive in shall we?
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – Sinopsys
Sense and Sensibility is Jane Austen’s first published novel, released in 1811. It tells the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who must navigate love, heartbreak, and society’s expectations after their family’s financial downfall.
One sister leads with her head (Elinor), the other with her heart (Marianne), and the real magic happens when their worlds collide.
Publisher information
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Language: english
Binding: Paperback
ISBN 10: 0198793359
ISBN 13: 9780198793359
About my Edition
I’m reading Sense and Sensibility from the Oxford World’s Classics edition, but honestly, any edition will do! If you don’t have a copy yet, don’t worry! You can find versions of the book for free on platforms like Apple Books, or the free audiobook on Spotify and Audible.
A Quick Historical Context by Sense and Sensibility
- Big changes were happening. Britain was coming out of the chaos of the French Revolution (1789–1799) and fighting wars with France.
- Society was obsessed with order, tradition, and family reputation.
- Women had almost no legal rights. They couldn’t inherit property, vote, or easily make a living. Their main “job” was basically to marry well.
My Chapter-by-Chapter Reactions to Sense and Sensibility
Here’s my chapter-by-chapter summary of Sense and Sensibility, with just a tiiiny bit of emotional outburst and some personal opinion sprinkled in. The chapter titles aren’t official, I came up with them based on what actually happens in each one.
Now, enough talking, let’s dive into Sense and Sensibility!
The Inheritance Situation and Family Setup
In Chapter 1 of Sense and Sensibility, we meet the Dashwood family. They’re well-respected, loved by the locals, and comfortably settled at Norland Park, a grand estate that’s stayed in the family for generations. The house belongs to an elderly Gentleman, unmarried, who lives there with his sister until she passes away.
After her death, the old gentleman invites his nephew, Mr. Henry Dashwood, to move in with his wife and daughters and keep him company. (It’s not entirely clear whether Mr. Henry is the son of the gentleman’s sister or some other brother not mentioned.)
Now, let’s break down this extended family tree.
Mr. Henry Dashwood was married twice. From his first marriage, to the late Mrs. Dashwood, he had a son, John Dashwood. Later, he married again, and with his second wife (the current Mrs. Dashwood), he had three daughters: Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret.
John, the eldest son, seems like a decent man. He already inherited a fortune from his late mother and, on top of that, married into even more money. So financially, he’s doing just fine.
Everything looks perfect so far, doesn’t it? A happy family, a beautiful estate, and no major drama in sight. But of course, that’s about to change. Everything rolls along peacefully, until, of course, the old Gentleman dies.
At first, it seems like nothing much will change. Naturally, Mr. Henry Dashwood expects to inherit Norland, keeping the estate in the family.
Wrong. This is Jane Austen, after all, there’s always a twist.
The old man does leave Norland to Henry, but with strings attached. Henry can’t sell any land or timber to support his wife and daughters. Why? Because the estate is entailed to… John’s four-year-old son. Yes, a child who only visited Norland a handful of times but somehow completely charmed Grandpa.
To make matters “fair” (although I use that term loosely), the old man gives each of the Dashwood girls £1,000. Thoughtful? Hmm, that’s up for debate… Life-changing? Not really, no.
Naturally, Mr. Henry Dashwood feels disappointed, but he doesn’t lose hope. He’s still young and believes that, in time, he’ll be able to provide for his daughters.
But, as these stories often go, things take a turn. Just a year later, Mr. Henry Dashwood becomes seriously ill.
Before he dies, he asks his son John to take care of his stepmother and half-sisters, something any father would do. John agrees and promises to do everything he can to support them.
Now, let’s talk about John for a moment. At first, he seems sincere about his promise. He’s set on giving each sister £3,000. It’s not a fortune, but still, a generous gesture, right? He feels good about the decision, and honestly, I do too. For a moment, I thought, “Okay, maybe he’s actually going to do the right thing.”
But here’s where things start to go downhill.
John’s reaction and how things begin to shift after Mrs. Fanny Dashwood arrives
After the funeral, Mrs. Fanny Dashwood, John’s “charming” wife (and I’m saving my full opinion for later chapters), shows up unannounced with her child. She immediately settles into Norland as if it’s already hers, turning the warm family home into a much colder place. All of this happens while the Dashwood women are still grieving the loss of a loving husband and father.
From that point on, the atmosphere changes. The once-comforting estate feels less like a home and more like a battleground of quiet tensions.
And John? Suddenly, all those generous promises start to waver.
Now that we’ve set the scene in Chapter 1, it’s time to start spilling the tea on Sense and Sensibility.
After Mr. Henry Dashwood’s death, Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are invited to stay at Norland until they figure out their next steps. But let’s be honest: from the moment Fanny arrives, they’re no longer treated like family, right? They’re more like long-term guests overstaying their welcome. And honestly, it’s heartbreaking, especially during a time of grief.
Now, remember when Mr. Henry Dashwood asked John to take care of his stepmother and sisters? And John said, “Of course, Father, I’ll do everything I can…”? Well… that didn’t last long.
I’m saying this because Fanny, John’s ever-so-charming wife (cough cough), immediately steps in and starts planting little seeds of doubt in his mind. At first, John genuinely wants to help. He’s thinking of giving the sisters £3,000 each. Not life-changing, but kind of generous, right?
But Fanny isn’t having it, at all. She quietly launches her campaign: “That’s a lot of money… What about our son? Shouldn’t he come first? What if they waste it?” (Hmm… excuse me? You two already have more than enough!) And sadly, just like that, John starts to change his mind.
John even suggests that maybe he could provide them with an annual pension of £100. But then we see just how easily Fanny manipulates him. She twists Mr. Henry Dashwood’s dying request into something shockingly small: maybe what your father meant was a comfortable place to stay, help with the moving, a few baskets of fruit and vegetables now and then, and the occasional dinner invitation.
Seriously, ma’am? What an awful person!
I understand that during this period, women were understandably focused on securing the family inheritance and status, especially when it came to a male heir. However, Fanny’s actions are incredibly selfish. As a woman, she should know better. Without the opportunity to marry well or find a suitable husband with money, these young women will have very limited options!
And, just like that, by the end of the Chapter 2, John has convinced himself that doing absolutely nothing extra is the most reasonable, responsible course of action. Watching him go from thoughtful to thoroughly selfish (with Fanny smiling sweetly through it all) is frustrating and honestly a little heartbreaking. He really could’ve done the right thing.
Mrs. Dashwood is still grieving, but after a while, she starts thinking seriously about leaving Norland. She wants a fresh start—but not too far away. She begins looking for a new home, though nothing feels quite right yet. Elinor, as always, is the voice of reason and helps her steer clear of anything too large or too pricey.
This chapter also gives us our first look into Elinor and Marianne. And their personalities couldn’t be more different.
Elinor is calm, thoughtful, and grounded. She keeps her emotions in check and clearly sees what’s practical. (Honestly, she’s the kind of person you’d want around in a crisis, totally my opposite.)
Marianne, on the other hand, wears her heart on her sleeve. She dreams of deep, romantic love and believes true feelings should be strong and full of emotion. (She’s very sincere and passionate, I really like her, but I think this might lead to problems later on.)
And then there’s Edward Ferrars, Fanny’s brother, who’s been staying at Norland. He’s no dashing hero, but that’s exactly what makes him feel so real. He’s quiet, kind, and a little awkward, but there’s sincerity in everything he does. Mrs. Dashwood sees right away that he and Elinor are growing close, and she couldn’t be more pleased.
We also see that Marianne isn’t nearly as impressed with Edward as Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor are. She raises a few concerns, pointing out that he’s not passionate about music or poetry, and she just can’t imagine loving someone who doesn’t feel things as deeply as she does. (In her eyes, real love has to come with big feelings, but does it?)
This chapter gives us a lovely, more personal glimpse into Elinor and Marianne’s different personalities and their views on love. (Finally! The sisters take center stage, and we see just how differently they feel about everything.)
The conversation starts with Marianne gently complaining that Edward has “no taste for drawing.” But Elinor, ever loyal and thoughtful, defends him. She says he just hasn’t had the chance to develop those interests, and deep down, he has a good and natural taste for art and literature. She believes Edward is sincere, good, and quietly clever.
Marianne, though, isn’t quite convinced. She doesn’t argue, she wouldn’t want to hurt her sister, but inside, she can’t help thinking that Edward just doesn’t feel enough. For her, “taste” should mean passion, not politeness. Still, she admires Elinor for her loyalty.
We also get a quiet moment where Elinor almost lets slip how deeply she really feels about Edward. Marianne picks up on it instantly and basically declares, “If you only like him, I’m walking out of this room!” Elinor has to admit she feels more than she’s letting on… but she’s not ready to call it love just yet. She needs to be sure of Edward’s feelings first.
And of course, Elinor worries. Edward might not be free to choose who he wants to marry. His family, especially his mother and sister, Fanny, care a lot about money and status. And Elinor? She has neither. That doubt weighs on her heart.
Meanwhile, do you know who notices that Elinor and Edward are getting too close? The Evil Witch herself, Mrs. Fanny Dashwood, and that’s when the real drama begins. Fanny, always ready to stir the pot, starts making not-so-subtle comments to Mrs. Dashwood. She warns her that Edward has “expectations” and basically says Elinor would be a terrible match for him.
Mrs. Dashwood is furious. That’s the last straw. She refuses to let Elinor stay in that house another minute. Luckily, just then, a letter arrives from a kind relative, Sir John Middleton, inviting them to live in a cottage in Devonshire. It’s not fancy, but it’s affordable and far, far away from Fanny. That’s all Mrs. Dashwood needs to hear, and she’s more than ready to go.
Elinor doesn’t love the idea of leaving Norland behind (and, let’s be honest, Edward), but she understands her mother’s decision. She agrees, quietly, and prepares for a fresh start.
As soon as Mrs. Dashwood accepts the offer to move into Barton Cottage, she wastes no time letting everyone know. She tells John and Fanny that she’s found a new home and won’t trouble them much longer. They’re clearly surprised, Fanny says nothing (of course), and John pretends to be concerned. But the biggest reaction comes from Edward. When he hears they’re moving all the way to Devonshire, he’s shocked and clearly upset.
Mrs. Dashwood invites both John and Fanny to visit, just to be polite, but when she turns to Edward, the invitation is warmer, more genuine. She doesn’t care at all about Fanny’s disapproval, she wants Edward to know he’s welcome, no matter what his sister says. It’s her quiet way of showing she’s not backing down from supporting Elinor and Edward.
John Dashwood goes on and on about how “sorry” he is that they’ll be so far away, too far, of course, for him to help with moving the furniture. (Honestly, that made me laugh, such a silly little man.) In truth, he’s probably relieved he won’t have to lift a finger.
The family’s possessions, mostly simple things like books, china, and Marianne’s cherished pianoforte, are sent by boat. Fanny watches the nicer items leave with a heavy sigh. This moment really shows how jealous she is of anything beautiful that doesn’t belong to her. She already has everything, but she still finds it unfair that someone with less money might own anything “handsome.” (The nerve.)
Mrs. Dashwood moves fast. She rents the cottage for a year, decides to sell the carriage (Elinor’s advice), and limits their household staff to just two maids and one manservant, all former staff from Norland. She even sends two of them ahead to get the cottage ready.
Though she’s never met Lady Middleton, Mrs. Dashwood decides to go directly to the cottage instead of staying at Barton Park. She trusts Sir John’s warm letter and his description of the place completely. And let’s be honest, spending even one more day under Fanny’s roof is unthinkable. Fanny’s satisfaction about their departure is barely hidden, and it only makes Mrs. Dashwood more eager to leave.
As their time at Norland ends, it becomes clear that John has no intention of helping them financially beyond the few months they’ve already stayed. He keeps going on about rising expenses and how difficult life is for a man of his “standing.” (Not exactly what your father had in mind on his deathbed, right John?)
Finally, everything is ready, and the Dashwood women prepare to leave. Their last night at Norland is emotional, especially for Marianne. She walks through the grounds, heartbroken, saying goodbye to every tree, every view. It’s a quiet, sad farewell. She knows the house and the trees won’t change just because they’re gone, but she will.
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If you’re curious to learn more about Jane Austen herself, don’t miss my post on Wild For Austen 2025 Release: A Bold New Spin on the Iconic Author, a fresh new biography that offers a bold, modern perspective on the woman behind the classics.
