Naïve Expectations versus Learned Reality in Sense and Sensibility

Mollie Wodenshek

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            In Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility, one of the main characters, Marianne, ultimately goes through the greatest character transformation. She begins as a naïve girl—awfully sensible—but finds herself, upon the conclusion of the novel, as an experienced woman. This transformation presents itself mainly through Marianne’s love relationships. Her head-over-heels love for Willoughby starkly contrasts her final educated agreement to marry Colonel Brandon. Marianne’s love endeavors do not solely demonstrate the transformation of her character, but they also demonstrate the distinctions between naïve, innocent love versus learned love of experience.

            At the beginning of the novel, volume I, Marianne first comes in contact with courtly love as a second-hand observer. Marianne watches from afar as Edward and Elinor admire one another in supposed hopes of a future engagement. Marianne, with her unfaltering ability to speak her mind, confesses her disapproval of Edward to her mother, Mrs. Dashwood. In her dismissal of Edward for his bland character, Marianne reveals a secret of herself saying, “Mama, the more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much! He must have all Edward’s virtues, and his person and manners must ornament his goodness with every possible charm” (Austen 16). Marianne’s claim is full of angst and confusion. For her belief is entirely naïve yet she contends to be continuously learning more of the world. The irony here, is that Marianne has only bore witness to this one love relationship of Edward and Elinor, and this one relation makes up all of Marianne’s evidence for why she will never find an adequate lover. Fortunately, Mrs. Dashwood picks up on Marianne’s naivety (despite her claim to experience) and reminds her daughter that she is yet seventeen.

            Not long after, Marianne does indeed find a true lover. Willoughby meets Marianne after helping her home after a bad fall. He comes back the following day to make his acquaintance and the two instantly hit it off. The love is fast-paced and consuming as expressed by the narrator: “They speedily discovered their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual” (36) and “When he was present she had no eyes for any one else. Everything he did, was right. Everything he said was clever” (41). The narrative tone of Marianne and Willoughby’s beginning of love is upbeat and excitement pours off the pages. The description of the two lovers evokes a mindless air only fitting for new inexperienced love. Willoughby has fulfilled all of Marianne’s expectation, but she is unaware that expectations are more or less never met.

            After discovering the secret affair between Willoughby and Eliza, Marianne’s perception of Willoughby is forever tainted (247). Marianne thus opens her mind to the admiration of Colonel Brandon—the old boring man of the past. Her decision to marry Colonel Brandon comes mostly out of convenience, however their relationship teaches Marianne that love does not simply appear but love is worked for. Marianne thus makes the final step in understanding the reality of a love relationship. The narrator says, “instead of falling a sacrifice to an irresistible passion, as once she had fondly flattered herself with expecting…she found herself at nineteen, submitting to new attachments” (268). With a change of perspective and a growth in experience Marianne’s, “heart became, in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby” (268). The tone of these descriptions of Marianne’s marriage and love for Colonel Brandon has a simple, passive air. Marianne has traded passion for submission. Although this transition should be beneficial for Marianne, there is also an air of sadness at Marianne’s loss of innocence. For, Marianne’s failed romanticized idea of marriage perhaps suggests that all expectations are only the romanticized perception of reality.