Question

Think about Sense and Sensibility. Setting aside the secret engagement of Edward and Lucy, the shyness and social propriety with which Edward and Elinor behave toward each other, and the dramatic events in Marianne's life that distract Elinor, there is an ever-present hindrance to the possibility of Edward and Elinor marrying: money. How do the characters perceive of the uses of money and of the problems of the lack of money? In an essay of at least 250 words, and using details from the text, discuss the novel's ongoing concern with money as it dictates matrimony. Click here to access the novel.

Answer 1

Answer:

Mrs. Ferrars’ main worry is to make sure her sons marry into wealthy families through the women they choose. She is a bit more concerned with being financially stable and her social status.

Edward and Elinor, who end up marrying each other at the end of the novel are happy without many luxuries.

Lucy is very interested in her place in society and so money is very important to her to validate her status and by marrying Robert Ferrars she accomplishes her wish of belonging to high society.  

Explanation:

Sense and Sensibility was first published in 1811, The story starts when Henry Dashwood dies and Mrs. Dashwood who was the second wife and their daughters Elinor, Marianne and Margaret are forced to leave because the first son John Dashwood received all of the inheritance, the women are invited to live in Devinshire and they are forced to accept because their situation was very precarious.  

The mother of Edward and Robert Ferrars, Mrs. Ferrars’ main worry is to make sure her sons marry into wealthy families through the women they choose. She is a bit more concerned with being financially stable and her social status. Mrs. Ferrars is rude to Elinor who ends up marrying Edward even though he had been dishinherited and so it seems that Edward and Elinor are happy without many luxuries.  

Lucy had been secretly engaged with Edward and when she first heard he would be dishinherited, she decided to be with his brother Robert instead. Lucy seems to be very interested in her place in society and so money is very important to her to validate her status and by marrying Robert Ferrars she accomplishes her wish of belonging to high society.  

After Mrs. Ferrars disinherits and disowns Edward for his secret engagement with Lucy, she forgives Robert for marrying Lucy at the end of the novel.  As her family’s matriarch, she determines which of her children will receive the family inheritance and thus has lots of power proving how important money is for any marriage, specially her son's.