Specimen Passage and Commentary

Abstract

To understand Jane Austen’s art in Sense and Sensibility, we need to be exceptionally sensitive to nuances of language. Because Jane Austen deliberately restricts her focus, every detail has to be used purposefully. Nothing is wasted and the impact of the novel relies on the reader’s noticing the continual subtle shifts in style and perspective. We can see something of this in an analysis of one short section, although this by no means covers Austen’s range in this novel and you will need to analyse for yourself other sections in order to realise the scope of her artistic method. The following passage comes from the end of Chapter 22 (the lines are numbered here for ease of reference) and contains the first important conversation between Elinor and Lucy Steele. Lucy has just told Elinor that for the past four years, she and Edward have been secretly engaged.