"To His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, this work is, with His Royal Highness's permission, dedicated with all due respect, by the humble respectful servant and obedient to His Royal Highness, the author" (Austen, Emma ii). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The above is the dedication of Jane Austen's 1815 novel, Emma, to the Prince of Wales, at his humble suggestion. Although Austen was critical of the prince's lifestyle, she accommodated his desires, cleverly weaving in Emma's superfluous satirical commitment to him (Austen's "Letter"). This example is quite indicative of Austen's writing style: subtle and witty, as well as her opinion of high society: superficial. By applying these statements to Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility, one can gain a whole new appreciation of her character's portrayal, particularly Marianne Dashwood's Ms. Sensibility. Austen portrays a world where the rich become slightly less rich and all happiness lies in the arms of one man. Perhaps ironically, Austen uses the very few, and relatively underdeveloped, male characters to define her two main characters: Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The women's interaction with these men at different times intensifies their satirical, and almost unbelievable, bifurcation of meaning and sensibility. The 1995 film version of the same title, directed by Ang Lee, was tasked with making Elinor and Marianne appealing to a twentieth century. - century audiences, on whom Austen's subtlety may have been lost. Interestingly, screenwriter Emma Thompson chose to alter the behavior of male characters such as Colonel Brandon, in an attempt to redefine the sisters for the present day; thus, softening their intensity and making them recognisable. This article will examine how the portrayal of Colonel Brandon in the novel forces Marianne to appear forever tormented by Willoughby and to seek out Colonel Brandon as a last resort. While, in the film, Colonel Brandon is presented in such a way that allows the viewer to believe that Marianne truly loves him, this adds depth to her character and develops her beyond mere emotional sensitivity. In the novel, Colonel Brandon is the last resort. so that Marianne does not become a spinster. Marianne, in a sense, has no choice but to marry him once all hope for Willoughby has faded and she has recovered from a dangerous illness. It is debatable whether or not this was Austen's intention, but she develops Colonel Brandon in such a way as to make him unattractive as an unattractive marriage choice for Marianne. When Marianne first meets the Colonel, she finds him "a total old bachelor, on the wrong side of half-past five... [with] a face [that] was not handsome" (Austen Sense 32). In reference to the colonel's falling in love with Marianne, she tells her mother: "he is old enough to be my father; and if ever he was willing to fall in love, he must have long outlived every sensation of time."(35) ) . Marianne then refers to the Colonel as "infirm" (35). Throughout the rest of the novel, Marianne loves Willoughby deeply and passionately, and Colonel Brandon is only on the periphery. Therefore, when, in the last chapter, Austen tells us that Marianne has married the Colonel, it is anything but romantic. Furthermore, Austen juxtaposes marriage as an alternative to worse living situations. His first choice was to pine for Willoughby: "Instead of falling sacrifice yourself to passions, 2000.
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