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Chapter 27
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Sense and Sensibility, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Love and Marriage
Character, Sense, and Sensibility
Women in Society
Society and Strategy
Wealth, Class, and Greed
Summary
Analysis
For the next three or four days, Willoughby neither came to see Marianne nor wrote her. Elinor and Marianne went to a party with Lady Middleton. Marianne was in a bad mood, as usual, but then she saw Willoughby across the room. She almost ran directly to him, but Elinor told her to stay composed in public.
Marianne continues to let her emotions color her behavior. At another society event, she finally sees Willoughby and Elinor must implore her to try to maintain some composure.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Willoughby saw Marianne and Elinor and came over. He greeted Elinor, but ignored Marianne. Elinor was shocked, and Marianne burst out, “Good God! Willoughby, what is the meaning of this?” Willoughby seemed to be “struggling for composure.” Marianne asked if he had received her letters, but he didn’t reply. Finally, he said that he had received her letters and then left hurriedly.
Willoughby’s cold behavior is not only hurtful, but shocking to both the Dashwood sisters, for whom it seems wildly out of his character. Marianne cannot restrain herself and bursts out, asking Willoughby what is going on. Marianne and Willoughby’s romance seems to be in serious doubt.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Marianne turned pale, and Elinor tried to advise her to maintain composure. They told Lady Middleton that Marianne was unwell, and they left the party. Marianne “was in a silent agony,” as they went back home. Elinor thought that Willoughby must have had “a thorough change of sentiment,” and felt sympathetically for her miserable sister.
The sensitive Marianne can hardly handle Willoughby’s cruel behavior, and Elinor and she have to excuse themselves from the crowd of the party. Elinor thinks Willoughby has had a “change of sentiment,” though it also appears he’s had some change of character.
Themes
Literary Devices
Quiz
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