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Chapter 42
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
The next day, Marianne seemed better, but that night she was feverish. As Mrs. Jennings had suggested, Elinor called for the Palmers’ apothecary. He came and said that Marianne would likely recover in a few days, but Mrs. Palmer became worried her baby might catch what Marianne had, and so went to go stay with a friend nearby.
Marianne’s foolish decision to walk outside through the wet grass has now made her seriously ill and inconvenienced Mrs. Palmer, who was kind enough to invite Marianne in the first to her home in the first place.
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Marianne was upset that her illness was delaying her journey back home, but Elinor tried to cheer her up. The next day, Marianne was neither better nor worse. Mr. Palmer left to go stay with his wife, and Colonel Brandon was also preparing to leave, but Mrs. Jennings persuaded him to stay.
Mrs. Jennings persuades Colonel Brandon to stay, hoping that he might propose to Elinor.
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Marianne’s illness continued for two days and though the apothecary still said she would recover, Mrs. Jennings thought Marianne was dying, and told Brandon this. The next day, though, Marianne seemed much better, and it appeared she would soon be able to travel to Barton. However, that evening, her illness got worse.
Mrs. Jennings sensationalizes Marianne’s illness and spreads the rumor of her imminent death.
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Elinor stayed up all night by Marianne’s side, as she slept “more and more disturbed.” She woke up suddenly and asked about their mother, clearly delirious. Marianne seemed sicker than ever before, and Elinor was scared for her sister. She sent for the apothecary and decided to send a messenger to bring her mother.
Elinor stays up all night by her dear sister’s side. In her delirium, Marianne expresses how much she misses her mother. Finally, Elinor decides that the illness is serious enough that Mrs. Dashwood should be sent for.
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Colonel Brandon volunteered to go to Barton and get Mrs. Dashwood. Elinor was very grateful for his friendship and generosity. Elinor went back to Marianne’s side for the rest of the night, and Colonel Brandon left immediately for Barton. Marianne was delirious most of the night, and talked of her mother.
Colonel Brandon once again displays his gallant, generous character. Marianne continues to talk of her mother, and Elinor stays with her caringly.
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Finally, at five o’clock in the morning, the apothecary arrived, and said that Marianne was all right, and would recover. In the morning, Mrs. Jennings was upset that Elinor had not woken her up to tell her of Marianne’s worsening condition. She was genuinely concerned for Marianne.
Although Mrs. Jennings can have an excessive penchant for gossip and rumors, she is earnestly concerned for Marianne, of whom she has grown fond. She is, at heart, a kind person.
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By noon, Marianne seemed to be improving, and gradually got better over the course of the day. Elinor “could not be more cheerful” at her sister’s recovery. Marianne went to sleep early that evening, and Elinor thought her mother would be arriving soon. At around eight o’clock, she heard a carriage arrive, and was sure it was her mother. However, when she went to the door, she found it was Willoughby.
Elinor is very close to her sister, and is greatly relieved at Marianne’s recovery. The startling arrival of Willoughby threatens to throw a wrench in Marianne's plans to get over Willoughby and return home for some rest.
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