Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader V: Sense and Sensibility (English-Chinese Contrast)

Author: Mao Ronggui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Sense and Sensibility primarily revolves around the intricate emotional experiences of its two female protagonists. As the title suggests, the two sisters—Elinor and Marianne—possess vastly different personalities: one is rational, and the other is emotional. The general plot is as follows: Mr. Dashwood had one son, John, from his first wife, and three daughters, Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret, from his second wife. After Mr. Dashwood's death, he left his inheritance to his son, leaving the three daughters with almost nothing. However, he requested his son to take good care of his stepmother and sisters upon his death, which John agreed to. Yet, John's wife, Fanny, strongly opposed her husband helping them and was also quite unfriendly toward them. As a result, after staying at Norland Park, the Dashwood family moved to Barton Cottage. This cottage was rented to them by a kind uncle of Mrs. Dashwood, John Middleton. There, they began a new life. Mr. Middleton was very hospitable and often invited the Dashwood sisters to various social events. Through this, they gradually met people like Mrs. Middleton, Mrs. Jennings, Colonel Brandon, the Palmer family, and the Steels. As early as Norland Park, Elinor and Edward—John's sister-in-law's brother—began to develop feelings for each other. After Elinor moved to Barton Cottage, Edward visited her two weeks later. They fell in love, but their relationship was not passionate; it was rather quiet and steady. Unlike her sister, Marianne shed too many tears on the path of love.