Reason and Emotion (The Complete Works of Jane Austen)

Author: Jane Austen (British)
Translator: Yin Xu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-08-01
Features:
Excerpt: If indifference and selfishness do not amount to ill will, he cannot be considered a truly ill-natured young man. On the whole, he is respectable, for he behaves with courtesy in the performance of his duties. If he married a more compassionate woman, he would appear even more distinguished, and indeed he himself might become more compassionate. He was still quite young when he married, and he loved his wife very much. John Dashwood's wife, on the other hand, was a complete caricature of his comic image: narrow-minded and selfish.
When he assured his father, he was inwardly thinking of giving each of his sisters a thousand pounds, which would increase their wealth and thus be considered an act of help. He ignored the current income and knew that he could earn four thousand pounds a year, in addition to the property left by his mother. This idea excited him, and he believed he had the generosity to do so. "Yes, give them three thousand pounds—that would be so generous! Enough to make their lives comfortable. Three thousand pounds! Losing such a considerable sum would not be inconvenient at all." He thought about this all day and for several days in a row, and he would not regret it in this matter.
After the funeral of his father-in-law, John Dashwood's wife arrived at Norland Park with her children and servants, without informing her stepmother of her intentions. No one could doubt her right to be there, for the house had belonged to her husband since his father's death. However, her behavior was too abrupt, and for a woman of her position and ordinary sensibilities, it must have been very unpleasant. Yet she had a strong sense of honor and a false generosity that made her repulsed by anyone who gave or suffered such an affront. In the eyes of anyone in her husband's family, John Dashwood's wife was not a welcome person. But only at this moment did she have the opportunity to show herself: she was so indifferent when someone needed her to perform an obligation for their comfortable lives.
Mrs. Dashwood keenly felt this rude behavior and despised her daughter-in-law for it. When her daughter-in-law arrived, she had only decided to leave the house forever if her eldest daughter had pleaded for politeness first, if her love for the three younger daughters had made her stay, or if she had wanted to avoid quarreling with her brother. Her eldest daughter, Elinor, was persuasive in her advice, which came from an understanding of the situation and a calm judgment. This made her, though only nineteen, qualified to be her mother's advisor, and she could often restrain her mother's impetuosity, which often led to imprudence, to the benefit of everyone. She was kind-hearted, gentle in nature, yet strong in emotion, but she knew how to control her feelings—a skill her mother still had to learn, and one of her sisters regarded with disdain.
Marianne was more talented than Elinor. She was clever and lively but overly enthusiastic about everything, unable to restrain her sorrows and joys. She was generous and lovely, except for her imprudence, which was her only fault. She was remarkably like her mother. Elinor noticed her sister's excessive indulgence in her emotions and was concerned. To Mrs. Dashwood, however, this temperament was rare and precious.
Now, their personalities were only adding to each other's distress. The sudden grief that had initially made them completely submit returned, and it occupied their thoughts time and again. They were immersed in their sorrow, repeatedly reflecting on its origins, hoping that future comfort might gradually erase it. Elinor was also deeply troubled, but she remained calm and did her best. She could advocate for her sisters' rights, welcome her sister-in-law when she arrived, and show her due concern. This encouraged her mother to join her efforts and inspired her to restrain herself as her daughter would.
The other sister, Margaret, was a gentle and helpful girl. She inherited her sister Marianne's romantic disposition but lacked her temperament. Thus, this thirteen-year-old girl had hope of surpassing her two older sisters in life.