CHAPTERS 20 -25

SENSE & SENSIBILITY

VICTOR MARTINEZAP ENGLISH

•The Dashwood sisters show up dutifully at the Middletons' house, and Mrs. Palmer rushes over to greet them.•Mrs. Palmer announces that she and her husband have to leave too London. She hopes that they will meet again soon in London •The Dashwoods say that they won't be going to London.•Mrs. Palmer tries to get her husband in on convincing the girls, but he's uninterested.•Everyone else shows up, and Sir John teases Marianne about how often she walks around Allenham, Willoughby's ancestral home.Marianne looks serious and doesn't respond. Mrs. Palmer tells her not to worry – she's familiar with Willoughby, since they're live in the same part of the countryside, and she thinks he's a very handsome man.•When everyone's at dinner together, the Dashwoods witness some rather awkward family dynamics between Mr. Palmer and his in-laws. •Mrs. Palmer genuinely laughs off her husband's bad behavior.•Mrs. Palmer once again asks the Dashwood girls to come and stay at Cleveland. She and Mr. Palmer bicker a little more – apparently he's running for Parliament, and has been going around trying to get people to like him.

CHAPTER 20

•Elinor asks about Willoughby – what do people think of him where the Palmers live?•Mrs. Palmer, who claims to know Willoughby very well, despite the fact that they've never spoken, says that she can understand why Elinor is curious, since Marianne is supposedly going to marry him.•Elinor is surprise, and wants to know how Mrs. Palmer heard such a rumor. Mrs. Palmer ran into Colonel Brandon one day in London, and basically asked him to confirm the rumor that Marianne was to marry Willoughby. Colonel Brandon didn't say anything, but Mrs. Palmer assumed that this was a sign of agreement.•The pair briefly discusses Colonel Brandon, whom Mrs. Palmer dismisses as nice but dull.•Finally, Mrs. Palmer gets back to the original topic – Willoughby. Apparently, he has a good reputation in his home, and everyone likes him. Elinor and Charlotte (Mrs. Palmer) go back to the subject of Colonel Brandon; Charlotte claims that he wanted to marry her back in the day, but obviously her mother didn’t approved . She's happy with Mr. Palmer, anyway – he's apparently exactly what she wants.

•The Palmers return to their home at Cleveland the next day, but there are more visitors in store for Barton Park. •The two visitors are distant cousins of Mrs. Jennings.•Sir John rushes over to fetch Marianne and Elinor, wanting them to meet the new arrivals. He can't believe that the Dashwoods aren't stumbling over themselves to get there. •Elinor and Marianne finally go to see the visitors a couple of days later. Elinor admits to herself that the two sisters do have some common sense; they've figured out that the way into Lady Middleton's heart is by praising her children.•Everyone sits and admires the children, even though one of them, Annamaria, has a screaming fit. •The Steele sisters began to talk with Elinor and Marianne. Anne asks if they've been enjoying their new home in Devonshire, and comments that they must have been sad to leave Norland. Elinor is a little taken aback, and responds rather cautiously that she was.•There's some small talk about Norland's beauties, in which Lucy seems a little apologetic for her rude older sister.•Miss Steele then pushes forward, asking if the Dashwoods had many handsome beaux there – that is, did they have a lot of boyfriends?•Lucy's embarrassed again by her sister's comments.

CHAPTER 21

•Anne goes on and on about the boyfriends. Everyone else is kind of mortified by the turn of conversation. Lucy changes the subject, but the damage is done – the Dashwoods leave, certain that they don't want to hang out with the Steeles anymore. Elinor can't stand the older one, and even pretty Lucy kind of turned her off with her obvious shrewdness.•Unfortunately, the Steeles don't feel the same way – they simply loved the Dashwoods, and think they're going to be best friends.•Sir John joins the side of the Miss Steeles, and insist that the young ladies all hang out together.•The Miss Steeles (especially the elder) join in the Middleton family pastime of teasing Elinor and Marianne about their suitors. •Sir John lets slip the name of Elinor's supposed "beaux" – Ferrars. It turns out Lucy and Anne know him through their uncle(Mr. Pratt). She wonders what exactly they know about him.

•Marianne has had it with the visitors, so it's up to Elinor to keep them entertained.•Lucy is naturally pretty gifted, she's also smart and witty. However, she's not very educated or well-read, and Elinor finds her something of a boring companion.•Elinor and Lucy walk from the park to Barton Cottage, Lucy asks about Mrs. Ferrars, she is a little weirded out by this question.•Lucy says that she and Mrs. Ferrars might be intimately related in the future. •Elinor asks if perhaps Lucy is engaged to Robert Ferrars, the youngest brother. However, Lucy admits that she's engaged to his older brother!•Lucy goes on placidly, seemingly unaware of her companion's utter shock and horror. First of all, she rather insultingly says that Edward looks upon Elinor and Marianne as his own sisters. Secondly, she demurely admits that they've been secretly engaged for four years. She met Edward thanks to her uncle Mr. Pratt.•Elinor protests that this can't be the same Edward Ferrars. However, Lucy even goes so far as to show Elinor a little portrait of Edward that she carries around, proving once and for all that this is the same guy.•Elinor responds rather coldly to Lucy's revelation, saying that their secret is safe with her, but she can't understand why she was the recipient of it in the first place.•Lucy claims that she trusts Elinor instinctively, and that she feels like they've known each other for a long time. Apparently, the only other person who knows is Anne, Lucy's sister.

CHAPTER 22

•Lucy weeps a little, whining that she and Edward only get to see each other once or twice a year. Elinor is not sympathetic.•Lucy wonders if she should stick with Edward, or if she should just call the whole thing off. She asks Elinor what she should do – and obviously, Elinor doesn't have a reply.•Lucy goes on, asking if Edward was acting weird when he was visiting the Dashwoods at Barton (apparently he'd come from visiting Lucy beforehand). Elinor admits that he was a little sad in the beginning of his visit.•As if we haven't had enough proof of Edward's situation yet, Lucy shows Elinor a letter from him, which is undoubtedly in his handwriting.•Lucy tells the final proof to Elinor, saying that the ring Edward wears is set with a lock of her hair – not, as Elinor and Marianne believed.•Fortunately, the girls arrive back at the cottage, and end their conversation. The Steeles go back home, and Elinor is left alone with her miserable thoughts.

•Elinor has no doubt about Lucy and Edward relationship. Her feelings are all over the place. After all, everyone else is also sure that Edward loves Elinor.•Elinor also feels bad for Edward; after all, he's the one who is going to be stuck with uneducated, shrewd Lucy Steele. Even if he was infatuated with her as a teenager, what must he think now? Furthermore, what's going to happen when they've been married for years and years? Also, there's the problem of Edward's mom, who'll surely have a conniption fit when she finds out that he's engaged to Lucy, who's inferior to Elinor in social station.•All things considered, Elinor feels worse for Edward than for herself. She resolves to keep her troubles from Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood, figuring that they can't possibly help her with any of this.•Elinor resolves to talk more to Lucy about this whole thing. She wants to see how much Lucy actually cares for Edward. Elinor also has a feeling that Lucy might be jealous of her, given how much Edward praises her, as well as Sir John's jokes about how she and Edward are in love.•Unfortunately, there are very few chances to talk privately with Lucy, since Sir John and Lady Middleton keep everyone busy with dinners, games, and group activities

CHAPTER 23

•One day, though, Lady Middleton invites all of the young ladies over to keep her company at dinner while Sir John hangs out with his guy friends. It turns out to be quite a dull gathering, but Elinor hopes to find a chance to talk to Lucy alone.•Lucy, taking a hint from Lady Middleton, says she's going to work on a basket she's making for Annamaria, while everyone else plays cards. Elinor takes this opportunity to also opt out of the card game, saying that she'll go help Lucy with her task.•Lucy and Elinor settle down to work (and talk privately) near the piano, so nobody else will hear their conversation.

•Elinor starts right in, saying that she'd like to serve as Lucy's confidante. Lucy is relieved, since she was worried that Elinor was offended by the secret. Elinor assures her that it's not true.•Lucy notes that Elinor was clearly made uncomfortable and unhappy by the fact that she and Edward are engaged, and says that she was sure that Elinor was angry with her. She's glad this isn't the case.•The pair dive right in to a practical conversation about money matters. It's clear that he'd get more money out of his mom to have a good future.•As for the problem of Mrs. Ferrars, Lucy doesn't want to be too hasty; she thinks that Mrs. Ferrars might be so angered by news of the engagement that she'd give all her money to the younger son, Robert.• Lucy exposes her new cunning plan, which is to get John and Fanny to give the Norland "living" to Edward. •Elinor basically shoots this down – since Fanny wouldn't be satisfied with Edward becoming a pastor, surely her intervention wouldn't help at all.•Lucy tries to pull the pity card, saying that the easiest thing would probably just to end the engagement. She asks for Elinor's advice on the matter.•Elinor smiles to disguise her emotional turmoil, saying that surely her opinion wouldn't make a difference to Lucy. Lucy denies it and even claims that it's within Elinor's powers to make her break off the engagement.

CHAPTER 24

•Lucy gives up, and changes the subject asking if will the Dashwoods be in London in the winter?•Elinor says that they absolutely won't. Lucy says she's sorry to hear it, but otherwise, she's only going to see Edward.•Finally, Elinor is called back to the card table; she grows some kind of dislike to Lucy.•From then on, Elinor doesn't bring up the engagement, though Lucy reminds her of it constantly. Lucy and Anne's stay is drawn out for longer than expected, and eventually, they end up staying almost two months.

•It turns out that Mrs. Jennings actually has a home of her own in London. She invites Marianne and Elinor to visit her at this house over the winter.•Elinor turns down the invitation politely, saying that Mrs. Dashwood needs her older daughters over the winter. Mrs. Jennings makes a refusal, saying that surely they can works everything out.•Sir John says that Marianne probably wouldn't mind going to London (to see Willoughby, presumably), with or without Elinor. Marianne warmly exclaims that she would love to accept, but she's afraid that Elinor's right – they need to stay home.•Mrs. Jennings keeps insisting upon the visit, and Marianne doesn't put up a fight. Despite her dislike for Mrs. Jennings, she's desperate to go to London.•When told of the invitation, Mrs. Dashwood decides that it's fine – the girls can go to the city. She insists that they accept.•Elinor reminds her mother that appearing in town with Mrs. Jennings won't do them any social favors, but Mrs. Dashwood reminds her that they'll always be with Lady Middleton, a perfectly respectable woman.•Mrs. Dashwood reasserts the fact that they should both go and enjoy themselves. She hints that Elinor should enjoy herself – particularly with Edward's family.•Elinor, knowing what she knows, says rather coldly that she likes Edward very much, but it doesn't matter to her if his family likes her or not.

CHAPTER 25

•Everything is settled with Mrs. Jennings, and the travel plans are all made. Sir John, Lady Middleton, and Mrs. Jennings are all very happy, and the Steeles claim that they are, too. Everyone gets ready for the big trip to London – Elinor reluctantly, and Marianne with great excitement.•The Dashwood girls and Mrs. Jennings leave at the beginning of January; the Middletons, Lucy, and Anne plan to follow a week later.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CHAPTERS

The introduction of Lucy is a critical turning point in Elinor’s life. She beginsto show her true emotions and her way of thinking.The author focus on her main character and starts to reveal the sense andrationality that are characteristic to Elinor.The symbol of sense is seem as the dominant trait but at the same time Sensibility appears as an opposing force.

CHARACTERS AND SETTING

1. Elinor Dashwood: Main character of Austen's novel. She falls in love with Edward Ferrars.

2. Marianne Dashwood: Younger sister of Elinor.3. Mrs. Charlotte Palmer: Invites the Dashwood sisters to stay at

her home in Cleveland on their way from London to Barton.4. Mr. Thomas Palmer: Husband of Mrs. Palmer.5. Lucy Steele: Mrs. Jennings' cousin and a selfish, and insecure

young woman. She has been secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars.

6. Anne Steele: Lucy Steele's older, unmarried sister.7. Mr. Pratt: Steele’s uncle and teacher of Edward.

A. Characters:

C. Mood: Good Humored, surprisingly and conflict.

B. Setting: Barton Park