Relationship between Edward and Elinor in Sense and Sensibility

In “Sense and Sensibility,” we can see the life story of two sisters, who are Elinor and Marianne. This novel does not have a hero in the true sense. If we have to consider anyone as a hero, then the name that should come to readers’ minds first is Edward Ferrars. Elinor and Edward love each other, and eventually, they get married. They suffer a lot in this love and have to overcome many obstacles. At one point, it even seemed that they would not marry each other and that there would be no union between them. However, fate supported them in the end, and they loved each other very much. Finally, they get the result of their love, and they get married.

First of all, it is necessary to understand how they initially met. Fanny Dashwood was the wife of Elinor’s stepbrother, and Fanny’s brother was Edward. Fanny and her mother were quite dominating, and they used to exert pressure on Edward from an early age. Edward did something foolish and secretly became engaged to Lucy without informing anyone. Lucy was completely opposite to Edward in terms of personality, and she did not have strong feelings for Edward. When Edward visited Elinor’s house, which was actually inherited by his stepbrother, John, after the death of her father, he became acquainted with Elinor, and from the beginning, Edward and Elinor started to like each other. However, their mutual affection remained somewhat concealed, which led to many problems for them. Edward was honest in his personal life, so he wanted to confide in Elinor about his troubled situation, but he had to leave suddenly before he could do so. Edward’s sudden departure severed their contact and relationship, as he knew in his heart that it would not be possible for him to marry Elinor. Despite loving Elinor deeply, Edward, being an honest man, refrained from allowing their relationship to progress further. On the other hand, although Elinor loved Edward with all her heart, she, being somewhat reserved, did not openly reveal her suffering to anyone. While her mother and sister understood, Elinor still kept her feelings hidden.

Edward and Elinor endured suffering for an extended period of time. Elinor’s anguish stemmed from her lack of knowledge of the truth, and it intensified when she eventually discovered it. Conversely, Edward’s sorrow deepened as he realized Elinor was a far superior person compared to Lucie. Elinor possessed all the qualities that Lucie lacked. Therefore, Edward’s anguish heightened significantly, pondering over encountering such a wonderful girl yet being unable to marry her.

However, being a good person, Edward attempted to honor his promise. When his mother learned of his intention to marry Lucie, she became furious and disinherited him, leaving everything to his younger brother. At that moment, Lucie realized that Edward had little and that his future prospects were bleak. Consequently, Lucie decided to sever all ties with Edward and elope with his younger brother, marrying him instead.

When Edward was going through all this turmoil, Elinor was unaware of most of it. She only heard rumors that Edward had married Lucie, but in reality, it had not occurred. Elinor lost all hope, and her life became filled with suffering. However, luck was on her side, and later, she learned directly from Edward that he did not actually marry.

They got married, and Elinor’s entire family joyfully approved of their union. Initially, Edward’s mother objected to the marriage, but eventually, she came around and accepted it. They were overjoyed, emerging as the most ideal couple in the novel.

If we examine the relationship between Edward and Elinor, we can observe that both of them were good people, but luck did not favor them. Edward faced considerable misfortune from the start. His circumstances were challenging, and when he became secretly engaged at the age of 18–19, he foolishly became infatuated with a girl who was unsuitable for him in every way. He became fixated on her, only to later realize that she was not the right match for him. When he recognized this and encountered Elinor, he should have promptly ended the engagement with Lucie, especially since it was kept secret and he had minimal communication with her. However, by not doing so, the situation became even more complicated. On the other hand, Elinor was reserved by nature. She should have stepped forward and stood by Edward, encouraging him not to marry Lucie. Elinor should have taken this step because she understood that Lucie was not a suitable match for Edward and that he would not find happiness with her. Therefore, she should have made an effort to intervene.

No matter what happened, they found happiness in the end, which is the best outcome. Luck played a role in this, and simultaneously, Jane Austen wanted to illustrate that they were well-suited for each other.

Autobiographical elements in the poems of William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth is the father of the Romantic Movement in English literature. He created a new style of poetry, and in that poetry, we can find not only a new style in the topic but also in the language. That is why he is immortal in the history of English literature, and the change he brought gave a lot of focus to the subject of poetry. Until him, most poets focused on urban or aristocratic people for their themes. If we study English literature up to Wordsworth, we will find that the subject matter always revolves around high or rich people and many poets only wrote about their beloved. It was Wordsworth who revolutionized the theme of poetry by emphasizing that the theme should be an ordinary person.

That is why, in his poems, we can find autobiographical elements. He consistently wrote about his own life and ideas. Sometimes, he wrote about his sister; other times, he delved into stories about his daughter or the people he encountered during his life. Occasionally, he even wrote about unknown individuals he observed while traveling to different places. Thus, many of his poems contain autobiographical elements. He even wrote about his own biography in a poem called ‘The Prelude.’ He put into practice the idea that poetry’s subjects should be ordinary people. During his time, he was a very ordinary person, initially experiencing little success and enduring significant poverty in the early part of his life. It took time for him to achieve any form of success as a poet.

“Tintern Abbey” is a poem in which Wordsworth writes about a place he visited five years ago and revisited. Consequently, it contains autobiographical elements as he reflects on a place directly associated with him. However, beyond that, the poem addressed his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth. By praising Dorothy, the poem is not merely biographical but rather one with autobiographical elements. Dorothy, who was exceptionally close to Wordsworth, dedicated her entire life to supporting him as a poet. She cared for Wordsworth in the best possible way, and with her support, he achieved success as a poet. Few poets experienced such affection and support from their siblings, making Wordsworth fortunate in this regard. He fondly remembered her in “Tintern Abbey.”

“Surprised by Joy” is another poem that contains autobiographical elements. Wordsworth reflects on the loss of his daughter, who passed away at the age of three. Initially addressing the poem to his daughter, he later realizes the child is in the grave. The profound impact of this loss deeply affected Wordsworth, prompting him to create a poignant poem in remembrance of his beloved daughter.

“It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free” is another poem with autobiographical elements. Wordsworth, during his visit to France, developed a deep affection for a woman named Annette Vallon. Although she was not married to Wordsworth, Annette gave birth to their child. In this poem, Wordsworth recounts moments spent with the woman and the child as they walked beside the sea. The poem directly reflects a chapter in Wordsworth’s life, expressing his love and emotions towards the child born from this union. During this period, Wordsworth faced challenges in maintaining a connection with Annette due to various factors. Firstly, being from England, Wordsworth encountered difficulties as Annette resided in France. Additionally, the political tension between the two countries and religious differences, with Wordsworth being Protestant and Annette being Catholic, added further complexities to their relationship.

As I mentioned earlier, Wordsworth was notably committed to portraying the lives of ordinary people in his poetry. Examining the three poems discussed above, we observe his inclusion of his sister, one daughter, and another child born out of wedlock. Consequently, Wordsworth has succeeded remarkably in encapsulating his own life within these poems. 

Religious ideas of William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth is considered to be among the top three poets in English literature, along with John Milton and William Shakespeare. Unlike Shakespeare and Milton, who did not change English poetry in the way that Wordsworth did, he attempted to bring about significant changes and was successful in doing so. In terms of religion, Wordsworth also introduced new ideas in poetry. Thus, Wordsworth emerges as a pioneering figure who had a profound influence on English literature.

Religion has always been an important topic in English poetry. It is evident that most poets have explored this theme in their works, a natural occurrence, as literature across various cultures often includes numerous poems on this subject. Upon examining the major poets in English literature, it becomes apparent that almost all of them wrote poems dedicated to God and Jesus Christ.

In fact, before Wordsworth, the topics of poems were often limited to kings, powerful and aristocratic people, gods, and religion. Wordsworth wanted to change this style, and he proposed that poets should focus on writing poetry about the lives and activities of ordinary people. Thus, he shifted the focus of poetry away from religion. However, Wordsworth was not an atheist, nor did he lack belief in religion. He was born a Protestant Christian, but it is not evident that he was a strong believer or supporter of Christianity. Instead, he was interested in mysticism. In “Tintern Abbey,” we find an example of mysticism, where, according to this philosophy, people can connect with God through meditation. Mystics are not inclined to follow religious rituals. In the Middle East and South Asia, Sufis are considered mystics. In the “Tintern Abbey” poem, Wordsworth expresses his love for God, but he is not talking about any ritual. Instead, he adopts a meditative mood, seeking to touch the soul of God.

Wordsworth was also deeply drawn to Pantheism, an ideology that hypothesizes the omnipresence of God, suggesting that divinity is inherent in everything. According to this perspective, everything is considered a part of God, including animals and trees. The concept further asserts that there is a divine essence, or God’s soul, within all things. Wordsworth prominently showcased Pantheistic ideas in “Tintern Abbey.”

Mysticism and pantheism are not highly embraced within traditional Christian beliefs. From a conventional standpoint, Wordsworth might not be considered a strictly religious person. However, in the poem “Tintern Abbey,” Wordsworth articulates his religious perspectives, which deviate from the norms of traditional beliefs. His ideas about religion appear distinct from those of ordinary individuals. It is worth noting that while mysticism and pantheism may not align with mainstream Christian views, there are indeed many people who hold an affinity for both of these concepts.

Now, turning to the poem “It is a beauteous evening, calm and free,” Wordsworth once again diverged from traditional Christian ideas. Primarily, the poem was composed for his illegitimate daughter, who resided in France. Despite this unconventional context, he incorporated religious symbols such as the temple and referenced figures like Prophet Abraham and Prophet Sulaiman. In doing so, he delved into discussions about God, revealing a continuation of his advocacy for pantheism and mysticism. Aware that the conventional Christian viewpoint might not approve of his romantic involvement with the child’s mother, Wordsworth asserts that God transcends such judgments. As he stands by the sea, he perceives the voice of God within him, connecting this divine presence with his childhood experiences alongside the Prophet Abraham. Through these elements, Wordsworth conveys the idea that his child transcends religious norms, embodying innocence and purity.

Wordsworth had a deep influence on many people and is considered a modern poet. In our contemporary age, it can be observed that religion is losing its value in most countries. People are perhaps moving away from rituals. Wordsworth may have understood this shift and wanted to illustrate the fundamental essence of God. He believed that God is above religion and can be accessed through meditation rather than performing specific rituals.