by Jane Austen
18. Marianne would support their behavior from her genuine conviction, basic to her outlook, on the primacy of individual feelings over social rules. Willoughby, whatever his real opinions, would have a natural incentive to argue the same, both from agreement with her and from a wish to justify his own behavior.
19. Despair about the possibility of finding ideal perfection in the world was a strand in much Romantic thinking. Here, as the fervent conclusion of someone only sixteen and a half, it appears to particular disadvantage.
20. drawn off: diverted, turned.
21. This last clause is probably ironic on the author’s part. While Austen does over the course of the novel criticize many aspects of sensibility, seen as a cultural trend or set of ideas, here the word simply means strong feelings, in particular feelings of love, and the “just ridicule” is what people like Mrs. Jennings and Sir John delight in inflicting on all those appearing to be in love.
Selling a horse.
[From William Combe, The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque (London, 1817; 1903 reprint), p. 134]
[List of Illustrations]
22. Willoughby does not simply have a low opinion of Lady Middleton and Mrs. Jennings, as Elinor also does to a great degree, but he openly expresses complete contempt, even as he continues to partake happily of the Middletons’ frequent hospitality. As for his dislike of Colonel Brandon, it takes on ironic significance in light of later events that will place the two men in an unexpected position regarding each other.
23. It was unusual for people in England then to have spent time out of the country. Travel was very expensive and difficult, and during this period in particular venturing to Europe, the closest overseas destination, was rarely possible because of the continual wars between Britain and Napoleonic France, which controlled much of the continent. Jane Austen never went abroad, and though many of her characters are very wealthy, few are ever described as having left the country, except for naval officers, whose travels are often restricted to overseas bases and ports.
24. A later passage (this page) contrasts good breeding, or politeness, with good nature, indicating that while the latter is more worthwhile, the former still has value. Here there is fortunately no opposition.
25. The East Indies refers to India and the islands of Southeast Asia. It is later revealed that Colonel Brandon spent several years serving the army in India, which was a British colony then.
26. These are all features of India. The word “nabobs,” which originally referred to high Indian officials, by this time mostly meant people from Britain who acquired great wealth in India. Gold mohrs, or mohurs, were the principal coins used in British India. Palanquins were covered litters on which people were carried by means of poles extending from them; British people living in India sometimes used them. Willoughby, who is unlikely to have been to India himself, could have learned of these things from other men who had been to India, from travel books, of which there were many then, or from a number of popular novels that were set in India. Jane Austen herself also could have acquired familiarity with these matters from her sister-in-law, Eliza de Feuillide, who was born in India and whose mother lived there for a number of years.
27. candour: fairness, generosity in judging others.
28. Willoughby is later revealed to spend more than he has, so he may envy someone in the opposite position.
29. Landed gentlemen usually had a lot of leisure time, so Brandon is hardly worthy of particular censure in this respect.
30. This would be another mark of Brandon’s affluence, for clothing was expensive then, and the most common form of men’s coat, a greatcoat, would be costlier than most articles because its length required large amounts of fabric. But it is doubtful if Willoughby has any basis for knowing that Colonel Brandon really buys two new coats a year.
31. genius: talent, natural ability.
32. spirit: ardor, vigor, vivacity.
33. understanding: intellect.
34. brilliancy: sparkle.
35. expression: ability to express feeling. Marianne and Willoughby are united in their criticism of Colonel Brandon, but they show their different characters by the ways they express it, she directly and seriously and he with exaggeration and playful irony.
36. artful: clever, skillful.
37. curricle: an open carriage (see note 28, and picture). Hanging refers to how high the body of the carriage is suspended. In Jane Austen’s youthful story, “Three Sisters,” a prospective bride and groom argue over whether the carriage they purchase upon marriage will be hung high or low.
38. Buying and selling horses was a common concern of gentlemen, for they used horses frequently to pull their carriages, hunt, or simply ride, either as recreation or as a means of transport. For a picture of selling a horse, see this page.
39. Willoughby’s clever, self-deprecating humor implicitly acknowledges his injustice toward Colonel Brandon, but it also serves to disarm serious criticism of that injustice. A character in Mansfield Park, Mary Crawford, uses a similar procedure to sugar over less than admirable actions.
VOLUME I, CHAPTER XI
1. schemes of amusement: plans or projects of enjoyment.
2. For private balls, see note 8. The facing passage there spoke of Sir John’s organizing balls in the winter and outdoor excursions in the summer, but obviously he is happy to organize as much as is feasible, whatever the time of year.
3. The plan for a later outing includes sailing on a large body of water. For the rainy weather prevailing in Devonshire, especially at this time of year, see note 9.
4. ease: lack of restraint; informality.
5. familiarity: intimate or friendly intercourse.
6. calculated: suited.
A curricle (Ashtead Park, a country house, is in the background).
[From John Preston Neale, Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen, Vol. V (1822)]
[List of Illustrations]
7. Dancing etiquette dictated changing partners over the course of the evening. Dancing more than once with the same partner was generally permissible, but only after first dancing with other people. The suggestion here is that Marianne and Willoughby dance only with each other, alternating pairs of dances in which they are able to dance together with ones in which they both stand aside. Dances were performed in pairs, which is why it speaks of their separating for “a couple of dances”; the two dances usually lasted around half an hour, after which one would sit down or partner with someone else for the next pair.
8. Their behavior is similar to that of the foolish heroine and her friends in Love and Friendship, Jane Austen’s youthful satire of the excesses of sensibility. The heroine explains, “In the society of my Edward & this Amiable Pair, I passed the happiest moments of my Life: Our time was most delightfully spent, in mutual Protestations of Freindship [sic], and in vows of unalterable Love, in which we were secure from being interrupted, by intruding & disagreeable Visitors, as Augustus & Sophia had on their first Entrance in the Neighbourhood, taken due care to inform the surrounding Families, that as their Happiness centered wholly in themselves, they wished for no other society.” In contrast, in her novels Austen upholds an ideal in which love between two people goes along with continuing affection and attention toward a larger circle of friends and family.
9. means of improvement: opportunities for education or cultivation. The phrase is meant ironically, since learning the details of Mrs. Jennings’s history hardly constitutes real improvement of the mind.
10. generally pleasing: pleasing or agreeable to people in general.
11. Marianne’s ideal of a perfect and absolute union of two souls, a common Romantic idea, would naturally lead her to doubt the possibility of anyone achieving a second such union. Elinor will later express her disagreement with the notion, a disagreement shared by Jane Austen herself (see this page and note 41).
12. amiable: attractive, pleasing.
Mrs. Henry Baring and Children.
[From The Masterpieces of Lawrence (London, 1913), p. 39]
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13. systems: doctrines, set of principles. The phrase, along with Elinor’s reference below to “the minutia of her principles,” suggests how much Marianne’s beliefs stem not simply from feelings or natural impulses, but from a comprehensive and carefully thought-out body of ideas. They result as much from theory and reading as from instinct.
14. propriety: that which is right and proper. The term had a wider scope than it does now, referring to moral principles as well as rules of etiquette.
15. The identity and history of this lady, and their relevance to Marianne, will eventually be disclosed (see this page). His warning about the possible dangers of abandoning romantic principles, while clearly reflecting his own attitudes and experience, does not necessarily contradict the general message of the novel, which, even as it ridicules many aspects of Marianne’s sensibility, also presents examples of lack of feeling that are more harmful or repulsive, often much more so, than any of Marianne’s faults. Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood’s callous selfishness, and to a lesser degree Lady Middleton’s cold vacuousness, are two of these, and others will appear.
16. Tragic love formed a central subject of much Romantic literature. In this case, Marianne’s potential conjectures would actually have some justification.
The interior of a stable.
[From George Williamson, George Morland: His Life and Works (London, 1907), p. 62]
[List of Illustrations]
VOLUME I, CHAPTER XII
1. Breeding horses, sometimes through the mixture of different stocks, was a practice of many country gentlemen.
2. While horseback riding was not a common pursuit for ladies, some did ride, including all the principal young ladies in Mansfield Park. They would need horses considered suitable for a woman: the heroine rides a pony when young, and later her cousin procures a mare that, unlike other horses in his possession, would be fit for her to ride.
3. She would need to have a servant accompany her, since it would not be proper for a woman to ride on her own.
4. groom: servant whose job was to take care of horses.
5. The Dashwoods had already limited their staff to three. Since the additional servant would need to be a man (only men could serve as grooms) the expense would be even greater. Male servants commanded significantly higher salaries; also, unlike female servants, they were generally provided with a uniform by their employer and were subject to a special tax.
6. This is a rather callous attitude toward the servant, especially since his function would require him to keep up with Marianne as she rode.
7. Given the rainy nature of the climate here, they would have particular need of a good stable, rather than a mere shed. The cost of that, along with the servant, the extra horse, and food and equipment for both horses, would make it prohibitively expensive for the Dashwoods. Willoughby shows both social and financial imprudence in thinking the gift would be appropriate. For a contemporary picture of a stable, see the preceding page.
8. This is Marianne’s first use of “Willoughby” without “Mr.” before it. This less formal designation was usually employed only by men speaking of other men. Other Jane Austen heroines always use “Mr.” for the man they are interested in, even after they have known him far longer than Marianne has known Willoughby, just as the men always call a woman “Miss” (the principal exception is when a family connection allows both to use first names, as with Elinor and Edward—though even Edward sometimes calls Elinor “Miss Dashwood”). Elinor and Margaret continue to use “Mr. Willoughby,” at least for now.
9. is to determine: is likely to determine, usually determines.
10. disposition: general mental character or bent.
11. This represents a good summation of Marianne’s prioritizing personal feeling over every other consideration and her belief in a union of souls that makes carefully getting to know someone unnecessary.
12. temper: emotional disposition.
13. establishment: household staff and facilities.
14. Here, as at other times, Marianne’s affection for others and genuine goodness of heart check her excesses.
15. Willoughby’s use of Marianne’s first name represents an even greater presumption of intimacy than her use of his last name alone. Usually it was only after a marriage proposal was accepted that a man would progress to that. For that same reason Marianne’s apparent acquiescence in his usage is a sign of imprudence, for it suggests acknowledgment on her part of an engaged state even though no such state exists. In Mansfield Park the heroine, Fanny Price, indicates her displeasure, as rules of propriety would dictate, when a man wooing her calls her “Fanny” rather than “Miss Price.”
16. Queen Mab is from Romeo and Juliet, the subject of a long speech in which she is described as the “fairies’ midwife,” a minuscule creature who rides around every night in a tiny vehicle pulled by a gnat to spark dreams within each person she visits. It is later revealed that toward the end of Willoughby’s time in Devonshire he and the Dashwood family read Hamlet together (this page). It is possible they were earlier reading Romeo and Juliet, whose tale of passionate young love would have a natural appeal to them, especially to Marianne, and that this inspired Willoughby, in order to honor or please her, to name his horse after Queen Mab, whose fantastical nature could have aroused Marianne’s expressed fancy or at least made Willoughby think she would like the name. This choice also indicates the horse is a mare, which would be considered the most suitable for a woman.
17. This is the name of the nearby open hill where Marianne had her accident and Willoughby rescued her.
18. miniature: miniature painting. Miniatures had long been popular, especially for portraits, because their small size allowed them to be worn around the neck, as this one is, to keep the image of the other person always at hand. Their popularity had greatly increased during the late eighteenth century. For a picture of two women looking at one, see this page.
19. Her wearing a picture of their great-uncle, despite his having given most of the family inheritance to their half brother, shows her lack of petty resentment. Elinor and Mrs. Dashwood also never manifest the slightest bitterness along those lines.
20. Tea was a meal, not necessarily a large one, taken regularly in the evening. It involved tea or other hot beverages, along with food. Later on, tea is described as occurring at seven o’clock (this page). Dinner, the main meal of the day, was served during the late afternoon, while supper, a light meal, was served later in the evening (people of this class did not normally go to bed very early).
21. A lock of hair was frequently used as a memento of love. This is why Margaret is sure it indicates their intention to marry.
22. Women generally had long hair, but most of it was kept pinned up, with nothing falling below the face. Usually a woman would let down her hair only when she had retired for the night. Marianne’s wearing hers down in front of a young man would be considered immodest—the principal reason for pinning up hair was to avoid excessive arousal of male lust, the same reason for full-length skirts.
23. pocket-book: a small book that could fit into the pocket; it was used by both sexes. The book usually would be for notes or memorandums, and it was a potential storage place for small items. The gradual expansion of this latter function after Jane Austen’s time is what led the term eventually to become a synonym for a woman’s purse.
24. Marianne must try to silence Margaret, for any attempt by Elinor would only draw suspicion on her head. Marianne’s vehement attempts testify to her concern for her sister, though, as is often the case, her fervor undermines her good intentions.
25. A curate was someone hired by the clergyman of the parish to live there and perform the duties there. The clergyman would usually do this because he had other parishes he needed to attend to or because he was old and needed to retire someplace else. The latter reason caused Jane Austen’s
father to hire a curate. Curates were often poorly paid, though as clergymen they were considered gentlemen.
26. Margaret’s thoughtless revelation, even though only partial at this point, will end up playing a crucial role in the plot.
27. Raillery, or teasing, about others’ love affairs would be considered inelegant, especially because such affairs involved sexual attraction. Of course, it is this, and the opportunity for crude jokes and allusions, that draws Sir John and Mrs. Jennings to the subject.
28. Willoughby’s intervention probably results from concern for Elinor, along with perhaps his wish to end the general conversation so he and Marianne can focus completely on each other. He seems to like Elinor, and could certainly be influenced by Marianne’s affection for her sister, just on full display.
29. party: group or company of persons, especially one formed for a specific purpose.
30. Colonel Brandon’s sister will shortly be mentioned as living overseas, so this man is likely her husband.
31. interest: influence, especially as arising from a personal connection.
32. Elaborate landscaping was a major preoccupation of wealthy English landowners.
33. noble: splendid, large.
34. It is possible it was created, at least in part. Forming bodies of water, or expanding existing ones, was often central to landscaping grounds.
35. The elaborate gardens and landscaped parks attached to many country houses increased the popularity of eating outdoors.
36. She probably also stayed at home this evening. She is never mentioned during the conversation, and Margaret might not have dared divulge inappropriate secrets about Elinor in their mother’s presence.
Wilton House: a country house with water in front, as was popular in the landscaping of the time.
[From John Preston Neale, Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen, Vol. V (1822)]