Can We Still Relate to Elinor Dashwood Today?

This week I attended a lecture on Sense & Sensibility. It was in preparation of an adapted production being put on at the Stratford Festival this year. There were some points made by both the lecturer and by others in the room that I disagree with and wanted to discuss today.

And I, in no way, want to drag the lecturer but she was wrong, and I wanna talk about it.

Firstly...

No one mentioned that it's Jane Austen's 250th birthday this year (which is kind of a big deal and I'll be talking about that in another post later). This is kind of unrelated and unimportant to the rest of what I'm going to talk about but I just think it's kind of sad. Also I imagine that it being Austen's 250th birthday year is at least one of the reasons they're even putting on a production of one of her books! Anyways... I digress.

Sense Versus Sensibility

The title of Sense & Sensibility is perfect to me. I have always thought of it like this: one sister (Elinor) acts with sense - she controls and regulates her emotions - whereas the other sister (Marianne) acts with her sensibilities, or is very open about her passions and emotions. However, by the end of the novel Elinor is the one who marries for love/sensibility and Marianne is the one who has a more sensible marriage (although I do think she also cares for Colonel Brandon). This switch between who is sense and who is sensibility is Austen's way of saying that neither one is superior - they are both sense, they are both sensibility, we all have both.

BUT THEN, the lecturer kind of started to argue that Elinor's sense, her reserved emotional nature, is better and less selfish in comparison to Marianne! The lecturer made the point that because her family didn't know how much Elinor cared for Edward, they didn't feel/know to feel bad for her when it turned out he was already engaged (versus them feeling bad for Marianne with all the Willoughby drama).

Let me just say, to anyone who might be reading this, you telling your friends and family about how you are feeling is not selfish and is not a burden to others. Sometimes I understand that it can be overwhelming, and I do think making sure that someone is willing to talk about how you are feeling is important, but I think it is rarely ever SELFISH to share with people who care about you. I personally am a very open person and I think sharing how you feel, emotions, thoughts, dreams, aspirations, loves, crushes, etc. with others is what makes life have meaning?!?!

Also, sometimes NOT saying how you're feeling can end up being more harmful (for all parties involved) and selfish. Maybe not in Elinor's case (because it's kind of just about a guy) but in real life.

Changing Things For Modern Audiences

While diving into the production, adapted by Kate Hamill, the lecturer described it as more of a farce than the original story. Now, I have my own thoughts on this but because I haven't seen the play (yet), I won't get into them until I do. However, one of the reasons the lecturer claims Hamill has farced-up Sense & Sensibility and just generally changed some aspects of the book is because modern/ younger audiences would then better understand the story. And let me tell you, this made my blood boil.

The idea that younger generations aren't able to understand things from the past is how we get SHIT like Persuasion (2022)! AGH! Persuasion (2022), where they thought they needed to make Anne relatable to millennials (and maybe gen z), basically turning her into a fourth-wall breaking, self-deprecating, self-destructive, late-20-something year old who says stuff like "now we're worse than strangers... we're exes" (absolutely decimating the beautiful lines Austen had written. More on Persuasion 2022 here). YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIMPLIFY THINGS FOR US. You don't have to dumb down a 19th century story for us. Just because it was written over 200 years ago doesn't mean I can't understand, or that I don't relate!

We're 20. We're not idiots.

Elinor's Just Not Like Younger Girls *tucks hair behind ear*

Another thing that apparently young people can't relate to is Elinor Dashwood! The lecturer posited this idea because of Elinor's reserved nature. Because gen z definitely don't relate to not being able to say something to certain people out of fear of scrutiny or upsetting people, you know it's not like something many gen z-er's have to deal with at every family dinner ever.

I do think that we currently have a reputation for being outspoken (yes we, I am part of gen z! Shocking that I can like understand Jane Austen even though I'm young, I know!) But I think that every generation feels that way about younger generations.

We get Elinor. I get it. We get it.

Don't worry.

Sense & Sensibility was the first Austen movie I saw and it was the first book that I read, and I always loved Elinor. I know I shouldn't pick favourites but she kind of was my favourite Dashwood (excluding Margaret because obviously she's everyone's favourite). Although, I would totally categorize myself as a Marianne.

Anyways, I'm sorry for anyone reading this. It's been days but I'm still feeling so angry about the whole situation writing this and I'm sure that comes across (at least a little). I am excited that a production of S&S is being put on and I am interested in going (and of course I will let you know my thoughts if I do).

In conclusion, whether you are 250 or 14 years old you can read, watch, laugh, love, cry, understand Austen's Sense and Sensibility, and if you are looking for a fun way to celebrate the year, look no further and reread Sense & Sensibility!