Influence of the Rich and Powerful in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility
The influence of the rich (John and Fanny Dashwood) over the less fortunate (the Dashwood sisters and mother)
Most of Jane Austenâs books are based on the interaction between a character and his or her society. The book Sense and Sensibility is no exception to this rule either. In this book, Austen shows the degradation of the Dashwoods in their own home by John Dashwood and his snobbish wife Fanny. In this situation, Austen proves that the rich and powerful have influence over those less fortunate.
When Mr. Dashwood dies leaving a wife and three children, Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood wastes no time in moving into her new home and degrading the Dashwood sisters and mother âto the condition of visitorsâ (Austen 11). Thus making the long time occupants of the house humiliated and disgraced. Although, John Dashwood shows some signs of compassion for his stepsisters and mother, the main antagonist, Fanny Dashwood, shows no such kindness.
âââ¦he only requested me, in general terms,to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable that it was in his power to doâ¦He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, I could not do less than give itâ¦The promise, ,therefore, was given and must be preformedâ¦â âWell then, let something be done for them; but that something need not be three thousand poundsâ¦ââ (Austen 12).
Fanny Dashwood, wife of John Dashwood has always been rich and powerful. She is also especially influential over her husband, the new owner of Norland. She eventually convinces her husband that the three Dashwood sisters and mother really do not need as much money per year than the late Mr. Dashwood allocated. Her argument in favor of keeping the money for herself was for the welfare of her son. âTo take away three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy, would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degreeâ (Austen 12). However unselfish this argument might seem, it is probable that Fanny Dashwood did this out of pure selfishness to get the money and be more powerful than she was before.
In the book Sense and Sensibility Fanny and John Dashwood prove that the power of greed and selfishness can degrade people as good as the Dashwood sisters and mother to mere nothingness in their own home. Fanny Dashwood tries to support her actions of greed and selfishness by saying that the money should be for her son instead, but really her actions are for purely selfish reasons, not caring at all for the Dashwood sisters and mother.
