Sense and Sensibility: Neo-classicism vs Romanticism

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin was a moralistic novel depicting the two main forms of attitudes at that time; the neo -classics and the romantics. The period in which it was written, nineteenth century England, was laden with social etiquette and customs imposed on people of that time; and thus the characters of Jane Austin's novels. The novels' two main protagonists; Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, exemplify the Neo classical era and the romantic era, …

…the balance that must be present in order to benefit from the virtuous attributes of both philosophies. By glorifying Elinor as the heroine of the novel, a character who is majority Neo- Classic, the reader can see which philosophy Jane Austin considers more suitable. However, though Marianne's reformation by the novel's conclusion, the reader sees that Austin also believes the Romantic philosophy is also needed in order to create a sensible but more exciting life.