In Sense And Sensibility, the revised title of Jane Austen’s ‘Elinor And Marianne’ “sense” refers to common sense or wisdom whereas “sensibility”, the power of being emotionally alive or proactive. But this is a clichéd perspective overworked and worn out by a large number of Austen scholars. The present essay endeavours to bring about a successful comprehension of the novel on the basis of Pareto’s Principle, also known as the law of the vital few, the principle of factor sparsity or the 80/20 rule.
Jane Austen (1775-1817), the most endearing novelist to her readers and one of the finest writers of prose fiction, who once humbly said about her craft that she wrote on a piece of ivory “two inches wide” (See Tony Tanner, 1986) composed her first novel (‘Elinor and Marianne’ later renamed ‘Sense And Sensibility’) in 1795 in the form of letters as an epistolary novel, later revising and re-revising it as a narrative novel before it finally published in 1811. Her authorship was penned covertly under the title “By a lady”. This anonymity was to continue until her death, but posed no hindrance to her fame, which continued to surge, holding her in high esteem as a skilfull and accomplished writer. But it was only after her death that her novels came to be critically appreciated and revalued by such eminent critics as Sir Walter Scott, A.C. Bradley, F.R. Leavis, Ian Watt and Henry James to name a few.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Jane Austen and Her Literary Context
2. Defining Pareto’s Principle (The 80/20 Rule)
3. Narrative Overview of 'Sense and Sensibility'
4. Application of Pareto’s Principle to the Dashwood Sisters
5. Critical Reflection on Character Dynamics and Equilibrium
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this essay is to re-evaluate the character dynamics in Jane Austen’s 'Sense and Sensibility' through the analytical framework of the Pareto Principle, exploring how the 80/20 rule can illuminate the internal conflicts and behavioral patterns of the protagonists.
- The intersection of literary analysis and the Pareto Principle (the law of the vital few).
- Character study of Elinor Dashwood: The cost of extreme prudence and suppressed emotion.
- Character study of Marianne Dashwood: The consequences of emotional volatility and lack of discretion.
- The quest for psychological equilibrium and the complementary nature of the sisters.
- Critique of societal conventions and the "80/20" heuristic in human behavior.
Excerpt from the Book
Application of the Pareto Principle to the Dashwood Sisters
Now on applying effectively the Pareto Principle upon the chief characters, one comes to realize that Elinor, though she displayed exemplary courage and wisdom during the most trying times, also did a disservice to herself by showing an absolute lack of emotion. Her trust was eroded first, and she never attempted to demand an explanation from Edward, but silently suffered concealing her deepest pain and setback. In this endeavour, so as not to worry her mother and sisters by acquainting them with her plight, she gave way to a deep-rooted and self-motivated suffering. The consequence of which came to be truly apparent in the last phase of the novel, where she fought hard to appease her emotions but was unsuccessful in doing so. This 20% of her impeccable sense and prudence led to 80% of her own suffering. Her all display of prudence and lack of permissible emotion paved the way for further emotional torment.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to Jane Austen and Her Literary Context: This section provides a biographical overview of Jane Austen, discussing her historical reception, the challenges she faced as a female writer, and the core definition of the novel's title terms.
2. Defining Pareto’s Principle (The 80/20 Rule): This chapter introduces the origins of the Pareto Principle, explaining its mathematical basis as the law of the vital few and its widespread applicability across various fields.
3. Narrative Overview of 'Sense and Sensibility': This section summarizes the central plot arc of the Dashwood family, tracking their move to Barton and the romantic trials of Elinor and Marianne.
4. Application of Pareto’s Principle to the Dashwood Sisters: This chapter analyzes how Elinor's restraint and Marianne's emotional excess lead to specific psychological consequences, mapping their behaviors to the 80/20 rule.
5. Critical Reflection on Character Dynamics and Equilibrium: The conclusion synthesizes the character traits of the sisters, arguing that Austen portrays a need for an amicable equilibrium between sense and sensibility for human well-being.
Keywords
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, Pareto Principle, 80/20 Rule, Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Character Analysis, Literary Criticism, Emotional Intelligence, Prudence, Human Equilibrium, Victorian Literature, Narrative Structure, Behavioral Analysis, Psychological Resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this critical reflection?
The paper focuses on applying the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule) to re-examine the character development and behavioral patterns of the protagonists in Jane Austen’s 'Sense and Sensibility'.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the contrast between logic and emotion, the societal constraints placed on women in the 19th century, the psychological outcomes of personality traits, and the quest for balance.
What is the primary goal of the research?
The goal is to demonstrate that the Pareto Principle serves as a useful heuristic for understanding how Elinor and Marianne Dashwood’s respective temperaments lead to either their distress or their eventual growth.
Which methodology is employed in this essay?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis combined with an applied theoretical framework, using the Pareto Principle as a lens to interpret narrative events and character motivations.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers a biographical introduction of Austen, a definition of the Pareto Principle, a detailed summary of the plot, and a deep-dive analysis of how the sisters' specific traits lead to their unique life experiences.
Which keywords best characterize this academic study?
Key terms include Jane Austen, Pareto Principle, 80/20 Rule, Character Analysis, and Human Equilibrium.
How does the Pareto Principle explain Elinor’s behavior?
The author suggests that Elinor's 20% of excessive, rigid prudence leads to 80% of her internal suffering, as she suppresses her emotions to an unhealthy degree.
How is Marianne’s character trajectory interpreted through this model?
Marianne is viewed as the inverse; her initial 20% of unrestrained emotional outbursts result in 80% of her personal misery, highlighting a lack of necessary discretion.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the sisters?
The author concludes that neither extreme is ideal and that Austen advocates for an "amicable equilibrium" between sense and sensibility for optimal human functioning.
- Citation du texte
- Dr.hc Puja Chakraberty (Auteur), 2015, Clarifying The Relevance of 80/20 with respect to the Complexity of Ideas in Jane Austen’s ‘Sense And Sensibility’, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/289366
