Sense and Sensibility · Character
Mrs. Dashwood
The Dashwood sisters' warm, imaginative mother, whose romantic sensibility and impulsive judgment shape her daughters' hearts and fortunes.
supporting
Also known as III Mrs. Dashwood
First appearance: Chapter I
As a supporting figure in Sense and Sensibility, Mrs. Dashwood is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Mrs. Dashwood is a loving, affectionate mother whose lively imagination and romantic temperament make her more like a sister than a parent to Elinor and Marianne. She encourages Marianne's passionate attachment to Willoughby and only later recognizes how her own mistaken judgment contributed to her daughter's heartbreak. Her exuberant hopes and quick feelings drive much of the family's emotional weather, making her both a source of warmth and a cautionary presence in the sisters' early and middle arcs.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Character Web
8 connectionsA slice of how Mrs. Dashwood sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Family, Gossip & Social Circle
- Romantic Entanglements & Conflicts
+3 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this scene, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Willoughby, who has previously wronged Mariann…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingIn the story
Mrs. Dashwood appears across 22 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Mrs. Dashwood unlock in the free preview.
See Mrs. Dashwood in Chapter I