# Mrs. Dashwood — Sense and Sensibility character guide > Mrs. Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** III Mrs. Dashwood **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot The Dashwood sisters' warm, imaginative mother, whose romantic sensibility and impulsive judgment shape her daughters' hearts and fortunes. ## Who they are 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. ## In the story ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/i) The widow of Mr. Henry Dashwood, a woman of keen honor and romantic generosity. She indulges her grief excessively and is strongly influenced by Marianne's sensibility. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/ii) Accepts the invitation to remain at Norland temporarily, finding comfort in familiar surroundings despite her sorrow. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/iii) Remains at Norland, searches for a new home, and encourages Elinor's attachment to Edward Ferrars. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/iv) Decides to move the family to Barton Cottage after being affronted by Fanny's insinuations about Edward's expectations. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/v) Arranges the move to Barton Cottage, sells her carriage on Elinor's advice, and pointedly invites Edward Ferrars to visit despite Fanny's disapproval. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/vi) Satisfied with the cottage and plans future improvements. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/viii) Laughs at Marianne's extreme views on age and marriage, and clarifies that she had no expectation of Edward Ferrars's early arrival. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/ix) Grateful to Willoughby for helping Marianne; invites him to call again and is favorably impressed by his youth and beauty. ### [Willoughby's Courtship of Marianne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/x) Approves of Willoughby wholeheartedly, already hoping for a match between him and Marianne. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xi) Warmly enters into Marianne and Willoughby's feelings, seeing their behavior as the natural result of strong affection. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xiv) Engages in conversation with Willoughby about the cottage and promises not to alter it. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xv) Defends Willoughby, believing he is forced to leave due to Mrs. Smith's disapproval, and insists on his honorable intentions. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xvi) Refuses to question Marianne about Willoughby, citing romantic delicacy; tries to comfort Marianne but is also surprised by Willoughby's silence. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xvii) Welcomes Edward warmly and attributes his low spirits to his mother's lack of liberality. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xix) Urges Edward to stay longer and advises him to take up a profession; shows maternal concern and optimism about his future. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xxv) Mrs. Dashwood enthusiastically supports the plan, seeing it as beneficial for her daughters and dismissing Elinor's objections as nonsensical. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xxxi) Her letter to Marianne expresses continued confidence in Willoughby, causing Marianne further anguish. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xlv) Arrives at Cleveland in a state of terror, overjoyed to find Marianne safe; enthusiastically reveals Colonel Brandon's love for Marianne and plans for their marriage. ### [Chapter XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xlvi) Arrives at Cleveland to nurse Marianne and later arranges their return to Barton Cottage. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xlvii) Realizes she has misjudged Elinor's suffering and feels remorse for having focused too much on Marianne. She also receives the news of Edward's marriage and comforts Elinor. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xlviii) Greets Edward with forced composure, trying to follow Elinor's presumed wishes. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xlix) Too happy to be comfortable; praises Edward and Elinor, and struggles to balance giving them privacy with her own desire to enjoy their company. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/characters/mrs_dashwood - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/characters