# Fanny Dashwood — Sense and Sensibility character guide

> Fanny Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Fanny, Mrs. John Dashwood, Poor Fanny

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

John Dashwood's narrow-minded, selfish wife, a strong caricature of her husband, who arrives at Norland before the funeral is cold and schemes her sisters-in-law out of their inheritance.

## Who they are

Fanny Dashwood is the mistress of Norland who takes possession the moment her father-in-law dies, showing how little attention to others' comfort she can manage when occasion requires. She talks her weak husband down from three thousand pounds to nothing, and her snobbery and self-interest drive the Dashwood women from their home. Her contrast with Edward is so stark that Mrs. Dashwood declares it enough to say he is unlike Fanny, and her coldness sets the novel's central displacement in motion.

## In the story

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/i)

John's wife, narrow-minded and selfish. She manipulates John into abandoning his plan to give money to his half-sisters and stepmother, and behaves indelicately by arriving at Norland immediately after the funeral.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/ii)

Manipulates her husband into breaking his promise to his father, arguing that the Miss Dashwoods have no real claim and that any gift would impoverish their son.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/iii)

Mrs. Dashwood's contempt for her increases; she wishes Edward to be distinguished.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/iv)

Makes uncivil remarks to Mrs. Dashwood about Edward's prospects, prompting the decision to leave Norland.

### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/chapters/xxxvi)

Forced to send her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods after a misunderstanding; dislikes being obliged to show them attention.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/characters/mrs_john_dashwood
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sense_and_sensibility_se/characters