Sense and Sensibility recap

After their father's death, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood move with their mother to a modest Devonshire cottage. Reserved Elinor loves Edward Ferrars, while expressive Marianne falls passionately for John Willoughby. Lucy Steele privately tells Elinor that she has long been engaged to Edward, forcing Elinor to conceal her pain. In London, Willoughby rejects Marianne and marries a rich woman; Colonel Brandon reveals that Willoughby had also seduced and abandoned his young ward. Edward's family disinherits him when Lucy's engagement becomes public, but he honorably refuses to abandon her. Marianne nearly dies after surrendering to grief, then accepts the need for judgment as well as feeling. Lucy unexpectedly marries Edward's wealthy brother Robert, freeing Edward to marry Elinor with Brandon's practical help. Marianne later grows to love and marry Colonel Brandon, and the sisters settle near each other.

Mr Dashwood dies and leaves Norland to his son John, having asked him to care for his stepmother and three half-sisters. John initially considers giving them substantial help, but his wife Fanny steadily reduces his idea of duty until he offers nothing beyond occasional hospitality. Mrs Dashwood and her daughters Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret remain temporarily at Norland with John and Fanny. Fanny's brother Edward Ferrars visits, and a quiet affection develops between him and Elinor. Marianne approves Edward's character but thinks his restrained manner and lack of artistic enthusiasm inadequate to Elinor. Fanny notices the attachment and makes clear that her family expects Edward to marry for wealth and position, prompting Mrs Dashwood to seek a new home.

Mrs Dashwood moves her family to Barton Cottage in Devonshire, offered cheaply by her cousin Sir John Middleton. Their new circle includes Sir John's reserved wife, his matchmaking mother-in-law Mrs Jennings, and Colonel Brandon, who quietly admires Marianne. Marianne dismisses the thirty-five-year-old colonel as too old for romance. After she falls and injures her ankle, the charming John Willoughby carries her home. Their shared tastes and open enthusiasm quickly produce an intimate attachment that everyone assumes will become an engagement. Willoughby gives Marianne personal attention and takes her to see the estate he expects to inherit. Then, without warning, he says that his benefactor is sending him to London and leaves Devonshire, offering no definite promise to Marianne. Her unconcealed grief alarms Elinor.

Marianne remains convinced of Willoughby's love despite the absence of an announced engagement. Edward visits Barton but seems unhappy and guarded; Elinor notices a ring containing hair and receives evasive answers about it. The Middleton circle is joined by the vulgar but friendly Steele sisters. Lucy Steele deliberately confides in Elinor that she and Edward have been secretly engaged for four years, producing evidence that explains his ring and troubled behavior. Lucy says they cannot marry because Edward depends on his mother and asks Elinor's advice while watching closely for distress. Elinor concludes that Edward does not love Lucy now but is bound by honor to a youthful promise. She conceals both the secret and her own heartbreak, even from Marianne.

Mrs Jennings takes Elinor and Marianne to London. Marianne repeatedly writes to Willoughby and expects him to call, but he avoids her. At a crowded party he greets her coldly while attending the wealthy Miss Grey. A letter then returns Marianne's notes and gifts and denies any commitment between them. The rejection leaves her devastated. Colonel Brandon tells Elinor that Willoughby seduced and abandoned Brandon's seventeen-year-old ward, who has borne his child. Willoughby's benefactor disinherited him after discovering the affair, and he chose Miss Grey's fortune rather than accept responsibility or live with reduced means. Elinor tells Marianne enough to end her belief that Willoughby has been misunderstood, though Marianne's grief continues.

In London, Lucy skillfully gains favor with John and Fanny Dashwood, while Elinor endures social encounters with Edward and his family. At a dinner, the intimidating Mrs Ferrars openly favors the socially useful Lucy and snubs Elinor without knowing the true attachment she is encouraging. Anne Steele carelessly reveals Lucy's secret engagement. Fanny turns the sisters out, and Mrs Ferrars demands that Edward end the match. He refuses to break his promise and is disinherited in favor of his brother Robert. Colonel Brandon, respecting Edward's integrity and concerned for his future, offers him the modest church living at Delaford. Elinor must convey the offer to Edward, who gratefully accepts it; Lucy assumes this provision will finally let their marriage proceed.

On the journey home, Elinor and Marianne stay at the Palmers' house near Colonel Brandon's estate. Marianne, physically weakened by months of grief and careless of her health, walks in wet weather and becomes dangerously ill. When infection threatens the household, others leave with the Palmer baby while Elinor and Brandon remain. Marianne's condition worsens until Elinor fears she will die; Brandon travels through the night to bring Mrs Dashwood. Marianne rallies before her mother arrives and begins to recover. Mrs Dashwood tells Elinor that Brandon confessed his love for Marianne during the journey and that she now hopes Marianne may eventually return it. Elinor is relieved by her sister's survival but makes no assumptions about whom Marianne will choose.

Willoughby visits during Marianne's illness and tells Elinor that he genuinely loved Marianne but married Miss Grey for money after losing his expected inheritance; his abandonment of Brandon's ward caused that loss. Elinor recognizes his remorse without absolving him. Recovering at Barton, Marianne admits that her self-indulgent despair endangered her life and distressed her family, and she resolves to act with greater discipline. The household then hears that Lucy has married Mr Ferrars and assumes she means Edward. Edward soon arrives and explains that Lucy instead married his newly enriched brother Robert, leaving Edward free. He and Elinor finally acknowledge their love and marry after receiving some reluctant family assistance, settling at Delaford. Marianne's gratitude and friendship toward Colonel Brandon deepen into love, and she later marries him. The sisters remain close neighbors, each joining strong feeling with better judgment.

Marianne survives the illness brought on by grief, exposure, and exhaustion. Willoughby visits Elinor and explains that he loved Marianne but abandoned her to marry the wealthy Miss Grey after his benefactor disinherited him for seducing and deserting Colonel Brandon's young ward. His remorse gives Elinor some pity but does not excuse him. Marianne recognizes how her reckless despair hurt her family and resolves to combine feeling with greater self-command. A report that Lucy has married Mr Ferrars seems to end Elinor's hopes, until Edward arrives and reveals that Lucy chose his now-wealthy brother Robert. Released from the old engagement, Edward declares his love for Elinor; Colonel Brandon's offer of a living enables them to marry. Marianne eventually comes to value Brandon's steady character and marries him. The sisters live near one another, with Elinor and Edward at Delaford and Marianne sharing Brandon's home.