Sense and Sensibility

The Dashwood sisters – Elinor, Marianne and Margaret – and their mother face potential poverty when Mr Dashwood's estate passes to their half-brother John and his snobbish wife, Fanny. Fanny persuades John to withhold the inheritance his father had suggested he provide, and the couple move into the estate, disrupting the sisters' lives. Fanny's brother, Edward Ferrars, visits and forms a close bond with Elinor, much to Fanny's dismay. Mrs Jennings, a distant relative of the Dashwoods, offers them a Devonshire cottage owned by her son-in-law, Sir John Middleton, at a reduced rent. Mrs Dashwood accepts, while Elinor hopes Edward will propose, although he merely promises to visit.

In Devonshire, Marianne initially finds Colonel Brandon, a family friend of Mrs Jennings, unappealing, despite her interest in hearing about him. Brandon, however, develops feelings for Marianne. Elinor becomes saddened when Edward writes to say he will not visit. Meanwhile, Marianne sprains her ankle while visiting the beach with Margaret and is rescued by John Willoughby, to whom she is immediately attracted. They begin courting, but just as the family anticipate a proposal, Willoughby abruptly announces that he must travel to London and will be gone for 12 months.

Mrs Jennings invites Elinor and Marianne to London with Lady Middleton and her cousin Lucy Steele, where they expect Edward to visit. Lucy, aware of Elinor's feelings for Edward, reveals that she and Edward have been secretly engaged for years. Edward explains that his parents arranged the match in the expectation of Lucy's wealth, but he refused to abandon her after she lost her fortune. Having hoped Lucy would end the engagement herself, he nevertheless remains bound by honour. Heartbroken, Elinor accepts the situation and promises to keep their secret.

Willoughby ignores Marianne's letters and fails to visit the Dashwoods in London. Hoping to see him at a ball, Marianne is devastated when he arrives with his wealthy fiancée, Miss Grey, and treats her coldly. Overcome with anguish, she makes a spectacle of herself before admitting to Elinor that she and Willoughby were never formally engaged. She insists that, unlike Elinor, she cannot quietly accept her disappointment. Colonel Brandon subsequently reveals that Willoughby seduced and impregnated his widowed sister-in-law, Eliza, before abandoning her; she later died with her unborn child.

When the Ferrars family discovers Edward's engagement, he is disinherited and his younger brother Robert becomes the heir. Impressed by Edward's integrity, Brandon offers him a nearby parsonage, enabling him to marry. During what she believes will be her final conversation with Edward, Elinor urges him to honour his commitment.

On their return journey, Mrs Jennings takes the Dashwood sisters and Brandon to visit her youngest daughter. Learning that Willoughby's estate is nearby, Marianne walks out in the rain to see it and consequently becomes gravely ill. Willoughby subsequently arrives unexpectedly, drunk, and professes his love for Marianne, pleading to see her. Elinor's sympathy diminishes when he dismisses his treatment of Eliza, and Brandon forcibly ejects him after returning to collect Mrs Dashwood. The family watch from Marianne's room as Brandon has challenged Willoughby to a duel. Neither is injured: Willoughby misses, while Brandon deliberately fires into the air. Unexpectedly, Marianne expresses concern only for Brandon's safety.

Marianne recovers, and the party returns to Devonshire. She grows closer to Brandon, suggesting they might have a future together once she has recovered from her heartbreak. He willingly gives her time. The family subsequently learns that Lucy has become Mrs Ferrars, and Edward arrives, apparently intending to declare his love for Elinor. Believing he has behaved dishonourably, Elinor rejects him and sends him away. Mrs Jennings later reveals that Lucy abandoned Edward after his disinheritance and married Robert instead, to secure a wealthy husband. Overjoyed, Elinor rushes to Edward, declares her love and becomes engaged to him.