| Quote #4 "Poor soul!" cried Mrs. Jennings, as soon as she was gone, "how it grieves me to see her! And I declare if she is not gone away without finishing her wine! And the dried cherries too! Lord! nothing seems to do her any good. I am sure if I knew anything she would like, I would send all over the town for it. Well, it is the oddest thing to me, that a man should use such a pretty girl so ill! But when there is plenty of money on one side, and next to none on the other, Lord bless you! they care no more about such things! -- " |
Money, then, is what drove Willoughby to throw over Marianne – and we, like Mrs. Jennings, can understand it, but still feel unsympathetic. It seems like a pretty lame excuse to us.
| Quote #5 "Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable, but your income is a large one." |
John, obviously feeling guilty about his decision not to give his sisters any of their fair share of the Dashwood inheritance, always feels as though he has to defend his own fortune. Apparently, even the wealthy feel that they're not wealthy enough.
| Quote #6 "[Mrs. Jennings] seems a most valuable woman indeed. Her house, her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income, and it is an acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end may prove materially advantageous. Her inviting you to town is certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great a regard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not be forgotten. She must have a great deal to leave."(33.22) |
John's tactlessness is legendary – first of all, he clearly only values Mrs. Jennings as a friend because of her wealth; secondly, he's practically salivating over the fact that she might die and leave money to Elinor!