Sense And Sensibility Literary Analysis

In Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen expertly uses the four types of irony--verbal, situational, dramatic, and cosmic--to enhance her writing. Throughout the story, irony is used in a number of ways to help create tension, progress the plot, introduce characters, and even serve as a form of social commentary on Austen's part. In fact, irony is so prevalent that it seems as if it were Austen's go-to literary device for exhibiting characteristics and plot points in her novel. When a new character is introduced, for example, Austen uses irony to describe them and their families. As she explores and creates the love stories in the novel, irony is used to create tension as well as keep readers guessing.
A great example of irony in Sense and Sensibility occurs during an argument between Marianne and Elinor. Both girls are exasperated with one another, knowing not how to communicate when they both have secrets to hide. Elinor assures Marianne she has "nothing to tell" (138), to which Marianne responds, "Our situations then are alike. We have neither of us anything to tell;
A great example of this type of irony occurs at the expense of Fanny. Throughout the novel, it appears as if Fanny has an irrational distaste for the Dashwood girls. We first encounter her feelings towards them when the girls' father dies; Fanny talks John out of giving his sisters any money from their father's estate. From there, her distaste only seems to grow for the Dashwood sisters. It all comes to a head when John suggests they invite his sisters to stay with them at their house. Fanny becomes desperate to avoid spending time with the two characters she cannot seem to stand to be around, making up a quick excuse to get out of it. "I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power. But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a few days with us" (207), she