What happens in Chapter XXXVI of Sense and Sensibility?
Chapter XXXVI begins with the news that Charlotte Palmer has safely given birth to a son. This prompts Mrs. Jennings to spend every day with Charlotte, leaving Elinor and Marianne to spend their time in Conduit Street with Lady Middleton and the Miss Steeles. Neither group truly welcomes the Dashwood sisters: Lady Middleton disapproves of them for not flattering her or her children, while the Steeles view them as rivals for attention. Miss Steele, in particular, hopes to pry some gossip about Marianne and Willoughby but is met with indifference or disdain instead. Meanwhile, Mrs. Jennings, unaware of these underlying tensions, remains cheerful, though she is frustrated that Mr. Palmer does not regard his newborn son as something special.
A social misunderstanding triggers a series of events: a friend of Fanny Dashwood, encountering Elinor and Marianne at Harley Street, mistakenly believes they are staying there and sends them an invitation to a musical party. Fanny then has to send her carriage to fetch them. At the party, Elinor meets Robert Ferrars, whom she recognizes from Gray's shop, and listens to his self-satisfied chatter about public schools and cottage architecture. Inspired by the evening, John Dashwood suggests inviting his sisters to stay at Harley Street, but Fanny counters this by proposing that the Miss Steeles be invited instead, pointing out their uncle’s generosity towards Edward. John agrees. Fanny writes to Lucy, who is thrilled at the chance to be closer to Edward. The Miss Steeles move to Harley Street, where they quickly win Mrs. Dashwood’s affection. This chapter concludes the second volume.
Analysis
This chapter unfolds through a series of social interactions, each revealing the disparity between what people say they feel and their true intentions. Austen's use of free indirect discourse shines with satire here: the narrator observes that Lady Middleton "fancied them satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical; but _that_ did not signify. It was censure in common use, and easily given." This dry aside illustrates the very thoughtlessness it critiques.
The chapter progresses from a domestic scene (the Conduit Street visits) to an unexpected social gathering (the musical party) and finally to a domestic negotiation (the Harley Street invitation), each moment tightening the net around Elinor. Robert Ferrars acts as a comic relief: his lengthy monologue about cottages and public schools reveals more about himself than he realizes, with his stories about Lord Courtland and Lady Elliott showcasing his name-dropping vanity rather than his wisdom. Elinor’s response — "she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition" — stands out as one of the chapter’s most incisive remarks and reflects her self-control.
The theme of misunderstanding runs throughout: Mrs. Dennison misinterprets the Dashwoods' lodgings; Robert Ferrars misjudges the cause of Edward’s discomfort; John Dashwood misreads Fanny’s objections as principled rather than self-serving. Marianne's almost complete passivity — going out "quietly and mechanically," unconcerned about her appearance — contrasts sharply with the scheming energy surrounding her, while Miss Steele's obsessive examination of Marianne's wardrobe highlights how completely Marianne has retreated from the social performance that others pursue with such enthusiasm.
Key quotes from Chapter XXXVI
“It was censure in common use, and easily given.”
The narrator's aside on Lady Middleton's habit of calling the Dashwood sisters 'satirical' without understanding the word.
“Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.”
Elinor's silent verdict after enduring Robert Ferrars's lengthy self-congratulatory speech about cottages.
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Create an accountSign inVocabulary in Chapter XXXVI
- misconstruction
- A mistaken interpretation of someone's words, actions, or whereabouts; drawing the wrong conclusion from incomplete information.