Sense and Sensibility Chapter 42 Summary

Summary

Elinor and Marianne, accompanied by Charlotte and Mrs. Jennings, conclude their social visits in London and set out for the west, bound ultimately for Barton but stopping at Cleveland to visit the Palmers. Invitations and assurances from friends—Fanny’s faint invitation to Norland and John’s promise to call at Delaford—are noted but unlikely to change their immediate plans. Marianne departs London with acute sadness because she is leaving the house where she last nourished her hopes in Willoughby; Elinor feels relief at leaving the pressures of Lucy’s friendship and at removing Marianne from any sight of Willoughby since his marriage.

They reach Cleveland, a modern house with ample pleasure-grounds and a Grecian temple on an eminence. Marianne, eager for solitude and to imagine she can see Combe Magna from the distant hills, steals away into the grounds and resolves to spend much of her time wandering alone. The morning is spent idly exploring the garden and grounds with light, domestic amusements. A settled rain interrupts Marianne’s plans for evening rambles. During the wet days Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon arrive, enlarging the party. Elinor observes Mr. Palmer’s manners and finds him pleasant yet self-satisfied, a contrast that makes her appreciate Edward’s gentleness. Colonel Brandon speaks approvingly of Delaford and of improvements he intends for the parsonage, showing open warmth toward Elinor and anxious attention to Marianne. Despite attempts to restrain her, Marianne’s persistence in wandering and an episode of sitting in wet shoes lead to a severe cold that grows worse despite remedies and concern from those around her.

Key events

1. Elinor and Marianne leave London with Charlotte and Mrs. Jennings for Cleveland on their way to Barton
2. Marianne is emotionally affected by proximity to Combe Magna and Willoughby and seeks solitude in the grounds
3. They explore Cleveland’s gardens; rain forces them indoors for several days
4. Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon arrive and join the household
5. Elinor notices Mr. Palmer’s selfishness and contrasts him with Edward
6. Colonel Brandon speaks to Elinor about Delaford and shows attentive concern for Marianne
7. Marianne develops a severe cold after walking in wet grounds and sitting in damp shoes

Analysis

This chapter functions as a transition from urban social life back to the country, reorienting characters and shifting the novel’s emotional focus. By showing Marianne’s impulsive attachment to landscape and memory, Austen emphasizes Marianne’s romantic sensibility and how physical proximity to places associated with Willoughby deepens her suffering. Elinor’s comparative calm and practical responses continue to define her role as the novel’s moral and observational center; her reflections on Mr. Palmer and Edward clarify social contrasts—selfish complacency versus modest generosity—and help shape reader sympathies.

Structurally, Cleveland provides a contained setting where social interactions intensify: weather (the sudden, settling rain) functions as a device to confine characters together and prompt domestic conversation and observation. Colonel Brandon’s open attention to Elinor and discreet concern for Marianne are narrated with free indirect style that lets Elinor’s perceptions guide interpretation. Marianne’s decision to ramble alone and her resultant illness foreshadow the physical consequences of unchecked sensibility. The chapter uses detail—garden features, household amusements, and small talk—to reveal character (Mrs. Palmer’s good-natured folly, Mr. Palmer’s Epicurism) and to contrast romantic sentiment with pragmatic domestic life.

Important quotes

“It amused her to observe that all her friends seemed determined to send her to Delaford;”

NarratorElinor notices how others presume she will visit or reside at Delaford, highlighting her lack of desire to go and the pressures of social expectation.

“Marianne entered the house with a heart swelling with emotion from the consciousness of being only eighty miles from Barton, and not thirty from Combe Magna;”

NarratorThis line captures Marianne’s intense, place-linked longing and sets up her solitary rambles aimed at imagining proximity to Willoughby.

“She liked him, however, upon the whole, much better than she had expected, and in her heart was not sorry that she could like him no more;”

NarratorElinor’s mixed assessment of Mr. Palmer shows her relief at recognizing his faults and reinforces her appreciation for Edward’s contrasting virtues.

Characters in Chapter 42

• Elinor
• Marianne
• Mrs. Jennings
• Fanny
• John
• Charlotte
• Mrs. Palmer
• Mr. Palmer
• Colonel Brandon
• Edward
• Willoughby
• Lady Middleton
• the housekeeper
• the gardener
• the dairy-maid